Monday, January 5, 2009

Apropos

When the bold branches
Bid farewell to rainbow leaves -
Welcome wool sweaters.

B. Cybrill

Today I had the house to myself for several hours, and in an unusual turn of events, I felt rather lonely. Usually I relish the time alone, but today I wanted everyone to hurry back.

While they were gone, I baked a cake and knit. Not too shabby.

I am into the decreases on the right front of Meital's cardigan, which means it won't be long before I am casting on for the sleeves. I'm looking forward to being done with the complex cable pattern that adorns the front and back of the sweater. I think it will be a great looking sweater, but I'm just a little tired of cabling on every row of a 12 row repeat.

On one of my knitting lists, people are talking about dedicating January to knitting things for themselves. Nothing at all wrong with that. They started out calling it "Selfish" Knitting. I can see where that came from; most knitters I know knit at least 90% of the time for others (family, friends and charity), and to them, it feels selfish in some ways to want to devote a large portion of their time knitting something for themselves. I think it would be wonderful if everyone who longed to make something for themselves would do so. I hope they will!

Another person pointed out that even if she gives away everything she makes, the actual knitting is something she does for her own enjoyment, so in a way everything she knits is for herself. I have mentioned before feeling this way myself.

In other words, it's all good.

2 comments:

Joansie said...

I never feel selfish when I knit for myself as I knit plenty of other items for others.

I envision your kitchen always spelling so terrific! (and inviting!!)

Anonymous said...

Like everything else in life, there needs to be balance between the two sides. That said, the most selfish knitting I would say I do is in anticipation of seeing someone else's face light up because *I* need that! Keeps me knitting.