Laurie, I remember Government Cheese! I was at Ole Miss in the '90s but they passed thru Oxford a bunch too! Wooo that was a long time ago!

You are my knitting inspiration (cue Chicago tune here)-- I hope to someday think of myself as a knitter. I'm on my 14th or so scarf 'cause I'm intimidated by everything else, including (but not limited to) the pattern to the precious pastel baby sweater you made. Oh and I've done 2 baby hats. Those are fun.

How's the smoke sitchiashun out there today? Roll 'em up! Keep on breathin!
--Lara

I so totally hear ya on the perfectionism thing. I have now spent FIVE MONTHS trying to pick the PERFECT new carpet for a hallway in my house. Not an entire floor or even a room...just a hallway. I have spent more time not being able to make a decision on this than Congress has spent on the new health care plan. Because I really need PERFECT carpet. Or Perfectionists Anonymous. Either one.

I was down the road at Sewanee and remember Gov't Cheese too. ;)

I was in a M'boro adjacent high school (LaVergne) in the early 90s and I remember Government Cheese as one of the bands people would use fake ids to see. I was never so bold, myself, and they didn't swing over to my college town in SC once I was of age, so I don't actually know the band...but reading their name does bring back memories.

Government Cheese!!!! Did you know Tommy Womack wrote an extremely funny book about being in Gov't Cheese?

Your baby sweaters are just the cutest thing ever. Makes me want to have a baby again so it could wear cute little hand-knitted sweaters. Except my kids sleep through the night now, which means I do too and I don't want to give that up.

That's my worst enemy, perfectionism/procrastination. I want to do it right so I end up not doing it at all. Or even worse, not *finishing,* because until I'm finished, it doesn't really count! I'm not afraid of being bad at something until it's time to say, "I think this is good!" Then I totally panic.

If I could find a way to cure that forever, I would do it this very instant.

Government Cheese. Best band name ever.

what a wonderful coincidence! today's page in my Yarn Harlot calendar reads thusly: "Every once in a while a knitter tells me that they are not a 'real knitter.' I ignore them, for they are lying. Ther are no standards or entrance exams in knitting. It's not like the big board of knitting executives mails you your papers the day you finish an Aran sweater, finally pronouncing you a real knitter. If you are knitting, you are a real knitter. Period." And if the fabulous Stephanie Pearl-McPhee says so, welp, then it's true. Keep loving your knitting! I know I do! :)

OH NO, Government Cheese....from Bowling Green, KY

"So come on back to Bowling Green and marry me....
'Cause my momma's on drugs and I need someone to take care of me...."

I went to Indiana but I was in the orbit....lots of friends at WKU!!!

Here, Here to knitting and all kitty's are perfect, some more than others:)

Wow! I just had an epiphany when you said "There's a big misconception that perfectionism makes you an overachiever but it can have the inverse opposite effect, paralyzing you and keeping you mired in inertia."
That is like, my life in a sentence. I'm so happy that someone finally put it in words for me. But ya, I need to learn that everything won't always be perfect and that it's OK. Food for thought...

Bravo, Laurie! You have become a Knitter with a capital K! (from the Yarn Harlot, of course)

Even thought I am officially 'older than dirt,' I too know Government Cheese. *shaking my cane to the beat*

I live in NY, and I have no idea how...but I remember that song. *boggles*

Thanks for inspiring me with my own knitting! ^_^

Jen

If socks don't thrill you, try felted slippers. I made a pair for my Mom and now I have 5-6 people in line for a pair ... it's fun knitting something big and floppy and having it turn out so neat and compact

I was admiring those sweet little sweaters you made--you could definitely make gloves! I also am willing to jump in and try new things, but didn't have high hopes for the gloves I wanted to try. I loved making them, and they came out great. I knew I was starting with too little of the yarn I using, but didn't care. That gave me an "out" if they didn't work. So I'm the proud wearer of gloves that are all blue, but have three green fingers and one green cuff. Yea!

Knitting is fun! There are no knitting police!

Also, my Big Guy has the same cat scratcher. But we have it upside down. Now I see that it's a cat resting place/scratcher!

I think it is very fitting that Sobakowa is right next to Mastermind. It's like truth in advertising!

