What knitting has taught me about life…
Regular readers will have seen my foray into knitting recently. I’ve really been enjoying it - the creativity and the feeling of growing proficient at a new, constructive skill. It’s funny - I’ve never thought of myself as a ‘crafty’ type of person. Most of my life I have identified with intellectualism, and somehow looked down on traditional ‘feminine’ skills. I’m certainly not a girly girl - I’m not into the latest fashion trends, or shoes; I don’t wear makeup, or buy copious amounts of beauty products (though I still somehow seem to have a stash that rarely get used).
So, when I’ve told people that I’ve taken up knitting (and, also, jewellery making, but more on that in a later post), most of my friends and colleagues have looked at me askance, and said “knitting?!” Then I have to rise to my own defence. It’s fun, creative, constructive, and a skill for when the world reverts to a pre-oil society and chaos (okay, I don’t really say that last bit :P).
And, I have learnt something. One of the things I have been doing is experimenting. With different yarns, stitches, small items, adding beads… and more than once I have made a mistake, dropped a stitch, or just done something I’m not totally happy with… and I’ve unravelled it! I think it takes guts to undo something you have spent hours of your life creating. But it’s also queerly satisfying. Yes, I have created this, and yes, I am going to destroy it because I am not happy with how it has come out - and I’d rather re-use the materials for something else than waste them.
So, I will continue my creative/destructive journey with passion! Look out for some examples of my work. In fact, I have started another site, where I’m going to start selling some of this stuff when I make something I think is worthy of others! I already have a number of my photos and digital art pieces there and for sale on Zazzle, as well as some of my jewellery. If you ever want to check it out, have a look at EpheriellDesigns.com
My interest in jewellery making has also got me intrigued about the art of lampwork - hand-making unique glass beads. Check out a local organisation of mine to see what I mean! This stuff is seriously beautiful. I may have to investigate further…
October 21 2008 10:56 pm | Musings and jewellery and knitting
