I have a tendency to prefer instant-gratification projects. And so here I am on my second long-term project in as many months, and I find myself dragging, feeling bored and uninspired by the miles of stockinette. There has been grumbling, and a bit of negativity. Ok, a lot of negativity.
But this weekend I decided something: I don’t want to knit unpleasantness into every stitch. This is a gift for my son, and I want it to be made with feelings of affection in mind.
So I decided on a change of attitude. I decided to enjoy the process. I lit a candle, put on my Baroque radio station, and let the peace of the moment wash over me.
I still have a hood, a whole sleeve and a bit of another sleeve to finish. That’s a lot of time for lighting candles and fighting off the urge to grumble, but I think I can do it. And if I can’t, I’ll take a break and dive into a relatively short-term side project until I feel better.
I actually already have one picked out… what can I say? I know me!
A kindred spirit! I’m finding the same thing with my course at university. I’m managing to banish the grumps that accompany the hours of Spanish literature and grammar textbooks: something I never thought I would achieve! I recently realised that the reason I get distracted by video games like Sims is because I like watching the instant progress in the little mini lives – so I decided to start looking at my coursework that way and just notice when I finish a set of questions or a unit. It’s working! I’m sure you can do it too 🙂
Also, you’re left handed? We totally make the best crafters 😉
Thanks for the encouragement! My crafty brain just loves the creative and new stuff, but has trouble with the same-old same-old. Little milestones do help though. I just finished the first sleeve last night and am rewarding myself by taking a break and doing a more interesting project for a little while 🙂
P.S. I’m not left-handed, but I do knit that way – I could never get the hang of it any other way!
That’s so crazy because I *am* left handed but I knit right-handed. In fact, I do everything right-handed except things that involve pens or brushes. Isn’t it weird how brains are wired up?
How funny! Brains are interesting things 🙂
I actually love plain knitting to do while I am watching my children during soccer practice and games and things like that. I can pick up plain knitting while I’m stopped at a stop light or in traffic or while reading a book or watching a movie. So, go ahead and start that new and exciting project but pick up the plain knitting while you are multitasking. Just forget about how boring it is and it will be done before you know it.
That’s a good point… It’s hard to just pick up a complicated cable pattern while on the school pickup line 🙂
Each time, before you start knitting on it, say a prayer for your son. Then you will be filled with love for him and want to knit this sweater out of love. It helps keep the grumbles at bay. And/or you could take a break and knit those handwarmers. I’ll be picking up some yarn to make those today!
What a nice way of thinking about it. I’ll have to try to remember that 🙂
And I’m definitely doing those handwarmers. Just cast on last night, to reward myself for finishing the sweater sleeve. They’re going to be a gift for my MIL’s birthday, if I can finish in time. I’ve got nine days…