{"id":62,"date":"2012-07-06T12:01:24","date_gmt":"2012-07-06T16:01:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lindaarbuckle.com\/lindaarbuckle-blog\/?p=62"},"modified":"2012-07-07T09:05:51","modified_gmt":"2012-07-07T13:05:51","slug":"knitting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lindaarbuckle.com\/lindaarbuckle-blog\/knitting\/","title":{"rendered":"Knitting"},"content":{"rendered":"

In addtion to pottery, knitting is a chance to use color, pattern, tools and techniques in the service of a functional product. Knitting is handy when you need a portable project – e.g. when you’re recovering in bed, or have l-o-n-g waits for medical or vet appointments. I’ve become a more patient waiter since I started taking my knitting. I see the delay as an opportunity to indulge in something daily life doesn’t readily afford. Since my knee replacements, I always have a project on my needles. There is an amazing online, free group for needle arts, Ravelry.com<\/a>. Like the ceramics community, it’s full of friendly people who have a need to make. It supports itself through ads, and provides a great free yarn and pattern database, and a place for people to post works, find out about yarn, share info with other knitters, and have interest-group discussions. There’s a Mystery Shawl Knit-Along with one of my favorite pattern designers, Stephen West, coming up, and waves of people signing up for the weekly pattern installements.<\/p>\n

One of the interesting things about knitting is that it’s very hard to monetize the product of hand-knitting. It takes HOURS and HOURS to make socks. No one can afford them if the maker demands a living wage. So, people often knit for themselves, or gifts for those they value. Certainly, the supplies can be monetized, but most of them are inexpensive items – nothing close to buying a wheel and a kiln.<\/p>\n

Like ceramics, there are technical things to know, and process to deal with and from which to draw inspiration. Some days it’s a relief to know if you like the way something looks, and know you won’t have the alchemy of firing to deal with.<\/p>\n