I am remiss in not getting this out sooner…

The results from the “what’s your favorite project to work on” survey showed that most of you are working on more than one project at a time (go figure).  What did come out is that there are “travel projects” and “home projects”. 

Travel projects, as you may have surmised from your own knitterly habits, are small projects that can be easily stashed in a ziplock, purse, briefcase or pocket.  Socks were very popular, as were squares that could be assembled into a blanket at a later time.  Ease and portability were key – small enough to pull out and knit a couple of rows (or more, depending on the amount of time waiting at the doctor’s, or how riveting a child’s sporting event was).  The pattern was simple - no worries of intricate pattern repeats and charts to keep track of.

Some of our sock knitters can whip up a pair in their sleep.  And there have been other stories of yarn and double points being flung across the room (perhaps the “join together without twisting” step had been overlooked?).  While I have not yet tried the technique myself, I would be a candidate of knitting two socks at a time on 2 circular needles.  Admittedly, I suffer from second sock syndrome and must often force myself to make the sibling of the first sock, which often does not turn out to be an identical twin…  There is another technique of knitting one sock inside the other (found in an old volume on double knitting techniques).  Reading through the directions was more than my brain could wrap itself around, but it is one of those things to be investigated further, at some quiet moment when there is no chance of being disturbed. 

Scarves were another portable project that kept popping up.  Easy pattern repeats (like Old Shale), are good travelers.  The narrow and lightweight versions made the grade.  Bulky, or stole-like projects were better left at home.

And for the home projects, well, these ranged from sweaters, vests and afghans to shawls and lace.  There are no bounds to what people have going on.  For many of us, sweaters or a lace shawl take longer to knit up than we’d like.  Busy schedules keep us from having large blocks of time for knitting, but we work on these projects as we can.  Sometimes we hit roadblocks (either in technique or just a malaise with the project itself), but often do return to the project to finish it up eventually.  I liken this to mathematical or accounting errors – sometimes the more you look for the problem, the worse it gets.  Walking away for a while clears the head and lets you approach things from a different perspective when you return – often resulting in the head-slapping gesture of “why didn’t I see that before”?! 

Lastly, and in a category all its own, is baby knitting.  I was interested to see how many people were working on baby items – for grandchildren, expectant friends or your own wee ones.  Hats, bibs, kimono jackets, blankets, dresses and sweaters.  Sweet, every one of them.  These were both “travel” and “at home” projects. There are some lucky little people out there waiting to be swaddled in handknits.

So, true to form, there are no rules, no dominant knitting project, or style.  Our diversity makes for great conversation, and sharing of ideas and techniques - which is how it should be!  Knitters should rule the world.

Peace & Love,

Liz