The art of a bunch of knots
I never thought I would be that person carrying around yarn & knitting accouchement. But the world changes and, if you’re lucky, you change, too. I used to be in the category of have not, now I have knots, a bunch of knots.
A few years ago, I watched night after night as my partner knit a beautiful pair of socks. His ability to bring beauty from twirled fibers and a few sticks was amazing. I was absolutely positive I did not have the skill or capability to do something like that. Being wrong never felt so inspiring.
Learning the ropes (or yarns)
My grandmother introduced me to the yarn arts at a very young age. I think I was 5 or 6 when she taught me to make a starter chain, but I don’t remember getting past the first or second row. The tension was always off, and I repeatedly dropped and added stitches. Unable to create anything beyond a tangled mess, I put down the hook.
I think my gram was a little disappointed she had no one to share her hobby, but she did share the results.
Many years later, while recouping from an illness, I watched my mother produce cozy cowls of cashmere and snuggle-worthy socks of baby soft wools. During those couch-bound weeks, I tried my hand at knitting.
The result was a small pathetically misshaped item, full of dropped and added stitches. If you were being kind, it might be called a lap blanket, but really it was just an oddly shapen bunch of knots. If I had my dog then, it would have been her travel blanket because dirt and mud would have been an improvement. In short, it was that ugly.
I put down the knitting needles for eveyone’s safety.
If at first you don’t succeed, try & try again; if you at last you fail – do something different.
When my grandmother passed away, I tried to learn crochet again. Unfortunately, all the terms and jargon were confusing. For example, there is a UK term and a US term for each stitch type, and many pattens have more than two names. To compensate for this and my propensity to drop and add stitches, I experimented with a knitting loom.
With a loom, I could easily mark stitches and count rows. I gained confidence and technique. During this attempt, it dawned on me that my previous efforts at knitting and crocheting were failures because I didn’t know two things:
1) how to troubleshoot, and
2) when to scrap an idea and start over.
Imperfectly perfect. Knot!
Ok, lame 90’s pun. I know, but I couldn’t resist.
A short time later, I joined a knitting group at a local church. The Serendipity Stitchers knit hats, mittens, and scarves for outreach projects. They expertly guided me through each goof and mistake. Fixing the big stuff and coaching me to troubleshoot smaller missteps. I am grateful I could learn while contributing to my community in some small way.
A piece isn’t truly complete unless there is at least one imperfection, however slight.
– per the Serendipity Stitchers at Redeemer of Morristown, NJ
From the Stitchers, I also learned some knitters’ lore. A piece isn’t truly complete unless there is at least one imperfection, however slight. My interpretation: always put your heart and soul into a project, but it being slightly imperfect ensures you can find a way to detach from it. I admire the concept behind untangling yourself from attachment. “To err is human,” yet you know you’ve given something your best.
Once I got the hang of counting and correcting my stitches, I was churning out mittens, slouchy hats, and fuzzy cowls. I was on fire 🔥!
In addition to the scarves I made for the Stitchers, everyone got textile Christmas presents from me that year. (Honestly, I didn’t yet understand sizing – so these are probably not worn in public.)
Starting over does knot always mean giving up; sometimes it’s just learning.
The second lesson took some time. Starting over felt like giving up. There is something deep inside my personality that strives to persevere and overcome. However, I am equally driven to optimize.
When I started playing rugby, my coaches teased that I tended to tackle head-on at full force rather then destabilize an opponent by focusing on a limb. They helped me understand how my instincts could be finessed and refined into valuable skills.
Over the years, I developed balance on the pitch. My tackles were still full-throttle, but I added chess-like moments to assess the game and strategize. This gave my plays greater impact and made the game more fun. I was also less sore the next day.
When I started crocheting, these two characteristics again battled over bunch of knots. But I was smarter and more experienced, now.
Persevere snaps in my ear, "Finish the piece! You can make it work! Don't give up! Keep going; you'll figure it out!"
While Optimize states in a matter-of-fact way, "This is not your best work. Consider the last 30 rows as practice. Start again, and it will be a better result. Being stubborn will not serve you here."
With a few years of experience, I find the balance with crocheting is to lean into Optimize’s calm candor. To me, Optimize’s style takes into account all the variables at play, not just my ego or enthusiasm. Because of the speed at which I stitch has dramatically improved, and I quickly catch my novice mistakes.
I no longer fret about tearing out two hours of work because I know I better how to balance perseverance & optimization.
Now, I am open to starting from scratch because I recognize when the initial plan is not working. I accept that the whole point of doing anything is trusting the challenge to succeed, learning from each failure to do it better the next time. It’s the less stressful version Groundhog Day or Quantum Leap.
“Rebel Rebel, you tore your dress.”
– To quote one of my favorite modern rebels, David Bowie; from his famous glam-rock song, “Rebel Rebel”.
I enjoy tying a bunch of knots in yarn simultaneously creating art and a functional object. Its a representation and reminder that everything can be identified and categorized in multiple ways; everything fits into more than one category. Knitting can definitely be a rebellious effort.
When creating these knots, the entropy is real. This project can be anything!
When I am done, and the loose threads are tied up; there is a cool, functional piece enmeshed with a bit of my heart and soul. I can share it with others. It is equal parts chaos, transformation and function.
Next time you’re frustrated from learning something new, remember it won’t always be a tangled mess. If you keep at it, that mess could become a beautiful bunch of knots.
mason jars gray scarf fingerless gloves
Interested in making functional art from of a bunch of knots?
Call your local yarn shop, get involved with a non-profit knitting group or find a knitting club on Meetup.
Also, check out the recent NYTimes article on knitting for mental well-being or their article last year on knitting as coding. I think yes to both, but that’s just me.
Where do I get my yarn?
I have lots of yarn from lots of places. I bought a few skeins of ultra soft alpaca at Yummi Yarns last year while visiting family. And a friend gifted me part of her stockpile when she moved.
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