Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Mother's Day

I think I've mentioned before that my immediate family doesn't know about this blog. It's appropriate because they also don't care about knitting. But it's also convenient for me because then I can dish about works in progress that are gifts and not have to be all hush hush about them.

This particular pair of socks is for my mom for Mother's Day. I haven't knit any socks ever for my mom, and I thought that since summer is coming, Sockotta (cotton/wool/nylon blend) would be appropriate. I actually don't often knit with true fingering weight yarn for socks (preferring the process to go a little more quickly) so I'm surprised at how quickly these are working up.


Sockotta Socks For Mother's Day

What happened is that I realized I don't want to knit for pay. I knit because I love it and I only knit for people who I truly adore. That doesn't translate well into knitting for random people for money. Thankfully we are financially in a position where I don't have to earn money. Anything I earn is gravy, and so I can continue to knit for love. And thankfully the people who invited me to participate in their store have graciously allowed me to bow out.

I felt so relieved, that I just knit and knit and knit on my mom's socks. And lo. They are going much more quickly than I had anticipated! Maybe I *do* like fingering weight yarn afterall.

10 comments:

Eliza said...

I was recently surprised at how much I like knitting with fingering yarn, and it goes much quicker than expected. (I haven't made socks yet, but I have been tempted...)

You are lucky that your family doesn't read your blog! My mother does, and so do a few friends, so I can't write about any gifts before they've been given!

Bertha said...

I am the same way with knitting/ crafting for pay. I have a "friend" (I think she thinks we're closer than we are...she's really more of an acquaintance) who can't knit or sew and she's always commissioning me to make her stuff. I've made her a few things in the past, but every time I agree to it, I immediately start hating the project and putting it off...when it's finally time that I really HAVE to get it done, I hate every minute of doing it and am completely anxious and miserable until it's done.

For me it's not even the money aspect that makes it difficult though, I think its the commitment. Once I commit to make something for someone, I don't want to do it anymore. Like the socks I am knitting right now for my BEST FRIEND'S birthday? I only have about 4 inches left of the foot to do, but I can't. finish. it. I have a bunch of other projects I want to make but I won't allow myself to cast-on until these are done, and yet I can't force myself to finish them, so every night instead of knitting, I'm zoning out on Ravelry instead because I resent these stupid, hated socks. Now, if I had been making them as a surprise, they would TOTALLY be done right now and I would have loved making them because there's no pressure. If I didn't finish, my friend wouldn't be upset because she would have had no idea I was knitting them in the first place. But because she knows about them, I'm obligated to finish them, thus of course it's the last thing I want to do. I'm sure my friend would understand if I bailed on them, but I don't want to bail, I just want them DONE AND OVER, somehow magically. I don't know why I have this problem. Same thing every year with Sockapalooza. I get really psyched up for it, anxiously await getting my partner, happily pick out yarn and a pattern...but then once I've committed to it and have to start knitting, I don't want to do it anymore and I put it off until the last possible minute, stressing and not enjoying it! Every year I say I'll never do it again, but I'll probably do it again this summer!

Um, all that was a very roundabout way of saying that I'm glad you were able to get out of the store knitting!

Katie said...

Pretty sockotta socks! I don't like to knit for pay, either. I don't mind sewing for pay, but it's a lot quicker from start to finish. Knitting requires a lot of time. I've turned down many a request for knitted baby sweaters and such. I'd rather give them as gifts!

Anonymous said...

I've finally 'fessed up to my family about my blog too but there are times when I wished I hadn't. Pretty socks for your mom!

Anonymous said...

I think it's wonderful you're able to knit for love and gifts - it's a wonderful feeling, isn't it? And the socks are looking just great!

Jen said...

Ooh--I love the color! Those will be gorgeous!

I don't think I could ever knit for pay, either--I can barely knit for myself. It's just so much more fun if I'm making for someone I care about. I'm with ya.

Sonya said...

A very lovely shade of blue. As soon as you knit for "work" it sucks the joy out of it. Just my 2 cents.

jackie said...

nice colorway! the socks look great. knitting for the love of it is much more fun than knitting for money! have fun!

jessica said...

What a nice colourway! Very bright and cheery:O) My in-laws don't know about my blog and I was thankful for that around Christmas time!

Eliza said...

I don't know where you've gone, but I've just tagged you for a meme. Info is on my blog.