Comments on: Evolution of a Knitter: A Year of Sweaters

By: Gabby

Gabby — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 22:30:40 +0000

I love it. I wish the pictures still linked. What a wonderful comparison- so inspiring.

By: hollylisle

hollylisle — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 14:22:54 +0000

BookLover—The 100-Lb. Sweater weighs just a little less than a bearskin. And looking at it through your eyes, I see that it might be made into a rug. Interesting thought … would be considerably more useful on my floor than as a massive tumor in my closet, hanging on a hanger in a plastic bag.

Thanks. Something to think about.

By: sundart

sundart — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 13:56:14 +0000

Huh. I didn’t realize that WEBS had more than just the store I’m familiar with, in Northampton, Mass.

Thanks for the post. I could use some inspiration to persevere today.

By: Tambo

Tambo — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 13:05:30 +0000

Another great post, Holly. Thank you!

I’m a self-taught quilter and writer, and I can definitely see the allegory betwen the two processes. I find it especially interesting that your knitting materials improved along with your skill and creativity. My quilting fabrics and tools did the exact same thing, starting from the bargain basement and moving steadily upward along with my ability to achieve the desired effect. There were many, many failures along the way, but they helped a LOT in understanding and appreciating the process and the reasoning behind it, as well as when and how to break the rules.

I wonder how many creative people get fed up with the oh-so-necessary beginning steps and never keep making the little, systematic improvements to fully learn and understand their craft. It seems like so many expect to create the perfect work of art from the first moment they sit down to make it, even if they’d never tried their hand at it before.

It’s an awesome essay and, in many ways, a good companion to the Smiling Addiction video. Least I think so.

By: S William Shaw

S William Shaw — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 05:40:01 +0000

I can honestly say that was the longest post on sweaters I have ever seen.

By: fionaphoenix

fionaphoenix — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 00:31:50 +0000

You and the Yarn Harlot have both written very inspirational essays today. I’ve had a similar journey with knitting. Thanks for reminding me how it also applies to writing.

By: BookLover

BookLover — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 00:05:01 +0000

Oh thank you! My tummy still hurts from laughing out loud so hard — when I came to 100 pound coat, and clicked to enlarge the picture — It struck me immediately like a trophy fur to lay in front of the fireplace, only this was clearly one with a STORY behind it, of the trials the Great Game Hunter went through to bag this beauty. I can picture your grandkids crawling around on the 100 pound coat someday, and you telling them the story of how grandma wrestled that bear!

I’m in the ‘my writing is so ugly it should be shot’ stage, and I so needed your marvelous blog today. So I’m gonna do NaNoWriMo again after all.

Thank you Holly.

By: TinaK

TinaK — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 23:43:48 +0000

Wow, what a post and what a journey! Both in knitting and in writing. Thanks Holly, for sharing.

By: The English Rose

The English Rose — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 18:58:20 +0000

That was long but worth it. I needed to hear it cuz I seem to perpetually be in a Writing Funk ™ lately. I think it’s actually because I’m growing and becoming aware of my problems and need for improvement, whereas before I just wrote blissfully but ignorantly. And re-reading it, I see that it is bad but has some spark of potential. At least I *hope* it’s because I’m growing. Time will tell on that, now won’t it?

I taught myself to knit but only do basic basic scarves… I don’t remember how to finish it off or start something; must look it up again (been too long since I worked on anything!). I hurt my wrists easily doing it for too long so it’s rare that I do it. I think I’d rather draw. All the women in my family quilt but I’m still a bit dubious. (Although Tambo makes me want to even more cuz she’s really good!)