<musing>
I've spent the past few months quietly trawling through thousands of patterns and projects on Ravelry, rather than actually knitting. I'm sure I'm not the only Raveller that has that problem, but one thing has really stood out for me in all my browsing.
All of a sudden, knitting seems to have become really complex, and very professional. Now, it could just be my skewed perception, but it seems that when I started out (maybe 2001, 2002?) it was all basic arm-warmers and fancy cabled hats for the experts. Now it seems like every knitter can whip out an Estonion lace shawl or amazing intarsia sweater in three weeks, and I am starting to feel like a pupil who's been kept back so many times that I'm a college student in a kindergarten class.
Everyone has become so talented! The inspiration has just been amazing. And more importantly, it's taught me to not be afraid of stretching my skills. I have picked up projects that I'd never have even considered before (like the Christening Shawl, which has amended and final deadline: May 30).
And it's not only that I wouldn't have considered them -- a lot of the patterns wouldn't even exist without this new talented generation. So I guess my message (from this midnight musing) is really, keep up the good work, everyone. And maybe one day I will graduate to the next class up! Until that day, I will just have to keep trying...
</end musing>
agree. agree agree agree. and it's moved from the point where people were messing around, making up their own designs through trial and error and sharing them on the net, to people being able to live off the income they get from patterns. big jumps. big jumps.
Posted by: Clare | March 26, 2010 at 09:33 AM
Totally agree! I'm still trudging along with simple things while everyone's pulling out these gorgeous pieces! Then again, my mum, nanny and granny are astounded by what even I'm making compared to what they had. The designs, amazing range of squishy yarn, needles "what? -a CIRCULAR needle? Huh!"mean that we can make intricate things. Wendy
PS I too spend more time trawling through patterns atm than actual knitting. It's an addiction!
Posted by: Urbanpermie.wordpress.com | March 27, 2010 at 11:26 AM