Thursday, November 11, 2010

DOWNLOAD INTERVENTION

The internet has taken over my life.  When I get to work in the morning I check into Ravelry long before I look at my business email.  Later, I might sneak a peek at Knitty or Amazon or one of my MANY 'favorite' blogspots, gotta see what my friends and fellow knitters/spinners/beaders/quilters/painters/poets are up to!  Before I know it, I've lost an hour or so and have to make up that time during lunch, or worse - report in early...(so that I can check into Ravelry before the day officially gets underway)  And what is worse are the massive amount of patterns out there that are BEGGING me to select them.  At this very moment I have perhaps four piles (each measuring in at over three feet tall) of downloaded patterns that don't have a snowball's chance in hell of being created in this lifetime!  And yet; I. KEEP. ON. DOWNLOADING!!!!  So, I took a long, ragged deep breath and thought about intervention.


Where would I turn - to whom, for download intervention?


It occurs to me that I have been longing for a 'step back' from all that is bright and new, shiny and innovative about the knitting world.  I want to go back and spend some time with my beloved books of patterns and ideas - the ones that I have collected throughout the last two decades and really - have neglected for some time now.  This is the source - this is where I will find inspiration and solitude and renewed creativity.  My intervention.  The beauty part -all of the patterns lie within these books.  Zero downloading.  Here is one of my all-time favorites- 
I truly love Jo Sharp's creations.  I own most of her books and have always enjoyed every pattern that I've made.  The problem?  I do not love her yarn.  I find it stiff and uncomfortable - hairy and itchy!  And, I don't know -  is it even available any longer?  Her patterns are impeccable - classic - extraordinary.  This one has been calling to me for decades -
I'm ready to knit this beauty - 'Woodswallow'.  Does anyone want to join me?
It had me at the collar.  How pretty would this be in a deep crimson for Christmas with charcoal or black fair isle?  Or maybe a creamy winter white with taupe - or a handsome hand painted Something with an equally juicy contrast?  Timeless.
If something clings to your long memory, it needs to be honored.  I want to go to my closet and find this lovely cardigan waiting for me.  This year, and next.  And after that as well.


My butterscotch alpaca Mara came to work with me today.  I never even lifted her out of my knitting bag.  
It's all good.  If I cannot find time to knit a few rows during my work day, I am happy knowing that the knitting bag is close by and at the ready.   








5 comments:

JelliDonut said...

But it's harmless addiction, isn't it? ISN'T IT?!?!?!

Diana LaMarre said...

Hi Jody,
Although I don't knit, I understand your addiction. I have printed off hundreds of quilt patterns that I will never make...........but, just in case, -------I want to have them!

It is so much fun though, don't you think?

sophanne said...

We are trying to fill soMe bottomless pit called "enough" when we download. I am the same. That's what in think. It might not really hurt me but I wonder hownmuch it helps.

Bea said...

The sweater is really cute. I like that one on the cover too. I'm not usually one for the download. I generally only do so right when I'm ready to knit something. I almost never even bookmark a page and generally don't do much with my queue on Ravelry unless I have something in mind, then I'm queuing or bookmarking an idea. Once I have what I want I delete all the stuff I marked because I know I'll just go look again when I want a pattern. Works the same for quilting patterns.

MeinSie said...

Moi aussi, mon ami.
Although....I try not to print and I do hide the ones I do as Stephen would rather I draw than knit.