I completely agree on the paralyzing effects of perfectionism! I'm the same way and it definitely takes some work to let go of it and just try things whether or not they get screwed up.

My mother taught me how to knit when I was about 8 years old. For around 40 years, I only made scarves and blankets. Flat, rectangular items.

Turning point for me was a woman working at my LYS, who helped me fix a mistake - told me she had been knitting for about 1 year and was making all kinds of CLEVER things.

I am now on my second sweater. I don't let myself freak out about the parts of the pattern that scare me. I just follow the pattern until I get stuck, and either work through it or go for drop in help. I am having more fun now that I have expanded my options!

I used to think knitting was cheaper than therapy, but I am beginning to wonder......

If I didn't knit, I'd probably do drugs! It's so therapeutic, and it's so satisfying to finsih something I've started! (I'm terrible about leaving things half done and then ripping it out because I've given up or whatever). Last year I made 17 pairs of mittens for Christmas gifts. I had that stupid pattern memorized! BTW Where did you get those fab storage bins/boxes that are on your book shelf?

i've eaten government cheese. it's not so bad, really.

Your baby sweaters are just beautiful, and so was your entrelac! I was incredibly impressed that they were your first sweaters - they looked completely professional, and the finishing looked just perfect. I remember my first sweaters - complete nightmares! I think the goodwill threw them out after I realized they were completely unwearable. I made the front smaller than the back and "fixed" it by creative seaming, and I made the arms long enough for an orangutan. Make something pretty for yourself!

I had that same moment of "knit click" where I realized it wasn't about making it perfect, it was about the act of doing it. Since that click, everything I do now has another layer of fun to it. Besides, if someone wants a perfectly knit item, they can buy a sweater at Sears. Fearless knitting is the best knitting! :)

I'm not sure Sobakowa likes the song. She looks...offended.

Hey, when you are ready to tackle gloves with fingers, Hand Knitting with Meg Swanson is supposed to have a great pattern for them. I haven't tried it yet but was going to try a pair or two for Christmas presents too.

As I've been reading, it was apparent to me a while ago that you had made the leap to complete knitter. And all the while you have been a complete inspiration to knitter and non-knitter alike! Welcome to the club!!!

Not a knitter, but as a crocheter I can attest that anything yarn is both relaxing and rewarding!!

Happy Happy!

You sound like me. I was first nervous to make something that didn't go in a straight line..then I made a baby sweater and I realized I could do this! I'd always have questions, but I had people I could ask. I've also ripped back so many times, and so much of a project to do it over and over again, that at least I am not silly enough to think I'll get it right on the first try. Good luck on all you future, non straight knitting projects.

BTW..I am with you there on the sock knitting...I've done a few pairs but I just don't love it.

Sign me up for the Perfectionist/Procrastinator Club! I am SO that girl.

I remember having a similar "knitting click" experience - isn't it great? My curiosity about "What would happen if. . ." and "I wonder if I could. . ." started to outweigh my fear of failure (at least in limited application).

I think the biggest thing for me was when I started to understand how knitting *worked*; how the stitches fit together. It was such a big difference from "follow that pattern and hopetogawd nothing went wrong."

And I too love the sounds, the yarn in my hands, all that stuff. Knitting is truly wonderful.

Entrelac was the first thing that ever boosted my confidence as well. I always get freaked out about trying patterns that seem above my level but then I remember it is just sticks and string, you can still only knit one stitch at a time.

Are you familiar with this site: knittinghelp.com

Videos of stitches (way clearer than pictures) and definitions of crazy instructions like sl2po.

I so hear you on the perfectionist thing. In fact I'm reluctant to even label my a perfectionist because people automatically link it with "overacheiver" but you are so right about the paralizing inertia. I call it "Over Analysis Paralysis". I find it comforting that I'm not wallowing all alone down here! Talk about your company loving misery. Although it appears that you are trying to pull your feet from the sucking mire and escape to some parallel universe of normal expectations - traitor!

Welcome to the community of 'recovering perfectionists', and some of us are knitters. Pssst, one day, you'll see a tiny little error and think to yourself, 'WTH, it's on the bottom of the sock and no one will see it.' and continue knitting. Enjoy!

