Have you ever experienced a knitter’s block? Often we hear about authors having writer’s block, but is knitter’s block just as normal?
Lately I have found it difficult picking up my knitting. I often look at my WIP bag and think about what is in there and how I really should pick one of them up and work on it, but in all honesty, I really don’t want to.
Unfinished knitting project in John Arbon Textiles Yarnadelic. Pattern is Pick and Mix Cowl by me.
Last summer I spent a good deal of time in my garden, growing vegetables and trying (and failing) to grow flowers and really having a wonderful time with it. I thought to myself that once the garden slows down and the colder weather sets in I will probably feel like picking my knitting back up again. But October came, the vegetables were all out of the ground and the evenings got dark and cold and I curled up on the sofa with a good TV show or movie and - shock horror - did not want to knit.
My daughter watering our vegetable patch in our front garden.
I ask myself the question, why? Is it fatigue? I have knitted pretty much non-stop for 15 years since starting Purl Alpaca Designs in 2008. I knitted all the garments for our photoshoots, sometimes in record time. I remember the time I decided the latest collection needed a skirt, two dsys before the photoshoot was going to happen. In addition to knitting said skirt I also had to finish planning and packing the styling, travel to London to stay with a friend, and get myself to the shoot the following day. The skirt was finished in time and became a popular pattern!
Masika Skirt by Kari-Helene Rane for Purl Alpaca Designs
Did I ever really enjoy knitting or did I do it just because I had to? Sometimes I find it hard to distinguish between the things I do out of obligation and the things I do for fun. This year, for the first time since 2008, I have not had to knit anything. I have started a full time job in a completely new line of work and have really enjoyed learning lots of new skills. Maybe there just isn’t enough capacity left for me to enjoy a spot of knitting in the evening?
At least this one was finished! Pick and Mix Cowl in Yarnadelic by John Arbon Textiles
Whatever the reason behind my knitting hiatus, I do kind of miss it and it would be amazing if you would like to share your best advice on how to overcome knitter’s block. Have you experienced it? What did you do? Did you lean into it and just wait for it to come back? Did you make changes to the types of project you knitted? Did you try a different craft? Hit me with all your best advice, please, I would love to hear!
But, hey, at least I found the inspiration to write about knitting, maybe it’s not all lost!