Even if I didn’t work at home, I think my desk might look like this. Ok, maybe one less pair of socks. When I commuted to a job, I always had knitting handy for traveling, and to pick up during downtime and meetings. It is how one gets things done! Well, this is how I get certain things done anyway. Especially projects that might otherwise be tedious, like scarves and socks. These are well-suited to travel and meetings; I don’t have to think about the stitches much and can do them on auto-pilot, more or less. I can do them while I listen, and they may even help me focus better on what is being said. AND, they keep me from fidgeting and going into mental gymnastics (which I am particularly susceptible to when others are talking).
But why, might you say, would I be working on something I consider tedious in the first place? Oh, I dunno! It just happens. Like right here: I love having white socks, but this is the second or third pair I’ve made, and each pair has taken me forever to complete, due to project interruptus. I don’t know what the problem is; I use handspun yarn that I love, but about 2 inches into the cuff, my eyes glaze over and I can hardly get myself to make another stitch. Usually doing the cuff in a cute stitch pattern helps move things along, but not in white socks. I’d MUCH rather work on those dark tweed ones! In fact, I started those last night, and got about 3 or 4 inches into them and decided they were a little wide, so this morning I ripped back and started over. No problem! I could never do that with the white ones.
Part of it is stash guilt; last year I spun up a whole bunch of off-white sock yarn, inspired by the vision of a set of three pair of aran socks. Huh. Then I started this first pair and have almost DIED of boredom. But I have all that yarn now! I know I should just dye it. But I’m afraid if I start with the dyes, I won’t want to stop.
After all, I have a meeting with a big knitting to-do list next!
Cover image yarn: Finn Dandy Sport
Originally posted by Anne Hanson on March 8th, 2006
