Mesmerizing

I know that some people in my life wonder what exactly I see in knitting.  Yes, it results in nice things to wear or give away, but, really, what is so interesting about it? My brother-in-law says I "knit like it is my job!" because I always pull my knitting out at family gatherings.  One explanation I shared with him is that keeping my hands busy keeps me from eating continually since so many of our gatherings involve delicious food.  That made sense to him.

The real reason?  I'm mesmerized by the repetition and by the slowly growing fabric in my hands.  I rarely knit "plain vanilla" patterns, so there is usually a texture pattern or a color pattern that is emerging with every row.  I'm similarly captivated by computer games, like Mahjong, but those endeavors don't have, for me, any tangible result.  I've added those apps to my iPad a number of times, spent an evening playing them until way past my bedtime, and then removed them from my computer so that I won't be tempted to play them so easily.  I prefer the slow, steady engagement in knitting, and enjoy the products of my indulgence.

Knitting is my meditation - it is automatically calming and allows me to clear my head.  It soothes me.  And is low-calorie.  I think I'll keep knitting.

ON MY NEEDLES
I've got another sweater,  Silvretta, on the needles that I hope to get back to soon.  The yarn is a blend with only a little wool, which I find harder on my hands.  With my current wrist situation, I've put the project aside for now.  The fronts and backs are done and were an interesting exercise - they are knit out from the center of the back and come to a point in the front (kind of a swing front) with a lace edging.   I had to really work hard to keep track of the rows and edging patterns, which is a good mental challenge, but this was definitely not a social-situation knitting project.

In contrast, I also have a cowl project on the needles which is practically knitting itself.  It is so easy (but not completely plain) that I can knit it without paying a lot of attention, so lends itself nicely to social situations.  The cowl was a free pattern.  The yarn is Quince and Co. Tern.