A big theme of many podcasts in 2013 is that their presenters have stated 'in 2013 I will not make resolutions, but will knit what I want, when I want'. An applaud-able attitude to have and one which I personally really wanted to adopt. However, over the last couple of weeks I realise I haven't been following this.
It started off with a commission. Now as all knitters know, we never get paid enough for a commission. But we don't resent it. We often just accept that we will recoup the cost of our materials plus a little extra for our time when we would have been knitting anyway (well, at least that's how I work it for friends!). And often we only accept knitting commissions for products we like to knit anyway. However, with a knitting commission you can't choose WHEN you want to knit said item and so it was with my Merida commission.
I love the Topsy Turvey doll pattern from
Jean Greenhowe and think it's wonderfully written and always turns out well (a testament to the pattern designer as opposed the knitter methinks!!). So when I was asked to knit one in the style of Merida from Brave I was more than happy. Especially as I had previously made one in the style of Belle (from Beauty and the Beast) for this same friend which I loved knitting up and was delighted with the finished the object (see Ravelry page for details). I was also very proud of the fact that the little recipient had also loved the doll, even taking her all the way to DisneyWorld to meet the real life princess.
With the Merida doll one side of her was to be with her in her darker dress and one side with her lighter one. Unfortunately my heart left the project after the first body piece and didn't return although I still had the other body, four arms and two gigantic skirt pieces to knit. I finally finished after a month of what felt like slog, sickness and general apathy towards the project:
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| Merida Light Dress |
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| Merida Dark Dress |
I really hope the little girl this was made for loves the doll as much as the last one I did for her but I don't think in all conscience I can take payment for this work. It took far longer than was originally quoted and I don't feel it was my best work.
And therein lies the moral of the tale. I should have stuck to all the other podcasters 2013 resolutions and only knit what I wanted to this year. That way the projects will be loved and have those good vibes knitted in to them as opposed to feel like a slog and turn my well loved hobby into a chore.
As a knitter I don't seem to be able to cope with targets and deadlines. As soon as i put one on a project I just want to dig my heels in and say 'not gonna happen'. So for this years gift knitting there are no deadlines!! I will knit things that take my fancy and if I don't want them for myself I will place them lovingly in the gift drawer until an appropriately worthy recipients event arises and then present them.
And from now on I will follow the other podcasters mantra and only knit what I want, when I want :) Right, I'm off to find the gorgeous alpaca yarn and pattern for the scarf I purchased from the lovely
Alpaca Loft at the Edinburgh Yarn Festival. Well, with all this snow I need something gorgeous for my neck!
Island Wife: Living on the Edge of the Wild. Judy Fairbairns by Judy Fairbairns
