Threads of a Creative Mojo

Sleek. Sexy. Chunky. Fun. Fabulous! These words are all appropriate when describing Vogue Knitting's Holiday 2009 edition. Honestly, they had me at, "Cowl."

One of these beguiling beauties is just the thing for both gift-giving and stash-busting. Chunky yarns? I has it by the suitcase. Some might say I over-bought. Three hyphenates in four sentences. Too much?

Now, for a brief update on another knitting project: my little friend, the Leaf Beret. I feel like I'm in that commercial for the online genealogical search engine - I finished my first leaf! If you recall, my first attempt did not go well. I went with a Louet sportweight wool this time and the quickie fit checks prove satisfactory. I won't go getting all excited, though. At least, not until that final decrease row. Then I'll be all *happy* dancing, which, for that vision alone, is worth the price of admission.

There is mounting evidence that, while impersonating a certain moribundity, my creative bits ain't dead yet. I started an abstract art class this week. There was an actual live, nude model. Even more, the artist teaching the class actually liked my interpretation of California Expressionism. Go figure.

Michigan Avenue Photo Safari

There's nothing soft, warm or nurturing in this Coca-Cola can creation displayed on Chicago's Michigan Avenue. But is it creative? Inspired? Of that there is no doubt! From the pull-tab corset to the crimped fan of the aluminum skirt, my mind wanders all about trying to figure out, "What did they do here? How did the artist figure that out? How much ended up on the cutting room floor before this metallic confection emerged?

Questions, questions. Isn't that the beginning of the entire creative process? The dress forms are the result of the retailers association's collaboration with local artists and design students to create an eco-friendly public art installation that stresses reuse and recycling of materials.

Just Like Starting Over

"It's been too long since we took the time
No-one's to blame, I know time flies so quickly
But when I see you darling
It's like we both are falling in love again
It'll be just like starting over, starting over" - John Lennon

I'm working on rediscovering my love of crafting and the pure pleasure of seeing and feeling beautiful yarn and patterns. Like many things, it's often a course of action with no roadmap, making it all the more difficult. I'm clawing my way back at present and losing fingernails in the process. No, seriously. Ripped one of the thumb bits right off this afternoon. I'll be back fairly regularly once I find the delicate balance between tolerating the process to get to the end result.

Unlike my wisdom teeth, my finger-snapping, nose-twitching "Bewitched" powers never came in very well. Really though, what fun would it be to see a new pattern and have it come into being in a flash. The first few times it's kinda cool perhaps, but how much joy do you get from 'Open the closet, and POOF. New sweater from that fabulous yarn'. What would I learn about patience or creativity or pride in accomplishment? About messing up horribly then making it right? Nothing! Bugger all, being a thinking person. Hence the balancing act.

You have to be in the mood for life lessons though because, no matter how long you've been above ground and breathing, starting over is still no fun.

A Weak Excuse

What do a partial Monkey number 2, the beginning of another sock and about 5 inches of a red raglan cropped sweater all have in common?

They all spell a weak excuse for at least two weeks worth of knitting. Sure, I started new projects despite my protestations on too many WIPs which, by the way, I totally appreciated your thoughts on getting those under control. Then I decided it was less about "too many" and more about feeling listless about the whole creative process. Starting anew has really become a symptom of my attempt to feel the rush again. It takes more and more to feel less and less and it makes me sad and somewhat disconnected from you. Will you still embrace me as one of your own, even if I don't produce?

I no longer look lovingly in my overstuffed yarn closet and think, "Shawl, sweater, socks, socks, socks, coat, jacket, felted bag." I see too much yarn and too much work to get to the end result. My mojo is not just on vacation. It's in a flipping coma or something.

I was reminded very recently that bodies at rest tend to stay at rest; that they need deliberate action to get into (and stay in) motion. Sometimes, one needs to go through the motions to get moving again. I suppose that's what this knitting represents. My "going through the motions" of calculate, cast on, knit! Do I feel inspired yet? No, but I'll keep hacking away at it for now. Just a warning though: this kind of glacial pace equals goods that won't be ready until the next ice age.

Perhaps by then, Nikita will have warmed up to me interrupting his precious nap.

Away with you and your camera!

Ooh La La: IK!

The Summer 2007 Interweave Knits landed in my mailbox today and, boy, are there some sweet numbers inside. There are socks and lace and simple, classic pieces that look perfectly suited for the hot weather ahead. With a few exceptions, there don't appear to be any purposefully strange or complex garments that have sometimes graced knit magazine pages. You know what I mean.

If time (and my body) permitted, I would knit 24 / 7 and forgo sleep to produce my IK picks (photos from Intwerweave preview site):


Josephine Top
Deborah Newton












Wheat-Ear Cable Yoke
Pam Allen












Spiral Boot Socks
Véronik Avery












Notre Dame de Grace Pullover
Véronik Avery











Pipe dreams perhaps, but lovely nonetheless. They'll have to go on the "I want that someday" queue along with selections from Rowan 41 and ChicKnits latest beauty, Nicole. Naturally, I have the perfect yarn for each of them.

Why tease myself with all of these patterns? If I'm going to live "inside my head," I may as well have lovely, inspiring company, n'est pas?