Letters
Knit at Your Own Pace
Dear Ann,
You and I have a tendency to power through knitting projects at a pretty healthy clip, as if knitting is our job or something. Sometimes I knit fast because I’m in a hurry to blog about something. But just as often, I feel like I’m racing against my own attention span. I knit as fast as I can, knowing that at any moment I could feel the call of a new project, dooming the current one to WIP purgatory.
My sister-in-law, known as Aunt Kathy, takes her knitting at a different pace.
Kathy has been knitting since childhood. When I started knitting again in the early 1990s, I’d go to Kathy whenever I needed rescuing from some mess I’d gotten myself into.
Then, 22 years ago, Kathy became the mother of twins, and put her knitting down. When she picked it back up again, she took a truly radical approach to slow knitting.
Kathy knits one project at a time. That would be difficult for me, but it’s hardly radical. Kathy’s time window for that single project is very narrow. It’s two weeks in August, when she and an old friend and a collection of their available children go to Lake George in upstate New York. There are few rules to their days together. They make a pie every day, and Kathy knits. And then she puts her knitting away until next August.
It’s a big day when a project gets finished. With great family pride, I present:
Kathy’s Relax pullover.
The yarn is Skein Queen’s Buxom Blissful, 100% Bluefaced Leicester in a sock weight. Kathy bought it in Davidson, North Carolina, in the knitting shop below the apartment that housed a young Ann Meador during her senior year at Davidson College. We were there to take our respective daughters to see the college, and we made a pilgrimage to pick up some souvenir yarn. As you do.
The year was 2013. So this is a five-year sweater. There is a lot riding on the outcome.
Kathy brought the pieces over to my house on Thanksgiving, to get some mattress-seaming lessons. That didn’t happen, because it was Thanksgiving.
As the end of the year approached, I decided that a once-every-five-years sweater-knitter probably could do without a refresher on mattress stitch, and I stitched it up myself.
Public Service Announcement: Feel free to sew up my knitting, any time.
It’s a good fit, even in its unblocked state.
A little blocking and it will have a bit more of that sweet Relax ease.
A fond look back at Relax’s Lake George days.
I think it’s remarkable that Kathy was able to sustain momentum on this project long enough to get a beautiful sweater out of it. I wonder what she’ll cast on next August. Look for my report in January 2024.
Love,
Kay
I love reading this post about the difference in style. And the sweater looks wonderful.
This sweater is timeless. Kathy knows what she likes! Maybe she’ll get the urge to cast on for another. My last sweater always motivates the next one.
I’ve only been to that yarn shop in Davidson once (even though my mother lives close by) but I thought it was lovely. I think there our to be an MDK plaque memorializing Ann’s presence there as a knitter in making!
Is it weird that I’m most impressed that the sweater actually fits her five years after she started it? I’m never the same size two years in a row, let alone 5!
I second your thoughts.
My thoughts exactly.
The whole story scares me a little, except for the pie.
“Racing against my own attention span.” Exactly!
If only I could knit faster, I might win!
I this sweater and the beautiful color !
After I, was supposed to be the word LOVE but I used an emoji so it did not come thru.
Dear Kay:
i so LOVE reading your and Ann’s daily posts. This is yet another charming and delightful one that gets my day off to a start with a wonderful feeling. So thank you for all your efforts…everyday.You never disappoint.
Smiles,
Debbie
DITTO!!!
Ditto!!!!
Agree!!
Wow, vintage Skein Queen! The jumper looks amazing. Well worth the wait.
I love this story, time is the only thing that robs me of knitting!
Thank you for such a beautiful reminder that by taking ourselves into consideration, we can hold on to what we love in a gentle way. I love this story about Kathy and her beautiful, timeless story!
Kudos to Kathy! Such slow fashion requires a timeless pattern for sure. Sometimes I worry that even knitting has become fast fashion…
If I were to knit only once a year, I’d miss my knitting soooo much.
And let’s not even talk about how my gauge might change in addition to my measurements!
Her smile says it all! Just think how in the moment she is when she is knitting and all the happy memories she has in every stitch. My nephew went to Davidson and it is a wonderful and special college.
That’s the sweetest story! I love that you seamed it for her. It makes me feel better about some things I still want to finish but are languishing in the UFO bin. Five years sounds fine with me.
Well done Kathy – a sweater in beautiful colors in a style that really suits the wearer AND is beautifully knit (and seamed)! This is a very happymaking story. I have projects that have taken five years, but never on purpose.
I appreciate your story. I am a “winter only” crochet/knitter. There is just too many activities in the summer. I have often started a project, in the winter, when a winter storm causes our lights to go out for several hours. Then in the glow of an antique kerosene lamp, I start my project….nothing complicated, just simple stitches. Then I work on it until it is finished! Accomplished!!!
Love every bit of that story but my favorite part is Kay sewing it up for Kathy. Perhaps because that’s exactly what my mother would have done.
Great story and beautiful sweater. I myself am a slow knitter. I love the process, it’s like meditation to me. Unfortunately I have many UFO’s. Onward…
I’m with you Kristine and that’s just fine!! UFO’s unite!!!
This Kathy doesn’t even have your attention span. I have yet to achieve a sweater. I mostly knit shawls with lots of variation to keep me going. I still have around 20 WIP’s of knitting alone. I also have crochet and quilt WIP’s. The sweater is beautiful and looks wonderfully comfy.
