Sunday, June 11, 2006

Knitting Fraud

Sometimes I feel like a knitting fraud because I trawl through the charity shops and the internet looking for new and old wool at the best possible price I can, while designers continue to introduce fabulous new fibre blends which I will probably never even touch let alone use. Sometimes I feel like a knitting fraud as I am not knitting the latest fashionable tank top using the latest Noro silk @ $20 for a 50g skein, on interchangeable needles, while hopping on one leg and blowing bubbles.

Don't get me wrong, I love the look, smell and feel of the wool in my LYS but to be honest I can't afford to spend all that much. Well perhaps I could but I would have to limit myself to one project a year! And now that I have picked up the pins again I can't bear to put them down.

So, am I a knitting fraud for wanting to knit in an economical way and satisfying my current addiction? At what point do we become 'knitters' - is it when we pick up the pins and knit our first scarf? Or is it when we make a more challenging piece, that will probably become a family heirloom? Is it simply good enough to be able to cast on, knit something and cast off?

I guess I have reached a point where I recognise that I am in fact a good knitter and that I can cope with a variety of projects. It's more than some people can do but obviously less than others.

3 comments:

Mully Nex said...

Knitting fraud? No way! I've been scouring the local charity shops for sweaters to frog (so I can nick the wool and use it in other projects) but it's the wrong time of year for them!

I've not found ONE sweater since I started but I have to admit to not having a huge amount of time. I get most stuff from Ebay. There's a great fancy yarn manufacturer from Turkey selling on ebay uk.. for the life of me I can't recall the name of it right now but my blog details the sequin yarn I got from them!

Sharon said...

Definately not a knitting fraud!!!

My LYS has a yarn holding service which helps considerably with the cost of my passion;) They put the yarn aside and you only pay for what you take each time.

Anonymous said...

I am so with you on the prices.. I would love to buy out my local knit shop but alas single working mom no can do.. I always go for the cheap cheap stuff..I figure being a knitter surely I am good enough and creative enough I can make the cheap stuff look good *winks* at least thats what I keep telling myself. I even get handmedowns from other knitters getting rid of their stuff.. hehehe does that make me a fraud NO WAY.. it makes me totally have a bigger stash!!