Don’t wait

It just occurred to me that waiting is about the worst thing I can do at this point in my life.  I don’t like to wait for things to happen in general.  I have a feeling most of us don’t.    I am a patient person, but I’m no good at waiting for things to happen, waiting for someone else to do something they said they would do, waiting in line, waiting for spring to arrive, ha!  At least I know that will really happen.  And especially waiting on doing something about a good idea.  I’ve taken to writing ideas down when they come to me, so I don’t forget them.  So my question for today for myself is, “If I can’t stand waiting for things to happen, for other people to do things, why do I allow myself to wait on myself?”

As it pertains to knitting.  I’ve had some really good ideas lately for patterns, designing patterns for knitting.  I’ve had a great name for a project come to me, the name being the idea of the entire project, which I think could be really great.  I’ve had some ideas come to me as far as construction for a knitting project goes; I have a beautiful merino/silk yarn that, I think, must be knit simply to show off the color, sheen and texture of the yarn and I have a great idea for a shawl for that yarn.   And I’ve had some really good ideas for projects and patterns for certain yarns that came to me while walking recently. Two ideas in particular, one I plan on working on today and the other is the reason I’m writing today – that great merino/silk yarn project.

I saw a brand new, published pattern/design in one of my emails yesterday for the exact same design I had in mind for the merino/silk shawl.  The exact same design.  As soon as I saw it, I said to myself, wow, that’s pretty amazing that we (the designer and knitter) and I were really on the same page.  And then I thought, why have I waited on working on this?  Now, if I do go on with this idea, will it seem like a complete copy?  I cannot take credit for an original design if it looks like something that was just put out there.  Why did I wait?  It completely reminded me of Elizabeth Gilbert’s story about how she and Ann Patchett, who are friends, found out that they were writing a story about the same thing, a story that no one else would have written about, but they were literally writing about the same thing at the same time, without knowing it.  So I know that there are ideas out there that are coming to more than just one person at a time.  The ideas are out there, the crux of the matter is, acting on the idea.  This idea I had for a pattern/design was a really good idea, but I waited and someone else acted, did something about the idea before me.

I love the shawl that was designed by the other designer/knitter and I applaud her for acting on a great idea.  And I realize there is no better time than the present to get moving on my own great ideas.  Scratch that.  Even if these ideas don’t turn out to be the greatest success, acting on an idea that keeps coming to me, keeps popping into my head, keeps revealing itself to me, is a worthwhile project.

Don’t wait, just do.

Unique and inspired

So, I’ve finally come to the realization that I am not the kind of person who is going to have lots of the same items for sale in my Etsy shop, etsy.com/shop/KnitsOnMain, all the time.  I’ve tried and tried to come up with just a few items that I love to knit, that I can repeat over and over again so that I have “in stock” items in the shop.  I just don’t think I can do it.  I can do three or four and then I’ve got to knit something else.  I’m much more interested in knitting by inspiration, knitting because I love the yarn and I love how the piece is turning out.  Or because I just love how the yarn feels or I love the color.  Or knitting because the yarn and the project are working and looking so great together.  Inspiration comes from so many different places.  Gemini airy, flighty?  Maybe, but I want to know that I’ve knit something for someone and my heart and soul was in it; knit with love and inspiration.

I believe I’m going to have to change my tag line to “unique, one-of-a-kind hand-knit accessories” to be true.  I’ll only make so many of one thing and then I’ll be on to the next project.  I think it’s almost better that way, for me anyway, lots of different pieces and projects on the horizon.  So many yarns, so many accessories and garments to knit.  Can I  make any money doing this?  I hope so.  I think I would want to buy something that was handmade and that was special and one-of-a-kind.  I shy away from the clothing and accessories that everyone is wearing.

I do have some “go to” pieces that I will knit over and over again, the watch caps, for instance.  But I am always going to try a different yarn, different colors, different fibers.  So the watch cap will be something that I go back to time and time again because it’s a great piece and it works well in all sizes and yarns.  Okay, there’s a piece I can get behind all the time.

Right now I’m totally inspired by the wool yarn produced by Helga Isager from Denmark,   Tvinni, Highland Wool, and the companion yarn produced by Ito, Sensai, a mohair and silk blend.  The way the edges roll is great!  I spotted the yarns and thought “fingerless gloves” and I was off, three pairs have been knit already.  The awesome roll of the wool in stockinette has now inspired me to knit up a hat.  And there you have it.  Gotta follow the inspiration.  I won’t worry about the end result, will it sell or will it sit?  I’ve gotta follow the spark right now.