The yarn is not itchy, it’s me. I feel kinda itchy when I’ve got nothing on my needles! Do you ever feel that way?
I usually work for a while after the kids are in bed. Then around 10 or so I head downstairs for a cup of tea, maybe a snack, a little TV time with my better half…and some knitting. I wonder sometimes when I have so many projects going on, why I continue to “make” even during my chill-out time. Knitting is different somehow. Most projects involve some thought, but much of it is motor memory. When my hands are on auto-pilot, my mind can just relax and escape. I look forward to it.
What’s your crafty escape mechanism?
definately knitting. It is so soothing for me to knit. It is calming and it has gotten me through many bumps in the road.
I feel the same way about crochet. I haven’t tried knitting because I love the simplicity of using just a hook. There is something extremely calming about creating something with minimal effort. I ALWAYS have a yarn project going—and quite a few lined up waiting for me.
My escape is crochet, for sure. I’ve always got something going, and several others in the works. But I plan to conquer knitting someday, too…
for me, it’s handsewing….anything i can do in my lap…applique, embroidery or patching holey overalls…i like it all!
I do that with my cross stitch. I can sit down at night and listen to the tv and stitch and all the world seems to melt away. Ahhh…
I feel the same way about knitting. Really any sort of fiber craft done by hand. Something about the feel of fabric or thread or yarn just causes the stress of the day away.
My escape is cutting out paper butterflies and flowers while I watch/listen to the TV.
And, it’s usually after 10pm, too 🙂
Any kind of handwork is great: hand embroidery (usually embellish my quilts), sewing on the binding, hand piecing. I do a lot of work by machine, but quiet time with better half and the TV require handwork. I have recently drifted back to knitting and am loving it. I am doing very simple work for now and that is just the ticket. Thanks for asking.
Jaye
http://artquiltmaker.com/blog
Ultimate date night in our house is going to a movie with my knitting and sneaking in some burritos from the local taco stand. Sometimes we sneak libations in too, but always the knitting.
I papercraft a lot, but nothing beats sitting in front of the TV with some knitting.My 10 year ols still refuses to go to bed alne, says he is afraid to be alone in the upstairs of the house. So, my bedtiem is often 9PM. I’d like to stay up late like an adult. I do have TV in my room so I can watch CSI and other child inappropriate shows.
Crocheting is something I can do on auto-pilot usually and doodling on paper.
I would have to go with crochet also. I don’t usually have anything specific in mind when I sit down with my hook and yarn, just the act alone is enough. Sometimes I end up with some truly awesome creations, other times, I just end up with a square or rectangle (that can usually be turned into a bag of some sort).
So glad I started crocheting 🙂
my escape is anything that I can take with me – knitting, crochet, embroidery – I seem to get more done if I can take it in my handbag and do some when I have time to spare and don’t want to waste it!
ps I totally love that wooden knitting container (I guess it’s not really a basket, didn’t know what else to call it!) what a lovely way to store a current project or some wool waiting to become a project!
i agree. knitting is my chill out and think activity. sewing requires lots of concentration and can be a handful. something on the needles just chills everything out.
I certainly can’t knit like that, I wish I could! Sewing, now that I just GO at…
Your picture of yarn is so pretty! I love your colors 🙂
Knitting for me as well. If I’m not knitting while watching TV in the evening, well then, I’m usually falling asleep. Knitting relaxes me and helps keep me awake!
I so agree! Well, I don’t knit, but I always have to be doing something with myself. I just can’t not be creative.
I do craft a lot, but unfortunately for production aspect of the whole thing, my escape is always just looking and imagining. I enjoy sitting for long stretches of time looking at my collection of crafting books and thinking about what I will do next, someday or soon. I take time to think of every aspect of the project what materials, from where, who to gift them to. All of this thought is beneficial because I can totally lose myself in the hypothetical project for a minute without the pressure of actually getting something going and then when the moment comes, I can get started right away without any doubt as to how it will progress and turn out.
Knitting or crochet for me. I like to knit mindlessly, lately, for the last couple of years it has been dishcloths. A bit lame, I know, but i seem to really enjoy knitting these, just the magic square pattern where the decrease is done in the centre of the row. I have a huge stash of cotton sourced from opportunity shops so i guess my friends and family will be given dishcloths for evermore! With crochet, I make blankets. I started with peggy squares because the squares are so easy when chillaxing in the evening, and have made many, many of these. I’ve been doing fabulous chevron blankets in mohair for about 3 years (and have a huge stash of mohair too). I’ve given mohair blankets to all the family for their significant birthdays…what will I do with any more I make? have a look, I’ve put some of them here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/36259386868@N01/4267911701/ I always have something on the go.
Either knitting or crochet for me. The rhythm is soothing, and like said before, not having to think is a plus… Also, because I don’t have a studio, and have a very small house, getting The Machine out makes sewing less relaxing. Wool art it is!
Some days ago I wrote a short post in my blog about the knitting…. you can check it here:
http://zazalea.blogspot.com/2010/05/woodland-shawl.html
It’s interesting how people think (almost) the same at the same time… :o)))