May 16, 2012

Yarn Along #13

I'm joining Ginny's Yarn Along this week.

I had an interesting experience over the weekend that has stayed with me ever since and will likely persist for a while. My mother, the master knitter, read my new knitting design and had a lot to say about it. When I say read, I don't mean that she looked at my pattern notes. No, she looked at the baby cardigan that I had knit up and within seconds found teeny, tiny flaws from the neckline to the hem that I suppose I knew were there all along.


I've blogged before about how my mother doesn't use patterns and, in fact, has created her own designs but has never written them down. Over the last few weeks, I have painstakingly knit and re-knit, written down and erased an original baby cardigan design that has been buzzing in my head. It's been an eye-opening process, one that I'm still excited about but one that I have so much more to learn.


I'll admit that when my mother read my knitting, I was both impressed and deflated. After all, I was so pleased with myself for designing and knitting up my first baby cardigan. I whipped it out of my knitting bag with such pride. Instantly, what I thought was a huge accomplishment began to feel like a failure -- okay, I'm being dramatic but you know what I mean. She spotted small but important corrections that I need to make for this pattern to work well and I'm eternally grateful to have such a master knitter in my life. Of course, my first reaction was "how does she do that?" and my second was "bummer."

That evening, I read the most recent issue of The New Yorker which profiled the visual artist Sarah Sze. She creates huge, multi-media installations and her career has been prolific even though she's only in her early 40s. A comment that she made helped me feel a whole lot better:  not every installation that she creates is a success and she sees each configuration (even the ones that fall apart) as a draft. Like good writing, drafts are necessary and vital to the success of the final project.

I'm on draft #3, and I'm getting there.  Stay tuned!






22 comments:

  1. How exciting about your work and so special to have your mom working with you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It is super exciting that you're writing a pattern - and it sounds like you're dealing with your mum's constructive criticism very well :) I can't wait to see it all finished...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Once a mom always a mom right? Sounds like she just wants the best from you and was trying to help. I hope when you finish all your drafts we can see the pattern. I am so impressed that you are just writing your own pattern, wow! Looks like talent runs in the family! :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Constructive criticism is a good thing. It can deflate our ego, but in the end it's all good. Keep persisting! And you are lucky to have such a walking wealth of knowledge to help!

    ReplyDelete
  5. oooh constructive is good, but I'm sorry you felt so deflated, however it sounds like you've already moved on and are planning how to attack it next. I'd love to design a cardigan - I'm still on designing shawls!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Keep at it and I'm sure the finished design will be fabulous! How exciting to have a mom who can help you along with design...what a great resource to have at your fingertips.

    ReplyDelete
  7. That's great I wish I had that kind of resource. My mom painfully admitted that I've surpassed her knitting skills and she never thought I would love knitting so much. Good luck with your pattern!

    ReplyDelete
  8. "Like good writing, drafts are necessary and vital to the success of the final project."
    So, so true. In the end, taking the time to get it just right will be more than worth the effort :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Having such an experienced knitter (not that you aren't also experienced) is such an asset! I am well acquainted with that crappy feeling when all that hard work is does not pay off immediately. This is going to be an amazing design, there is no doubt about it. I can only imagine how much you are learning through this process though!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow, I wish I had the nerve to attempt my own pattern. (I also wish I had a master knitter in my life to show me what I'm doing wrong.) And I totally agree about "drafts." Everything is a learning process. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hang in there! You can do it. Very important to work out the bugs in a pattern.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I just looked up Sarah Sze, amazing work! Sorry that your pattern isn't quite there yet. I bet that, as much at it stinks to get critiqued like that, in the end it will make you so much better and your pattern will be great!

    ReplyDelete
  13. That's amazing. I've always thought knitting, like music, was another language to learn to read (and 'write'). Any chance your mum can come visit me for a while? ;)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Cool to have someone so talented to help you perfect your pattern - but I totally get the deflation. I'm sure it will be gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  15. you are doing a great job! the fact that you are willing to do so many drafts shows dedication! im in baby knitting mood, so i look forward to casting this on when its finished!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I know that your hard work and determination is going to be rewarded with a great pattern. The fact that you are working on draft#3 with your mom's words of knitterly wisdom in mind shows that you are already on your way to being a good designer.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Don't you just love how mum's can do that to us! Keep going and you are right she was only trying to help....the sneek peek looks lovely :-)

    ReplyDelete
  18. How lucky you are to inherit your mums super knitting skills, and have her about to help you out. I see why you feel deflated by her seeing the flaws in it, but persist! I'm quite new to designing too and I think my process is a bit messy - I knit and write as I go along - and I long for the day I can just draw everything out and then make it, but I think that comes with experience and practice. And confidence and patience! Maybe I'm just too keen to get knitting!

    The cardigan looks lovely though, I'm looking forward to seeing it finished!

    ReplyDelete
  19. How lucky you are to inherit your mums super knitting skills, and have her about to help you out. I see why you feel deflated by her seeing the flaws in it, but persist! I'm quite new to designing too and I think my process is a bit messy - I knit and write as I go along - and I long for the day I can just draw everything out and then make it, but I think that comes with experience and practice. And confidence and patience! Maybe I'm just too keen to get knitting!

    The cardigan looks lovely though, I'm looking forward to seeing it finished!

    ReplyDelete
  20. So true. Drafts are very important. It is great that your mom has that ability to read stitches so well.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I hope it's ok this time! Love the colour

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'm sure your sweater will be wonderful once you've perfected it. It's great that you have such a fantastic knitter in your life to help you! Good luck!

    ReplyDelete