Expand My Vision
I’ve got shitty vision for a knitter. And I don’t mean acuity. I have such a micro-view of my work, I really need to expand my vision.
Expand My Vision To A More Macro View
There are three types of knitters when it comes to how they envision their work.
- The rare knitter who can envision the finished product with ease
- Knitters who makes decisions about a project based on small sections of their knitting
- Those knitters who can’t envision the final work, but are willing to continue to work a project until there’s enough knitting to evaluate the project
I used to the the second type. But after many “failed” attempts at designing something, I have changed. I used to get an inch of knitting finished and HATE the project immediately.
Recently, a knitting friend was working on a colorwork shawl. The kind of project that created a visual composition when it was completed. You know the kind of project…the one that you look at your first inch of colorwork and think it’s going to look terrible. This friend asked if he should rip out his work and start again.
Had he asked a couple of years ago, I would have agreed with him. I would have suggested he rip it out. But instead, I knew the little bit of knitting was no indication of what the entire composition would look like. So I advised him to continue for at least five inches before deciding. It turned out to be a beautiful shawl and he was glad he hadn’t ripped it out.
Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t envision what his shawl would look like. I just knew I couldn’t trust micro-vision to determine whether he should continue or not.
That’s where I am with my newest project.
Using the Jacob wool handspun yarn, I started a new hat. It currently looks awful to me. And indeed, it may look awful when it’s finished. But I don’t know. First of all, the changes in marling and colors may look great in a hat. Second, the part I’m knitting now will be rolled up. So the fabric behind it will change how it looks.
Gratefully, I am able to put in a lot more work on a project, even if that means I end up ripping it out.
I envy the knitters who can envision a finished project. But honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever be one.
Which type of knitter are you?
Current Knitting
In addition to starting the ragg hat, I also finished two more sections of the Aha Wrap.
It’s going to be a long, drapey wrap when it’s finished. Even I can envision that!
With eight sections finished, I only have five more to go!
Hi Joe 👋🏼🙂
Interesting topic and learning process one goes through knitting projects. I guess I’m a visionary when it comes to yarn and projects, one time I had a reoccurring dream of me making a vest. About 8 months later I crochet it from scratch.
I think it came out amazing and the 1st. time wore it was to the Janet Jackson concert
I’ve met a lot of people with that ability over the years…they just seem to be able to know what a finished project will look like before they even start it. Enviable indeed.
Just keep knitting. It’s a hat. You’ll be done in 4 hours. Then you will know what a Jacob fleece spin and ML knitted in a simple pattern looks like. You might love it, fine it so-so or hate it but you’ll have that data. And I can tell you with 100% certainty that someone will
Love it. I know this because 1) I already do but mostly 2) the ugliest things I have made (to my mind) have more than once been the first thing someone else comments on loving.
If it was a huge complicated shawl, I would definitely support the 5 inches then decide if you want to rip out, though. That’s a gray rule of thumb—thanks! A hat is one thing, a thousand hour project is another.
You are exactly right on all counts LauraRose…
– Failing on a four hour project is like making a swatch that didn’t turn out like I expected it.
– Someone at my craft shows always loves things I think look like crap
– The 5 inch rule seems to either confirm that it will look good or not or convince the knitter to continue on for a while longer until they know for certain