Short attention span knitting
July 18, 2009
I love yarns, fibers, colors, textures. I like to knit. It is an activity that can be performed that still allows conversation, movie watching, listening to music, etc. It is a social kind of solitary activity.
But I have a short attention span. So I am currently working on – a man’s sweater in midnight blue worsted wool on size 7 needles with a kangaroo pocket and a hood, a lace scarf in variegated rose colored lace weight wool on size 9 needles, and a pair of socks in a deep green self-striping wool fingering yarn on size 2 needles.
I cannot imagine working on just one project at a time. I have run into a number of people who have told me (with a smug expression on their faces) that they never start a new project until they complete the one they are working on. And they act as if that makes them virtuous, or morally superior.
What a load of crap. You want to work on one thing at a time – good for you and so what.
What I really have trouble with is the huge number of incredibly ugly, dorky patterns for handwork that are around. And people buy them. And make them. One at a time. Often in some kind of faux fiber that was manufactured in a laboratory. Talk about wasting our natural resources and gunging up the environment.
Gunsmoke and Knitting 
I totally agree. I usually have 3-5 books going at once, a crochet project, a cross stitch project and a needle point project. I should start working on another crochet project at home (my current one is done on the train to work) so I can get my Christmas gifts done.
Came here via William the Coroner.
I don’t knit much, but as a practitioner of its sister art, crocheting, I completely identify with the short attention span. I generally have no fewer than five projects of varying complexity going at a single time. My current projects are a sweater I had to frog and re-start, a blanket I’ve been working on sporadically since last summer, a scarf, a hat, and… surely I’m forgetting something :).
I’m that way, too. ‘Though with me, it’s books. At the moment, I have four books that I’m reading depending on my mood.
Why read just one? Read many and multiply the fun!
oh anyone who tells you that knitting one thing at a time is teh way to go probably has control issues.
Personally I ahve too many projects going to count. I currently have one mitt in my travel with me bag and several mitts at home. a sweater or 2. a lace project. etc. (that doesn’t count the number of books I am reading or the fact that I am in the middle of spinning yarn for another sweater. plus some yarn being spun just to spin.)
I came here via William the Coroner too, but I also knit. I can crochet and do other crafty things, but I prefer knitting.
I always have several projects going on. I think it’s good for your hands and your mind to have variety.
Have you tried spinning? It’s addictive and fun too.
Have not tried spinning – but it sounds like fun!