Knitter's Logic

Knitters are smart, talented and engaged. But when they look at life, they tend to see it through rosy yarn-covered spectacles.

This phenomenon is known as "Knitter’s Logic." Let's take a look.

When non-knitters learn a major snowstorm is headed their way, they stock the pantry, buy salt to melt snow and ice, stow emergency supplies in the car, and make sure the snow shovel is at the ready.

As knitters, on the other hand, we're likely to rummage through our stashes and calculate how many yards we might be able to knit if we're snowed in for three days. We're equally likely to bundle up and make one last dash to the yarn store, just in case. That’s Knitter’s Logic.

Many of us have had the disconcerting experience of realizing we might run out of yarn before we finish what we're working on. We handle this dilemma in different ways. Some of us knit faster, certain increased speed will make the yarn go farther. Some knit slower, for the same reason. Others measure and remeasure the remaining yarn (preferably after every row) in the mystical hope more yarn has magically materialized. That’s Knitter’s Logic.

As you know, when I hit a knitting roadblock or need a simple project to occupy my hands, I make fingerless mitts. They’re fast, easy and functional. But at a certain point, how many mitts are too many? Knitters don't even blink: Too many mitts? There’s no such thing, as long as you have space to store them. That’s Knitter’s Logic.

As knitters, we cheerfully bypass designer sweaters marked down to true bargain-basement prices and opt instead to order a pattern ($7), track down the perfect yarn ($150), pay for rush shipping ($20), and invest countless hours making the same sweater, or something darn close. That’s Knitter’s Logic.

If you’ve read my Profile page, you know it leads with this: More ideas than patterns. More patterns than books. More books than wool. More wool than time. Naturally, I started a blog.

That, too, is Knitter’s Logic.

Knitting helps shape my world, structure my time, determine my priorities, blow my budget, challenge my brain, test my talents and stretch my patience.

Knitting keeps me sane and drives me crazy. Is that Knitter's Logic? Or is it a sign my obsession with knitting might be just a teensy bit over the top?


PS: Because someone asked, the photo shows work in progress for these absurdly simple, stashbusting reversible mitts:

Ravelry notes: SuperSimple Mitts
Yarn: Merino 5 (Crystal Palace)
Color: Mer du Sud
Stitch: Twisted garter
Pattern: Improvised