Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Knitting and Moving



It's been a busy week with lots of lovely social stuff. There was dinner and drinks with friends to start the weekend, and then an overnight visit from a dear old pal with her two little monkeys. Throughout both of those occasions I knitted. It seems as soon as I can grab a moment to sit, I gather up my needles and knit. I've been stealing a row here and a row there, several times a day, every day of the week. Knitting whilst chatting. Knitting whilst sipping. Knitting whilst watching 'The Slap' on the ABC (so good). Even knitting whilst working.

There was a brief, beautiful moment a couple of evenings ago when, bellies full of dinner, my three girls collapsed onto the rug, each with a book. Pearl lay on her back holding a picture book open above her. Lola sat flicking through one of her heavy storybooks. And Stella got busy with her favourite lift-the-flap books. It was a rare peaceful moment, made all the more unusual by the fact that when I snuck over to the couch to grab my knitting, none of them looked up, dropped what they were doing, ran to climb on me, demanded my attention. And so I knitted and they read.

And yet for all the clickety-clicking of the past week, I'm still going on the grass green scarf. It's not far from done, but still... And it got me thinking about other knitters, prolific knitters who seem to be able to churn out an adult-size cardigan in a week, socks in a day or two, huge shawls in the time it would take me to finish a few epic rows. I wonder are they super-fast in their technique or do they just sit and knit all day long without interruption? At times when I'm on a roll with my knitting, it seems I'm always searching, searching for extra hidden moments in the day when I can work a row or two, even a stitch or two, ever progressing towards the cast-off. But there's the fuss of pulling the knitting from the bag, arranging myself, finding where I'm up to. And without fail, I'll be interrupted to attend to an urgent request or break up a screaming match or wipe up a spill. 


What I need is to be able to knit on the move. I need some sort of contraption that allows me to wear my knitting around my neck so it can hang there when I'm not using it, and is easily accessible when I want it. Like those reading glasses that hang on a necklace. It'll be streamlined, time-saving, efficient. I could knit whilst waiting for the kettle to boil, the sink to fill, the kid to finish on the loo - all those handfuls of seconds when progress could be made on a scarf or cardigan.


Think of the possibilities. Knitting at traffic lights, while jogging, waiting in line at the supermarket, riding a horse... I feel excited and slightly manic just thinking about it.

Ahhh, knitting, such a relaxing pastime...


Joining in with the Yarn Along, as usual.

20 comments:

  1. I knit faster because of practise first- but also because I can knit without looking LOL
    I have also found that knitting whilest watching the kids do school is a good thing. So knitting in any hands free time is what I do...

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  2. that quiet micro moment sounds idyllic - I love seeing little ones totally absorbed in something (and of course if it gets a few more rows done...!)

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  3. What a sweet picture of your three girls with their books. As they get older you will definitely have more time to knit. As far as those knitters who turn things out quickly, they probably have more free time on their hands than you do. When you get that invention patented let me know, I will be first in line!

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  4. i agree, as your children grow, so does your knitting time. love the little book reader. :)

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  5. You sound like you are at a similar place to me when it comes to knitting. If you discover a way to get knits to hang around your neck, allowing you to knit and perform the tasks you mentioned, let me know, I'd be very interested! Hope you find some more micro knitting sessions in your week. Jacinta

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  6. Knitting on the move sounds excellent ;) I have actually seen someone walking down the street knitting... He (yes, he!) had the yarn in a little bag around his neck... Might be worth considering ;)

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  7. I've been wondering the same thing today Greer. After reading yours comments and some contemplation, I think it is a few things; practice, and this equals speed, plus the older children factor. A suggestion for knitting around your neck; get a shoulder bag, sort of like a linen/canvas library bag, sling it over your head place knitting inside and when you are not using it sling it around on your back. Ha ha. Might very well work! Best of luck, Katie x

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  8. Knitting on the move - hmmm, I'd have to keep stopping to deal with the littlies. I find that repetive patterns always seem to take forever, whereas the complicated ones seem quicker. More captivating maybe? Love the plittle book reader, gorgeous.

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  9. If I knit on the move I think I would be struck down by a vehicle or trip on something. Great idea though! The older my two got, the more I was able to knit. I promise it will happen to you :)

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  10. I think it's the latter. More uninterrupted time. I knit a bit in the car when my husband or my teen (ack!) is driving (and on occasion while I'm stopped at red lights or a train but shh...don't tell anyone!). Little children need you in a more direct, pounce-on-you-will-you-read-me-a-story kind of way than older children, so your time is limited. It's a season. Pretty soon, you'll be in a different season where your knitting needles will get more of a regular workout and you'll be pining for those times when they were little...(at least I am).

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  11. Sweet photo of your little girl!
    Maybe you could get one of those knitting belts that women used in the Shetland Islands so they could knit while walking home from gathering peat - with the huge baskets on their backs ;).
    And love your gorgeous green scarf - great color!

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  12. The green of your scarf is to die for! Let me know if you get your contraption invented...I'd like to buy one!

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  13. Love the idea of working on the move! I often try to crochet while following the kiddos around outside - I usually end up sticking the yarn in a pocket and the project around my neck like a giant scarf!

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  14. Sometimes I put a ball of yarn in my coat or apron and knit while walking around outside.

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  15. I'm with you. I wish I could knit and read, knit and do the dishes, knit and fold clothes. I know many people can knit when they're on a road trip (in the passenger seat of course!) but I get too carsick doing that and that always has bothered me.

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  16. I have been thinking these same thoughts of late, and loved reading through the comments full of helpful suggestions and reassurance that time for knitting will grow as little ones grow. You have a beautiful space here--blessings on your little ones, and your knitting, and yourself!

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  17. Knitting on the move can sometimes prove a bit of a challenge, thats why I took up crochet as well. Crochet projects are easy to pop in your handbag and it doesn't really matter if it slips off the hook as its so easy to fix. Having said that, I have been known to knit in the strangest of places. LOL

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  18. I love the idea of the knitting contraption! My knitting tends to be limited to when the kids are asleep which doesn't leave much time.

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  19. Supermom. So many beautiful things from her hands!

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  20. i wish i had the luxury of being able to knit all day - i could knit so many lovely things!!!

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