Stitch Adventures

What TV show character would you be?

I’m reading a new book about the new meaning of work: i.e. it doesn’t have to be a drudge, or boring, or irritating, just so you can pay the bills.  Could it be that you could bring a little of your passion along with you, to make the job more exciting?

 

  Meanwhile, in the 3^rd chapter, the author asks an interesting question.  He says to imagine some of your favorite tv shows – make a list of them.  Then, pick a person on one of those shows – one that you would most like to be if you actually were able to act (and get paid an actors salary??).  So House is my favorite tv show, and really the only one I watch regularly because Hugh Laurie makes me snort with laughter.  He’s such a wonderful piece of work.  And I like watching the characters on the show with him.  But, I couldn’t think of any character that I would really like to substitute for.

 

My husband came home and took me out to Ojai Pizza tonight, and I asked him the question.  He only had to think a few seconds (it was during a commercial of the Lakers vs Celtics game, being shown on 6 big tv’s in the restaurant).  And he named Bob Varsha, an announcer on the car race shows and reviews my husband watches every weekend.  When I asked him why, he rolled his eyes and said, because he knows what he’s talking about – he’s not reading from a script. 

 

Then, surprisingly, my husband asked me who I would be.  Now that’s unusual, because he doesn’t ever turn my questions back on me.  But guess what popped out?  I said “Martha Stewart”.

 

Really?  Where did that come from?  Guess my relaxed brain got through, and out came a real answer.  Kind of an embarrassing answer because she has so many detractors. 

 

But I do like Martha Stewart because she’s real.  Not a character.  She’s a role model – feisty, humble, talented, and a true businesswoman.  She’s built a successful empire, and even though she was in prison, was able to get beyond that to continue entertaining millions with her tv shows, magazines, and books.  She has great ideas (of course other people put her crafts together), but she always does stuff on her own shows – and is quite inspiring.  Maybe I should try some of her ideas.  Sometimes I watch her show on the tv in my sewing room, and the creations are pretty great.

 

So why don’t you answer the question, and then figure out why you would be that character.  It might surprise you.

My First Fabric Design Class

My first Fabric Design class has ended, and did I ever have fun! The teacher was kind of quiet (you know those artistic types), but is a free-lance print designer, so should really know her stuff. There were about 15 students, half from the more advanced class – they were doing amazing things. But for the newcomers, she made a very easy assignment.

You should try this, really. I’m sure this would be a fun assignment for anyone, of any age. Because how hard is it to draw your name? Any size, any script, using any brush and black ink. We took a sheet of kraft paper (the kind you might have used, in the past, to cover a box you were mailing) and cut it to about a 14” square. Then, we started writing our name over and over. No pressure at all – just relaxing, because obviously we all know how to write/print/ink our own name – we’ve had lots of practice.

Then we took our rulers, and drew a 2” square grid pattern on the ink drawing, and lightly numbered each square for later identification. Then we took another sheet of kraft paper and ruled out 2” squares and copied, as nearly as we could, the design from each 2” square of the original. Next, we cut the grids apart, keeping the squares from each sheet of paper in separate piles.

All the cut-out squares from the original drawing were placed face down, and mixed up. These were then picked up randomly (not looking at the front) and taped together to form the 14” square of kraft paper again.

Voila! Turn that paper over, and you have the most awesome design. Here’s mine:

Then, we pieced and taped the second stack of squares, using the numbers, to match the first 14” square. By taping the two papers together, you get a “full drop” or repeat of a fabric design.

It was amazing the different designs that everyone in the class came up with. And with such little effort – just play with paper, ink and scissors, and you feel creative.

I was so jazzed – inside I was dancing, saying “you did it, you did it, you made an awesome fabric design”. And so I did.

Next week, we need to bring lots of paint (gouache, whatever that is), so I’m off to go shopping for supplies.

Would you tear it all out and start over?

Have you ever heard of the theory that knitters are either process knitters or project knitters?  And why would you want to know?  

First, figure out which you are by answering this question:

If you were marooned on an island with your just finished knitting project and no other yarn, would you go find something else to do (basketweaving, shell collecting?).  Or would you tear out all your knitting and make something else? 

If you would keep your project intact, you’re a project knitter.  If you’d tear it out, you’re a process knitter. 

 

Here's the back of a sweater I seriously considered taking apart, because I liked the yarn.  But then, I changed my mind, and knit a band on the bottom so it's more wearable.  I have to admit, knitting the sweater was a challenge, and I really do like it now.

Here are some more ways to figure out if you are a process knitter or a project knitter. 

How many projects do you have going right now?  One or two?  - You’re a project knitter.  Do you love the final ta-dah of completing the item?  Do you make sure it’s useable or wearable before starting your next project?  Do you love making socks, and reuse your favorite knitting patterns over and over?  Bet you wouldn’t mind making 10 knit hats for your kids athletic team. 

If you just went argh – no way – to the making of 10 knit hats, you’re probably a process knitter.  You relish new stitches, new ways of doing things. You either know, or want to know all 100 ways to cast on.  You probably have untold numbers of partially knit projects.  You just need to take the time to put the last few rows on or stitch the seams together.  If you HAD to make ten hats, all of them would be different, using different stitches, patterns, and design.  You never make the same thing twice – which is why you knit so many single socks.

So what difference does it make once you understand what kind of knitter you are? 

If you’re a process knitter, you’ll start to pat yourself on the back for learning a new stitch, or exploring a new yarn.  No more feeling guilty because you have so many unfinished knitting projects in your closet.  You can say no when someone asks you to make ten of something.  You’ll relax, knowing that you’ve got plenty of yarn, because you can always tear out that sweater from the thrift store to make a new one.  You can choose to make the most challenging sweater, and not worry if you don’t like the way it’s turning out.  There are always more patterns to try.

If you’re a project knitter, all your relatives will love you.  They get wonderful, completed presents.  People will ask you to make one “just like that one, but in blue”, and you’ll be glad to do it.  You don’t have to feel bad because you don’t want to work on an afghan for two years, or make a too-challenging project.  And, you have permission to buy more yarn because you use up what you have, and know exactly what’s next.  I bet you could even get paid to complete stuff for movie sets and consignment stores.

And me?  I’m a process knitter, for sure.  I have an entire walk-in closet of yarn for unknown future projects.  I’ll spend months working on a sweater, and then want to use the yarn for something else, so I’ll pull it all out.  I’ve never made the same thing twice.  And I am the queen of one-off knit socks.  Who says your hand knit socks have to match?