Thanks for the word. I usually just keep going and suddenly I’m ‘speedy Gonzalez’. Looks like a drop stitch…and no one makes boat necks an…enough!!! It’s nice to see one.
Have my hands full with projects here right now but …no I will not be drawn into another. Just go buy some more yarn.
So much yarn, so little time!
Diana
Gosh, I LOVE you guys. Your style of writing is as if you were my dearest of dear friends, just talking to me. I envy your real dear friends-how fortunate they are to have you. But I feel lucky too, every day when I read your new message. Please don’t stop.
Did you mention the pattern she used? I really like this one. Also impressed that it still fits. WhWh with major life stuff I’m several sizes smaller than five years ago. It would be v v casual on me.
Lovely approach though. Very restful.
What a great story! Makes me think of Pinocchio, “I’m a real boy!” That yarn is so happy to be a sweater at last! And it’s a beautiful sweater.
I love this story so much. Although my projects’ time duration was never planned, I have taken far more than 5 years to finish things…in fact most of my projects get started like a house on fire and then the fire goes out. I could possible be ADHD…this has been the case with cross stitch, counted cross stitch and knitting above all else. Now Kathy has inspired me and Kay, your story telling is amazing. Ooops, I gotta go..the house is on fire again!! Happy New Year to all.
Thanks for offering hope that my “slow” projects can be completed.
Beautiful sweater! Knitting for me is a “slow” process now. Enjoyment, as I no longer wait at dance, music, lacrosse, voice or drama classes! I can sit and enjoy the moment, plot the next.
Love this article ♥️
Is this pattern in a book I could purchase!
You can get it on Ravelry here: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/relax-5
Kay, this post is so heartwarming. And I have such fond memories of your trip to Davidson, since I had the privilege of meeting you and Aunt Kathy, Maggie & Carrie for coffee that day. The yarn shop in Davidson closed about a year ago when Elaine, the owner, retired after something like 42 years in business! Aunt Kathy is just as beautiful and nice as her photo reflects. Her finished sweater makes me so happy! xoxo
Tammy, I remember getting that message from you on the drive from the airport, to the great amusement of the young ones.
I’m sad to hear that the yarn shop closed, but it sure did have a good run, and I’m glad we got to see it, and you!
xo Kay
I have enjoyed knitting for 6 years but, I get shamed all the time for not using ” real ” yarn. I can’t afford expensive yarn. I do own a Modern Daily book though .
I think all yarn is real. some yarn is expensive and some yarn is not. it’s all real, though! people who shame you are not good friends. if its inadvertent, perhaps let them know. if they are mean, drop them like a bad project and move on!
Even slower than me. I do work on one project at a time, but it goes with me everywhere. Eventually they get finished.
Twins can do this to a person! I knit a lot less now that I have twins, but I enjoy every stitch… I loved this story, and I want to go to that place in Lake George! (Without twins…)
Beautiful sweater and beautiful story.
Kathy sounds just like me, I do tend to drag out my projects. But at the same time I can’t wait to get to my next project.
That is a beautiful sweater! I remember when I went to Oregon and bought yarn and made a long sweater coat from a 1970’s pattern. I still have it . I love your posts.
Congratulations to Aunt Kathy!
“But just as often, I feel like I’m racing against my own attention span.” *THIS* is exactly what motivates my on-going and mostly monogamous knitting. I used to start a lot more projects but never finish them because something would come along that I like better. Now, I have a better sense of what I like because I either tough it out or rip it out to get it right…and then I knit as fast as I can!
I loved The Needlecraft Center, which was in business for almost 50 years. I, too, tried to persuade a child to go to Davidson because, how convenient, knitting AND needlepoint just across the street from campus, there would’ve been no aimless hanging around while visiting that kid.
i LOVE it Kay. You write beautifully about my beautiful sister. thank you – the post lit up my day. = fran
Ah! You had me at Lake George … and knitting…..!!!!
What – no one has mentioned Olive running along in her sweater in the background? Great photos, and writing about, all….
Olive is a grudging knitwear model but she doesn’t want to be left out!
Yes! Olive looks like a million & makes my sister Kathy look like a dog whisper/fashion fwd dog owner! Kay, love yr Knitting Royalty books, blog & have this prize winning photo of Kathy’s baby, the nephew you & I share, Paulie…wearing a Kathy feature she may be prepped before he & Mags arrived. Remy’s bunny thumper is getting her mini xmas stocking here! How do I attach a photo?
Beautiful! I always feel bad about my long, drawn out projects and this helps!!!
Personally I like the idea of slow knitting. When I began knitting again after I retired I heard that it was relaxing and also mind-building. I did not find it relaxing to be rushing to finish a project for KAL or a class. I want to be able to knit in my time zone, whatever that may be from day to day. Yesterday and today I struggled to cast on a sweater. There seemed to be a knitting block for me in being able to do a long-tail cast on of 300 stitches. It took me 5 very frustrating tries but today I’m proud to say I have accomplished this simple goal. This is a KAL but I’m sure I am already trailing behind and that is just fine with slow-knitting me.
“They make a pie every day” – adding to vacation dream plan!
Now I need this! What a fall pop of color!
During the 1950s and 60s, our large family spent summers at the beach house my father built. There was no TV, internet hadn’t been available, no cellphones, etc. My grandmother, mother and sisters all learned to knit and we spent many hours doing that, as well as working jigsaw puzzles, playing cards, painting sand dollars. We went to bed early so that we could get up at 5:30am to go clam digging. Those were wonderful times, looking back.