Laurie,

I totally agree with you about the socks. I have been knitting for 22 years and I am a good knitter not a great one. I decided to try socks this year to learn something new, I have made 5 pair and I just think they are a ton of work for something very small. I am a shawl addict and love to make sweaters.

Shawls are easy, fun and make me dream of wearing them in some really cool place I am going to go to some day in my future.

It's on the U-tubes. Mawmaw drives the bus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6ikTqrST-Y

Well, we all knew you were a real knitter a long time ago; and anyone who didn't should go look at that entrelac scarf. I also live in tiresome perfectionistland and I am going to try entrelac .. pretty soon. By the way, all y'all who don't like knitting socks, if you have sock yarn to dispose of, I can help.

Hey, my first glove pattern that I knit were Noro Silk Garden elbow length ones. They're knit flat and then seamed. It was like finger magic and didn't involve anything more complicated than K2tog. And they're rainbow elbow length gloves!

Gloves with fingers are the BEST! They're fast and they look a lot harder than they are. I admire your sweater skill. My attention span turns into a problem with sweaters.

Laurie, I have your mantra for you. It has stood me in good stead for many years. "Anything worth doing is worth doing badly."
--Kathy who used to go to WeHo SnB but now lives in Rancho Palos Verdes

Laurie,
I have a fabulous book by Louisa Harding called "HATS GLOVES SCARVES" It has the best mitten pattern, and the glove pattern looks very comprehensive. I'm so with you with the whole being able to read the pattern without needing a Phd! I've been knitting for 16 years, and being able to make mittens was my turning point. I've made a few big items as well, but nothing makes me happier than those stupid mittens! I will try to attempt the entrelac scarf one of these days.

I never thought of myself as a perfectionist, but your description of being afraid to try something rang true with me. I'm trying to let go too. Having something low risk makes it easier.

I recently bought super cheap sock yarn and did my first ever dye experiment with food coloring. Cost was less than $5. No worry about screw ups!

!!!Waving hands in the air!!! Me, Me, Me!!!

... I remember Government Cheese....lived in Murfreesboro in the '90s....lived there before that....still live there....(well, close by anyway)..I've been working at MTSU since '96...took courses here through '80s and '90s

We probably crossed paths somewhere along the way...

Anyway, a few years ago I had someone point out to me that my perfectionism was keeping me from trying a lot of things. The light bulb went off in my brain. That is so right and so few people understand it. It really has been a turning point. Knitting is just one of the things that I've tried and found that I enjoy. I don't have to be the best or the fastest or anything like that. I just enjoy it and that's more than enough for me. I consider myself a knitter with a capital "K".

I guess the fear of creating something less than perfect applies to many things craft-wise. I have a boatload of rubber stamps,ink pads, card stock, punches and "bellies" which is code for embellishments (ribbons, brads, eyelets, etc,etc.,. Every day I scope out web sites and blogs on card making. One of these days I'm going to make me some! It should be all about the pleasure in the doing, right?
You rock Laurie!

I am also a Knitter (note the capital K) - it's fun, relaxing, invigorating, daring, adventuresome, creative and I can do it just about anywhere. It's fun to try new stuff and if it doesn't turn out right the first time you can always rip it out and start again. Where else in life can you get a great second chance? I see sweaters on your horizon - and maybe even lace!

Love to the Sobakowa please - tell her I am worshiping at her photos :)

I've never knitted but your posts make me want to try it! You make such gorgeous things. Today I saw this idea for a Sky Scarf and thought of you. You gather 10 balls of yarn in all the colors the sky can be, and every day you look at the sky and knit 2 rows in the color that is the closest match. At the end of a year, you have a record of the sky colors for that year and a beautiful scarf!

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uRYrjEG87wo/SHewIdtaS6I/AAAAAAAAAKc/LrRYbXBti-s/s1600-h/skyscarfblog.jpg

Hmm, your parents have a corgi, right? I have a corgi too and the first sweater I tried to make for him didn't work out so well. They are funny-shaped critters, with those big barrel chests on little bodies. I'm thinking short row shaping would be a must to fit that corgi chest! ^..^---'

Oh, sorry, here's a better link for the Sky Scarf so you can see the author:

http://leafcutterdesigns.blogspot.com/2008/07/sky-scarf-knitting-pattern.html

knit as often as you want, whatever you want, and finish a project when you feel like it.

