Thursday 26 April 2012

3KCBWDAY4 - A Knitter or Crocheter for all Seasons?

As spring is in the air in the northern hemisphere and those in the southern hemisphere start setting their sights for the arrival of winter, a lot of crocheters and knitters find that their crafting changes along with their wardrobe. Have a look through your finished projects and explain the seasonality of your craft to your readers. Do you make warm woollens the whole year through in preparation for the colder months, or do you live somewhere that never feels the chill and so invest your time in beautiful homewares and delicate lace items. How does your local seasonal weather affect your craft?

Having thought about this topic, I have come to the conclusion that it's not the seasons that determines what I am knitting, it's more where I am knitting. I try to knit every day if I can, even if it's just a couple of rows. I always have a plain vanilla sock on the go, easy knitting for a few minutes at lunch time, great for car knitting (I'm usually the passenger!) or for mindless knitting at the end of the day when my befuddled brain can't cope with anything more complicated! It usually lives in a project bag in my handbag. Here's one of the pair I've currently got on the needles. I use the Violet Green sock generator pattern as I've found it's a great fit.
Plain Vanilla socks no.7 WIP

As I already told you, I like to knit every day if I can, even on holiday. So I take great care when choosing what to take with me when we go away. It probably takes me longer than the rest of the packing put together!! Obviously it needs to be small enough to carry around with me, and not take up too much space or baggage allowance!! That rules out chunky sweaters! It also needs to be reasonably simple, so that I can carry on a conversation whilst knitting. I don't want to be accused of being antisocial! So that rules out anything too lacy! Socks, scarves and baby items have all been knit by me during holidays! This photo shows you pretty much my perfect view!
Greece 2010 188

So apart from a sock, what else do I have on the go at any one time? Well, I like to have something 'meaty' that I can get stuck into when I can knit undisturbed (either by Mr JK or the cat!) This usually requires some degree of concentration, and might be a jumper or cardigan, or perhaps something lacy. Currently I have a jumper and a lace scarf on the go. I had hoped that the jumper would be ready to wear this winter, but other projects got in the way, so it will tick over now until the autumn. I'll probably get it finished during the summer holidays. That is, if I can prise it away from Florence, who seems to think that I'm knitting it especially for her!!
flo's new blankie (3)

And then, of course, there is the unexpected project that keeps calling out to you until you can resist the temptation no longer. At the moment, it is this that I keep being drawn to. I love it, but amazingly, don't have three matching skeins amongst my stash to knit it. And as I am trying to be good .......... it must sit on the back burner for the moment! For how long, only time will tell!!

9 comments:

Kim Sonksen said...

Oh goody, I don't feel so weird anymore for carrying some "on-the-go" project with me wherever and whenever I go. I would get hook'n'needle withdrawels otherwise.
LOVE your post today!

Sue ~ Granny's World said...

my cat does that all the time

polkaknits said...

Photo from the beach is just great! It seems like perfect holiday :-)
I don't have "on the go" project. I knit in the evenings when my DD goes to sleep.
Great post!

Anonymous said...

Scrabble, knitting, a book, and a beach - what more could you want?

Ronnie Anderson said...

Yep always have that small handy of the go project to take with me.

Sparkle and Co said...

The last picture makes me want to stay on the beach right now!

Helsie said...

I think you are amazing to take knitting on the beach with all that sand around. I'd be a real mess.
cheers

Misty said...

Love your sock! What yarn is it? I haven't heard of the sock pattern generator (I am just getting into sock knitting), I will have to check it out.

Misty
www.crochetyourway.com

kathy b said...

gorgeous sock. Gorgeous beach knit....and gorgeous cat