Knitting Reflection.

How does one work through a complicated knitting project without becoming frustrated?

Recently I had the opportunity to take on the challenge of a knitting project that is a step beyond my experience level. Actually it was about 5 steps beyond my experience level. I love the challenge and this is probably as much fun to me as I can have without a party hat and cake.

Written instructions have always been like a knitting class to me. To the credit of the editors and writers of these instructions, they take one step-by-step through the process in almost all cases.

Start by skimming through the instructions to get a general overview of that which you are getting into. Then, with the correct supplies and materials on hand, begin at the beginning. If you take your project one step at a time, the impossible can be accomplished. You know the old saying, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”

And as you walk through each step, your confidence will grow for the next project.

But in fact, some projects are more complicated than others. My most recent project is one of these. After 25 years of knitting, I jumped into the mother of all knitting challenges.

This project included short rows, steeks, intarsia, and unusual shapes and assembly. In truth, the concentration needed made this a really intriguing process. It was interesting and absorbing from the start. Straight knitting can be relaxing, but at some point I begin looking around for my cross stitch. Not so with this. My interest never flagged.

But at certain points, when a new technique came into play, I would feel befuddled. As much as I wanted to charge ahead and “getter done”, I found if I set the work aside for several days and go into my imagination to play out in my mind what the instructions were telling me to do, I could more clearly picture what needed to do. I would imagine the result if I did one technique, then another.

My apprehension lessened as I relaxed into this imagining. I would go back and unconcernedly reread the instruction, avoiding pressure. I was simply interested. Then I would take the instruction into my mind, and quietly work away on the process in imagination.

Without causing myself frustration, at a certain point I felt confident and I also had several courses of process mapped out from which to choose. The instruction was a kind of a guideline upon which my own expertise could be worked.

This was a very pleasant interlude in what was a deeply challenging but also deeply satisfying process. The reflection about the project simply removed frustration and provided the room to relax into day-dreaming the process that would work for me.

Having spent far too much time in a competitive and goal-oriented work life, this different approach was like a breath of fresh air. And the knitting project is coming along beautifully.

Remember, this is the fun side of your life. If approached like a meditation, the outcome is derived in a peaceful and fun manner.

Hey, wait a minute; what would happen if I approached my work life this way?