After reading (more than once) 24 pages of micro-print and playing around in Excel, I have learned some things about you and your yarn habits. The hit-me-between-the-eyes-with-a-pool-noodle (because I should have known it all along) surprise? YOUR BIGGEST KNITTING CHALLENGE DOES NOT INVOLVE YOUR HANDS TOUCHING YARN.
How do I know this? Because two weeks ago I started inviting people to join my knitting gaggle. So far . . .
• 358 of you are In the Loop
• as of yesterday, 240 of you had filled out the survey
• 88% of you are hand knitters, though half of you hand knitters also knit by machine
• 1% of you are “expert” knitters
• 8% of you are “beginners”
• 91% of you are somewhere in between
You still rely on books.
58% of you consult them when you need help.
Here was another surprise. 89% OF YOU GO TO YOUTUBE FOR HELP. YouTube just celebrated its 10th birthday. You get most of your knitting guidance from a 10-year-old. Is that prudent? Is it safe?
[This deserves an article all to itself. Later. Soon.]
What do you like to knit?
• 57% of you knit sweaters. This makes sense because I invited everyone who bought Sweater 101 from my website in the last 4 years.
• 58% of you love to make little things like scarves, mitts, socks, hats and shawls
• only 25% of you make blankets and afghans but
• 34% of you make baby things (Hi Grandmas, pregnant persons and friends of pregnant persons)
So with all these mountains and millions of stitches that you all have crafted, what is your single biggest challenge?
Time. That’s it. TIME
And what the heck is this thing called time, this thing you keep trying to find?
One of my favorite definitions is from Albert Einstein: “The only reason for time is so that everything doesn’t happen at once,” or, as a physicist friend once explained to me,”Time is what keeps us from running into one another when we walk through this doorway.”
From my beloved, tattered,1964 edition of THE AMERICAN COLLEGE DICTIONARY: “—n. 1. the system of those relations which any event has to any other as past, present, or future; indefinite continuous duration regarded as that in which events succeed one another.”
However you understand it, YOUR TIME (mine too) IS FINITE. And we are swimming in a sea of information and physical stuff and opportunities to watch dogs sing and babies bite their siblings’ fingers, and to share meals with family and to do Sudoku. It’s alluring. All of it.
BUT TIME IS SHORT AND YARN IS LONG. How do we choose?
I recently read an article by Ash Ambirge entitled “Turns Out, You *Can’t* Do It All—So How Do You Pick?” Her sparkling recommendation? “Pick what’ll still be fantastic five years from now. Leave what’ll only be fantastic for five weeks.” I like that. A lot.
We all have an expiration date. And until mine arrives, I’ll keep showing up and playing with the things I think will still be fantastic five years from now. That lovingly knit afghan will still be fantastic whether I’m here or not . . . and that . . . is a comforting thought.
How did it get so late so soon?
It’s night before it’s afternoon.
December is here before it’s June.
My goodness how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?
~Dr. Seuss
YouTube helps me make sense of the knitting books I have. One huge tome, “The Principles of Knitting” by June Hemmons Hiatt, in particular. It’s a wonderful book, and I totally admire her for putting all those tiny manipulations into words. Now though, I use the book to become aware that a stitch or technique exists, learn the name(s) of it, and then look on YouTube for a demonstration.
Same thing with “Sweater 101”, except it’s the other way around. I watch your videos, then later I refer to the book, as I’m trying to get the principles to settle nicely in place in my brain.
Thanks for your work!
As a new knitter the you tube has made it possible for me to learn.
Visual is so much easier. As a Grandma just starting out (10 months a knitter) it has been an enjoyable struggle.
Your article on patterns being a guideline was reassuring. My first lace shawl pattern, I can tell you was sooo frustrating because I hadn’t learned yet that patterns could be wrong, and I didn’t know about Ravelry yet, or You tube. I just picked up a knitting magazine and away I went. After all, I had already made a scarf, how hard could it be. On my. I found out after 12 tries (just one row)and dissecting every stitch that just because it is in print it doesnt make it right.Any way, I did get it done though and have moved on lesson in hand.
Thanks for your site which I just rediscovered, not sure noiw how I came about receiving it, but will look forward to it in the future
Merry Christmas.
Welcome Brenda and I’m glad you found us. I have helped so many people, especially beginners, correct a pattern that had a mistake and it’s such a frustrating experience for them. It’s almost as if every pattern should have a disclaimer at the top: “This Pattern May Contain Mistakes.” Thanks and Merry Christmas to you too.
