I’ve been pretty overwhelmed with work lately, and the fact that it feels like the deadline for my PhD thesis is creeping closer is giving me a lot of stress. So even though I’m not necessarily getting a lot of knitting done, I am trying to find moments to knit some stitches. Just little moments where it does feel like time stops for just a bit, as I let myself be hypnotised by the rhythm of the needles.
But somehow I still let myself be stressed by the process as well. As much as I love things like instagram to follow what other knitters are getting up to, it’s also frustrating when it feels like sweaters are flying off needles left and right, and I’m just working on some plain stockinette socks. I started to feel like I had to make time to sit down and plan bigger projects. But the winding of all that yarn, the swatching, the planning, is all just a bit too much for me right now.
So I had a little chat with myself to remind me that if I’m forcing myself onto some knitting project, it completely bypasses the goal of why I’m a knitter in the first place. So for now I’ll happily continue with my simple sock projects, and if I find a day on which I have the energy to make bigger things again that would be great, but I’m not going to force myself to do so.
For those curious about the pics: the vanilla socks are being made with self striping sock yarn from Nicole C Mendez, the gray socks are in Spun Right Round sock yarn (bug jar) in the Wheathly pattern.
Sometimes I feel the same way. I’ve wanted to cast on a sweater for awhile, but it seems like every sweater needs an adjustment to fit me right. All I can say is, thank goodness for socks!
Yes indeed thank goodness for little simple projects! They are the perfect stress reliever. There will be time in the future for more involved projects. Both socks-in-progress are lovely.
Each of your socks is worth a sweater – really, they are all so amazing! Knitting and stress definitely don’t go well together, so please, make sure to just enjoy the process!!