On Being a Process Knitter
Grumperina, Minty, Kristy, Margene, Lolly, and a heap of other folks have talked/written at some length about what it means to be a process knitter versus a product knitter.
And it was never clear to me where (or whether) my own crafty practices fit into this binary.
I mean, I love stuff. I love clothes in particular. And I love handknit clothes particularly in particular.
I wear almost all of my handknits. What I don’t wear, I frog and reknit into something I’ll get use out of.
The unique joy of finishing a knitted piece is something rare and precious to me.
So, in spite of how much I enjoy the processes of knitting, I’ve always thought, maybe I am a product/object knitter. Which is fine by me. I have no shame regarding my love of material stuff or of fashion.
But then this happened:
I was backstage at a show with my band, and there was a random, dusty old skein of blue acrylic yarn lying around.
I found two pencils, and started experimenting with left-leaning decreases.
With pencils.
At a rock and roll show.
This, friends, is the heart of a Process Knitter.
Even so, I will maintain that I’m a hybrid (as I suspect most people and things are in this world), partly because I was so thrilled to put that little swatch to use as an impromptu bow tie for my friend Jesse.
pattern: noneyarn: found
needles: nope
Bow tie not included.
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January 3rd, 2008 at 7:25 pm
I can never figure out where I fall in the spectrum either but I suspect it’s process if for no other reason than I rarely keep what I knit. Don’t get me wrong, I love the knitted product but what matters most is knitting it. I also suspect that’s why I have so many UFOs. I am often emotionally done with a project before I am actually done with it.
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:26 pm
PS that bow tie is bad ass.
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:26 pm
jesse’s cute!
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:31 pm
I can’t help saying this about a rockstar - but how cute! Happy New Year!
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Um…Can I have my very own Jesse?
January 3rd, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Hee! Get over your product self and re-discover the process knitter you were always meant to be!
January 3rd, 2008 at 8:27 pm
It’s funny that there just _happened_ to be a ball of yarn lying around backstage of a rock show =) I think it’s great to be mindful of what you are doing (process knitter) and enjoy the results too (good consumerism).
January 3rd, 2008 at 8:38 pm
totally cute! and i hear you on the process vs. product and I’m so in the hybrid club with you!! i need the FO thrill as much as the process thrill but could totally be content with stockinette… but i’m eyeing some great Fair Isle this year so should be an interesting O8!
January 3rd, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I’m a process knitter, no questions asked. Although, I don’t think my explorations have come up with anything as cute as that bow tie, Or Jesse, for that matter ;).
Happy New Year!
January 3rd, 2008 at 8:57 pm
You see the world from a knitter’s perspective is how I would put it.
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Hee hee!! Awesome bow tie!
I find that people who don’t enjoy the knitting process never really become knitters. They might knit a scarf and a couple of accessories, and then they’re done… Which can only mean one thing: more yarn for us!
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:40 pm
i think of myself first as a process knitter. but then again, when i’m really into a project, i can become obsessed with finishing it.
so i’m probably a hybrid.
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:13 pm
dude, that’s freakin’ sweet (yes, apparently sometimes i channel peter from family guy).
I agree that probably many of us are hybrids - some projects for me are all about just getting it done and having the finished object; yet others I am completely engaged in the knitting process and not too concerned with what I end up with. As long as you’re enjoying yourself, I say!
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:21 pm
I’m definitely in the hybrid club. I enjoy the process, but the process has to offer enough to keep me interested. Which, I think is where the product part comes in. That bow tie ROCKS, BTW. Completely appropriate that you knit it at a show!
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Haha!! Love the bow tie!
I know of tons of teenagers that knit with pencils while in school!
I am such a product knitter right! LOL ;op
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:52 pm
How cool are you? Knitting with pencils and found yarn. I have always thought of myself as a product knitter not a process knitter but I think I might fit the hybrid category as well. It totally depends on the project I guess.
And what the heck was yarn doing backstage at a rock and roll show? What’s up with that!??!?!?
January 4th, 2008 at 12:44 am
I want one!
When I think about it, I figure that I am 75% process, 25% product. For the first 60-75% of a project I am content to knit and knit happily and jump back and forth between projects to work on other things. However, once the end is kind of in sight, I turn all product and will knit single mindedly until I finish it up.
January 4th, 2008 at 12:54 am
how ingenious of you to turn a swatch into a bow tie (and use pencils - how did that work for ya?)! I think we’re all a bit of a hybrid. I can’t imagine knitting solely for the end product, but I’m also sure that even those drawn to the process aren’t knitting somewhat for the FO.
January 4th, 2008 at 3:17 am
lol. you’re a riot.
jesse looks stunning is his acrylic bow tie. (OMG! I sound like joan rivers)
January 4th, 2008 at 3:44 am
process, product, whatever….a BAND!? you just get cooler and cooler!
January 4th, 2008 at 5:57 am
That is hilarious. And awesome. The bowtie is adorable, Jesse wears it well. What use is the pin without the bowtie? lol
January 4th, 2008 at 7:10 am
When you can see knitting opportunities in *any* setting I think you’re pretty much a process knitter. Good for you for seizing the knitting moment
January 4th, 2008 at 7:29 am
You are SO cool - for the bow tie and the gorgeous parcel that arrived this morning. THANK YOU! You went above and beyond all expectations. [Perfect timing too.] x
January 4th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Very chic! I almost taught someone to knit with pens the other day.. not that that’s as cool as making a bowtie backstage. =) But you know, you knit just to knit sometimes.
January 4th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
I think you’re right, and you’ve helped me to figure out the answer to this question too. I love finishing a thing and getting to wear or use it, but there was also that time I used pencils and string to knit when I was bored at the nursery I worked at.
