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.
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.
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:
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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.
A very lovely shade of blue. As soon as you knit for "work" it sucks the joy out of it. Just my 2 cents.
nice colorway! the socks look great. knitting for the love of it is much more fun than knitting for money! have fun!
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!
I don't know where you've gone, but I've just tagged you for a meme. Info is on my blog.
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