I really enjoyed your first article to the club!!! Yep, TIME, is the biggest obstacle. With that said … gotta go! (I’m at work)
Thanks for the update. It is fascinating to see how my own interests mesh worth the interests of others in the knitting community. As for You Tube, it may only be 10, but adding up the years of combined experience of all the contributors I have found there it must be many hundreds of years old!
Yes Robyn . . . it appears I’m using a joking comment to set up a future article. 🙂
Yep, I am the one that uses Utube…I am a have to see it for myself person at times..(most of it) but I started out with you and I do know the difference when—hey, that is not what Cheryl told me to do!! I have found that many people have a different way of knitting, and that is great if it works for them, but I only have 3 people that I follow with Hand and Bond knitting..Just it is Not true , You can teach an ole dog new tricks..Keep the wonderful work up!!
Thanks Joan. There are many different ways to do things and I use YouTube too but it has some drawbacks. Thank you for your unflagging support over the years. It has helped me.
Cheryl, thanks for the quick post. I enjoyed the stats on knitters. I must admit when you asked what my biggest knitting problem was, my first thought was not enough time to knit. I really would be interested if you have the solution to simplifying my busy schedule. I look forward to what’s around the corner with this group, thanks for inviting me.
Somehow I must have missed the survey. Please send and I will complete. I need help in finishing sweaters….sewing up the seams, etc. Finishing projects is my biggest problem… help!!! Look forward to participating with you.
Looks like you were able to get to it this morning Elle and respond. Thanks.
I agree YouTube is “young”, but I have found some gems when I HAD to have a visual, i.e. fixing two-color brioche mistakes (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy7e3xRThJE&index=68&list=PLD8B343216D16CA54).
What a profound statement from “Dr.” Seuss. Though I know Theodor Geisel was a real doctor. My best life lessons come from Star Trek, the Original series.
How did I get to be 82 so fast? I don’t expect you to have the answer. Where did the time go?
Hi Cheryl. I am not sure I got to fill out the initial survey,
Love, Kathleen Bruce
I’ll go in and check Kathleen and I’ll send you the link via email if I can’t get it to work through the system.
Good article. Looking forward to more
Did I fill out the survey?? I certainly hope so. Perhaps I better check again. Love your knitting chalet, btw, and am very jealous. Before I can get my studio, I need to have the steps rebuilt as it is in the second story of one of the the barns here at the ranch. Who was it told me the lie that retirement would give me lots more time to knit???
I’ll check Robby and get a link to you somehow. I love the name “Knitting Chalet.” Thank you. 🙂
Thank you for this article Cheryl. It’s very informative and I’m glad you took the time to analyze the survey results. I would like to comment on the fact I, too, go to YouTube on a regular basis. Like if I can’t remember how to do the Turkish cast on or can’t remember how to start the Kitchener stitch when binding off on 2 needles.
I have learned some really great stitches and cool tips from wonderful teachers including Cat Bordi (for my socks) and you! I probably learned most of my advanced skills from YouTube. The benefits of actually watching the stitches being made and being able to pause the video or go back are so valuable to me.
I’ve found that some instructors may do the same stitch or pattern in different ways, so I’ve learned to watch 2 or 3 videos from different instructors and pick the parts I like best or that make the most sense for my project.
Thanks again. You’re very much appreciated,
Mona
Thanks for this thoughtful response Mona. I actually think that YouTube is a great resource. But as an educator of 50 years I am studying it as a tool. How do people use it in their everyday lives? How do I design programs that best fit how people use it? ETC.
On the business side there is, in fact, a danger to it. Google can shut down a channel in an instant if there is a breach of policy. I’m a super good-girl so I won’t do that, but there have been cases where this has been done in error and it’s difficult to impossible to correct. Google is wonderful but they don’t have an accessible customer service department for their YouTube Partners.
I started studying radio and television production in 1967 at the U of Michigan. Oh, the changes I’ve seen.
Time, that ever present ruler of our days. I was a time watcher in school throughout Jr High and my first years of college. I just couldn’t wait to get out of classes and time moved slow as molasses. Now days, I lose track of time mor often then not. I look at the clock at 10am and the next minute it seems it’s 5pm and I don’t know how I got there. Time goes slower when you look at it. Same principle as a ‘watched Pot never boils’.
Lord knows my tea kettle takes far more time to whistle when I’m standing in the kitchen, cup in hand.
Re your cute YouTube question “Would you trust a 10-year-old”:
Yes, I would because that 10-year-old offered your videos to me, introduced me to you with all your knowledge and teaching skills!:)
Thanks Maya. I’m grateful it introduced us as well. 🙂
I really enjoyed your writing back to us so soon with a tally of our submissions for the Club. I’m looking forward to what’s to come!