I am working a complicated shawl right now and the sucker has haunted me from the beginning (january 2009). but I WILL kick its ass and finish it! when I feel like it, of course. it's for me, so no deadlines.

enjoy the ride and go with the flow, laurie. you ARE a knitter!

Two things:

1) As a perfectionist myself, if you ever get a pattern and you just cannot get it right despite having ripped it out like six times and starting over... start over and decide you are deliberately fixing NOTHING that goes wrong. toes look wonky? They got inside shoes and nobody's going to see them anyways! Got a repeat wrong? It's a design element! Makes it so much more fun, and accomplishable in a human lifetime. (This is the only way I ever managed to get through Baudelaire alive.)

And 2) Try lace! Best thing ever. The finished projects are lying to you, they were totally easy to make. Sooo easy and awesome, a huge confidence builder, and nothing beats the "look what I did!" feeling when you're blocking it and the pattern is totally clear for the first time. Pick something easy, like Sivia Harding's Diamond Fantasy shawl, find some fingering weight yarn in your stash, and go to town! If you've conquered seaming, lace is nothing, and when you wear it, you will totally be like the photo in the Knitty Clapotis pattern where she's all "look at my awesome scarf, I am so cool (and yet cosy warm)!"

I'd apologize for all the typos in my last comment and correct them, but... they were design elements.

Yep.

"There's a big misconception that perfectionism makes you an overachiever but it can have the inverse opposite effect, paralyzing you and keeping you mired in inertia."
My life in a sentence, also! and I bet I am one of maybe three people who know where Murfreesboro, TN is. (having grown up in Gurley, just over the hill from Huntsville! although I was out of high school in the 90's.) I knew you spoke my language, Laurie!
Your sweater and words are inspiring!

I SO thought of you when I saw these. How cute are these? Makes me wish I knew how to knit.

http://www.craftstylish.com/item/51740/how-to-make-knitted-converse-baby-booties

I read 3 blogs - Laurie, Ree, and Heather - and this is a spill over. Laurie - go here to find the most awesome gloves you could ever knit. Too Fun!
http://www.etretouchy.com/

Hi, I'm so glad you opened up comments again, because SO MANY TIMES I've wanted to say things back to you, like "You go girl" with your non-consuming stance, or with your knitting victories, and I wanted to commiserate on the garden massacre (I did email you on that one).

Anyway your knitting is awesome.

Here is another cute and easy baby sweater to try - this one is a hoodie. http://www.knittingpureandsimple.com/babycardi.html
I made it in stripes.

Smooches,
Brenda in L.A.

Your stockinette stitch is so smooth and ripple free. I'm suffering stitch envy.

I just completed an entrelac wrap that I started two years ago. I would work on it for a while and then put it down and then work on it...

Here is a link.

http://paisleypenguin.blogspot.com/2009/08/lady-e-is-finished.html

Dude! I went to MTSU in the 90's and I remember Government Cheese. :)

Laurie, here's a motivator for you: charts do NOT have any super-abreviated words to decode! You just get yourself a post-it note, or some of that re-stickable tape, and put it under the line you're on as you go up...it's pretty straightforward after Decoding the Mysteries of written patterns. Often patterns have both, so you can see what's what if in doubt.

Only thing to note: most charts are laid out like your actual knitting, not read like written text--check the line numbers, usually you start in the bottom left corner and work across so that what you're seeing in the chart matches what you're seeing on your needles. I learned that by, uh, doing it the other way first! =)

Oh yeah, I too shared the perfectionist inertia. No learning curve for me, if I couldn't do it expertly right out of the gate I wasn't going to try. then I read somewhere that if we expected to learn to walk without ever falling down, we'd all still be crawling.

so now I not only knit, but I've got my motorcycle license too!!

I applaud you for getting to the next level in knitting - the losing your fear part. I've been knitting for decades, and I still fear steeks, pi shawls, and yellow yarn in aran weight.

Personally, I feel that it's best to knit for the entertainment value of knitting. You don't have to be fast, you just have to be (mostly) good.

Besides, if you get stuck there's hundereds of knitters out there willing to help.

I loved seeing your DKNY cozy a while ago. I was hypnotized by the video of how to wear it that is available on the DKNY website.

