Confessions of a Knitter

In March 2011 Knit a Bear Face took part in Home From Home, an exhibition on the theme of home displayed over three floors of a Victorian terraced house. We weren’t the only knitters there, and one of the exhibits we particularly enjoyed was a set of knitted wall hangings by  Katherine Johnson featuring sage words of wisdom, including most pertinently perhaps “I must not feel craft shame”. Knitting and guilt just don’t mix, so here’s a few things not to worry about.

Learning new techniques is difficult for everyone

When I first decided  to learn how to knit it took approximately 46 attempts to manage to cast on successfully. During this time I became quite angry and there was much stomping and huffing, admittedly not helped by the fact I was giving up smoking and was learning to knit so it would give me something to do with my hands. Once I’d got garter stitch down I was ready to progress to purling, and again there was a certain amount of huffing involved and some knitting may have been thrown on the floor. I was on triple figures and two visits from concerned neighbours by the time I’d mastered double pointed needles, which I’ve only just got to grips with. If you can see a pattern emerging, beyond my obvious anger management issues, then it’s that learning new techniques is always hard. Even the most experienced knitter can struggle with something  new, it’s perfectly normal to feel frustrated, though throwing needles is never advised particularly if you have pets or small children.

Nobody knits tension squares

Ok, that’s a lie. Some people do knit tension squares and indeed if you’re embarking on an ambitious, time consuming or potentially expensive project it is probably advisable follow the rules. That is  unless you want to find yourself several weeks down the line sobbing on your living room floor because you can’t get your painstakingly knitted jumper over your head. However, a tension square, that is the test square that you knit to check that your knitting is going to come out the size you anticipated, isn’t really necessary if you’re just making something small. Yes, all patterns will tell you to knit one, but it’s ok to live on the edge sometimes and besides if it comes out with slightly unusual proportions that just gives it quirky charm, right?

Everyone hates making up

I’m yet to meet the person that says making up (putting your knitted thing together) is their favourite part of knitting, I don’t think they exist. There is a strange duality to this stage in the process as in many ways it’s the point you are looking forward to, when the knitting is all done and the finished item is nearly complete. Except making up is an absolute nightmare, nothing fits together properly, the stitching goes all wonky, it takes bloody ages. Agghhh. Knitters will go to any length to avoid the making up process, it’s why knitting in the round is so popular. In fact I swear my mother was more elated by the discovery of a cardigan pattern that could be knitted in one piece than she was by the birth of her first grandchild.

No one finishes everything

Dragging through a project you’re not enjoying takes all the joy out of knitting, don’t feel guilty about putting something away and coming back to it (or not). Why do you think knitting bags are so big? It’s not so you can fill them with supplies, it’s so there’s ample room at the bottom for the half finished cardigan, 3 odd socks and  assorted limbless toys. The same goes for the great seductress, wool. We all get tempted from time to time, it’s your right as a knitter to stockpile more supplies than you can reasonably use in three lifetimes. If it becomes a problem, just get a bigger knitting bag. Or house.