Your friend is adorable, and what a face he’s making! I want to eat him up. Not that that’s weird or anything.
January 4th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Gah! It’s wonderful! *you* are wonderful!
January 4th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I am a hybrid too. This became evident as I used pencils to knit cotton tape in the archives during lunch one day. Pencils make very good knitting needles. Pam, you make me smile.
January 4th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Awesome. I love the expression on Jesse’s face, too. It looks great.
I’ll echo the “I’m a hybrid” sentiment that other commenters have expressed. I definitely like finished products, but there are also lots of other times when I just want something to knit. I’ve gotten to the point that I generally try to keep a simple WiP going (ribbed hat, garter scarf) so that I have something to knit mindlessly when I’m idle (sitting in the car, waiting in line, watching a movie, etc.).
Does Empty Orchestra sell CDs? You’ve always written about your band, and it sounds great. I’d buy one if you have any!
January 5th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
very cute. i can’t help but giggle a little that even as a process knitter you still found a use for what you made
January 5th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Jesse’s a good sport, and obviously not a yarn snob.
Yes, send a pin, please!
January 6th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
sooooooo good!
January 7th, 2008 at 2:00 am
You are one creative lady! Pencils and acrylic…WTG! And it makes a cool bow tie for your friend, indeed! And you are in a band, too, very cool! My husband is a musician, as can be noticed by the names of some of the male socks I’ve designed, I have to come up with a name and music sometimes come into play, it’s just natural, LOL!
I happened upon your blog while doing blog and general photo updates, etc. - 2008 blog clean up I suppose you could call it - and when I was inputting some data about Ann-Marie’s Leaves of Whimsy Socks that she knit for you for Sockpalooza and I wanted to tell you that I am so pleased and honored that you enjoy the socks. They were a pleasure to design and knit and more pleasurable each time I hear that a fellow knitter enjoys them, too! Her yarn certainly was perfect for the sock design, that is certain! If you don’t mind, I would love to put one of your photos along side Ann-Marie’s photo in the Knitters Galleries that I have on my blogs (one is being greatly overhauled because my ISP has made wonderful changes, so it may take the rest of the week for that one); it would go up right away on the “chatty” gallery that is a very long blog post, LOL! But, I just have to tell everyone how fabulous my fellow knitters are and the honor each one bestows upon me when he or she decides to knit something that I just happened to think up!
Please feel free to email me about using one of your photos (and linking to you, of course!) and thank you so much for your kind words about Leaves of Whimsy Socks, you certainly made my day!!
Here’s wishing you a very HAPPY 2008 & years to follow!
Becka
January 7th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
what places do you play that have yarn lying around? i know i never saw any backstage in my brief indiepop days back in the early 90s
though if you come to play here i’ll definitely sort out that part of your rider …
January 7th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
How adorable! I am planning to go to my daughter’s classroom at school and teach the kids in her class to knit with pencils and cheap yarn. Way too funny that you did the same (minus the teaching 10 year olds to knit part).
Also…Jesse is a cutie!
January 8th, 2008 at 4:28 am
Love the knitting with pencils, Pam! I think we can classify you as a “TOTAL” Knitter. I always found the whole process vs product thing confusing.
Happy New Year!
January 8th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
January 9th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I don’t know if this qualifies you as a process knitter, since you found a way to turn it into a finished project almost immediately!!!
January 11th, 2008 at 1:56 am
Interesting debate process vs. product. Nice bow-tie, all it needs now is a knitted tux & ruffled shirt, now would that be process or product, hmmmm….
January 23rd, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Love the tie. There is nothing wrong with being both a process and a product knitter. They go hand in hand.
January 24th, 2008 at 2:13 am
Hey, I think Duffyy is a mutual friend–he sent me here, or at least, I think this is where he intended to send me! (we teach together. . .) Cute tie!
Tanya
January 25th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Hi Pam! I nominated you as one of the ten bloggers who “Make My Day”. You can check it out on my blog. Don’t feel obligated to pass it on if you don’t have time.
January 25th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Hi! I was nominated for the “you make my day” award, and now I’m passing it on to you. The rules are as follows: “Give the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on.”
January 28th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Along with others, I know, I have bestowed upon you (ha) the “you make my day” award. ’cause, well, you do. No need to pass it along if you’re swamped. I know what that feels like. Just wanted to let you know that your blog (and flickr) is one of the first I go to in my bloglines and is a constant inspiration. Thanks for being you
January 29th, 2008 at 1:12 am
Ha! I came over here for the “make my day” thingie too, and I see that half the internet already beat me to it. You are so popular!
Anyway, details at my blog. Hope the new camera gets there soon!
January 29th, 2008 at 8:35 am
I’m jumping on the bandwagon to nominate you too and making my day!
January 29th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Well, it looks like I’ve jumped on a total bandwagon in giving you the “Make My Day” award -
http://amingledyarn.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/yall-have-made-my-day/
but it’s really true!
February 1st, 2008 at 7:36 am
I’ve thought about this lots before, and you couldn’t have put it better when you said, ‘I love *stuff*. I love clothes in particular. And I love handknit clothes particularly in particular’!
I always think I’m a dyed-in-the-wool project knitter, but then I find myself looking at the simple sweaters I would cherish and thinking, ‘Oh, but how dull to knit’ and turning towards a complicated cable number that I would never wear out of the house. And then of course I do nothing and cast on a pair of socks, which I then don’t finish. (Change is in the works, however. 2008 is the year of finishing things). Yay for the hybrids! And for wonderful posts like these! x
February 14th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
He’s so cute I want to squish him!!