Today Wendy Bernard (at Knit and Tonic) mentioned the Endless Knitted Cardi Shawl pattern at stitchdiva.com. There is a video of the many ways to wear it. Go see the video! It's not DKNY - it's knitting - so it might possibly be even better. I think I need to make one of these soon - you know - before Los Angeles has a cold snap. Heh.

Perfectionism can certainly be paralyzing and so can insecurity. I lost my job earlier this year and thought I would have tons of time to knit. Instead I was paralized by perfectionism and doubt about my own abilities. Even though I have a large yarn stash I could never decide on the right yarn or the right pattern. Recently I made myself pick up an UFO and knit a few rows each evening. I can slowly feel the enjoyment of the process coming back.

Yeah, I started this way, seriously. My projects have been, from day one, super crazy ambitious but full of mistakes that I ignore! I learned to knit and immediately said there's gonna be nothing in knitting that I can't do! I don't rip back, I just have all these mistakes everywhere. But I'm okay with that. I learn so much from each project and I ask for help if I'm stuck -- from friends if I can, or I google things and watch little videos. It's a very freeing feeling. I have lots of areas in my life where good enough isn't enough. Knitting is for pleasure -- I have nothing to prove.

Dang, Seanna Lea totally beat me to it. But The Soba is also Numero Uno, in charge of the whole Operation, and plotting to get a Monopoly on the greenie market. Don't like it? Sorry! (I totally love all those games.)

Stephanie the Harlot does distinguish between a knitter and a Knitter, and it is possible that you have crossed that Rubicon. I'm never really sure if I have: socks, hats, mittens, shawls, blankets hold no terrors for me, nor do I balk at stranded knitting, double knitting, cables, intarsia, or intarsia cables, yet I remain Sweater Impaired. As long as there's yarn in the world, however, I'll be too happily occupied to worry about it much.

I have a question for everyone out there in yarn world - what do you do with all the items you make? I have a lot going on right now and am finding that crochetting dish clothes is wonderful therapy and keeps me relaxed, along with making scarves. However, i only have so many people to gift them to. do you hold on to them as future gifts? donate to a charity?

I am the furthest thing from being a perfectionist but even I obsess over my knitting. I think you become a "Knitter" when you have more than one pair of a certain size needle as is required for that little top down multi baby sweater you showed us the other day. Darn, I had to put many stitches on a stitch holder. It is looking pretty cute I must say.

yeay for you!! into the realm of the ninja warrior knitter!!!!....or something!!
(I'm taking the remedial class over again!)

I'm so glad the comment part is back! It may have been back for a long time, but it has been crazy wild around here with family coming and going....my birthday was last Monday and the kids came on the weekend.

I just wanted to tell you that your blog has got me knitting again after a 15 or 20 year hiatus. I've joined a knitting group and they are such fun. Haven't had the nerve to tackle gloves, yet, and sweaters are not on my radar. I just love the yarn and knitting...until I hit some snag with the pattern. However, I just go on or ask someone in my knitting group.

Also, the lady above who was stressing about the hall carpeting...wood floors are the best! We have carpet in the bedrooms, but wood flooring in the parts we use mostly. Then you get to buy one of those really cool rugs. I mean it...there are so many rugs out there and they look great.

Are Greenies crack to EVERY cat???

I stumbled across this recently and just dug around so I could share it...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/claning/359843175/

That is exactly what I appreciate about knitting. Only in knitting I like the journey rather than the destination :))

I feel the same way about knitting. I do it because I love it. Im not very good and I don't finish very many things but I don't care! You are the only other person I have heard that loves the feel of the yarn and needles in the hand. I get intoxicated holding a pair of needles or feeling the yarn in the store. As far as not being perfect with knitting, a lovely lady in my knitting group told me the Amish purposely put mistakes in their knitting because nothing can create perfection except God. I don't now if they really do that but I have adopted it as my excuse to my poor knitting skills :) How could I possibly create perfection? I refuse!!

What IS it with Greenies that they have a sound? Yes, AmberStar, they are definitely kitty crack around my house.

And Laurie, your book is the first book on knitting I read, so how could you not be a REAL knitter???

Comments are closed now, thanks!