Happy New Year!
Stephanee Wallace - HYS 2019 Rookie of the Year :)
As the old year was drawing to a close and we were looking ahead to a brand new decade, we started talking a lot about creativity and inspiration. Here are some thoughts we wanted to share…
Sometime in 2018, we launched a yearlong WIP (Work in Progress) Challenge. We invited people to make a list of twelve projects they had abandoned. Most of the items on the list were yarn related, but some even included a few neglected chores on their mental “to-do” list. Cleaning out a closet, organizing the basement... we all have those tasks we procrastinate over or avoid. Each month, in the spirit of getting stuff done, we pulled a number from a hat and committed to finishing the project that corresponded with that number on our list. 2018 ended and 2019 rolled in. We soldiered on completing all the projects on our lists. It was satisfying to weave in all those ends and stack up our FOs (finished objects,) but at times it felt like an obligation to stick to the list. It took a little of the fun out of it. Maybe you’ve experienced that too.
Then a magazine arrived at the shop and got us thinking about a new approach…
In the Winter 2020 issue of Interweave Knits, on the last page, was an article by Vicki Square, a knitwear designer from Colorado. The author wrote that she had traded her old motto, “Finish as many projects as you can,” for something a little more fun… “Start as many New Knitting Projects as you can!” Before changing her motto she was very disciplined about completing a project before allowing herself to start something new. If a new design idea or heart-stopping yarn sparked inspiration, she put that feeling on hold until she finished whatever she had on her needles. While it felt good to complete things, she found that a “focus on finishing” was forcing her to ignore her creative desire for fresh new ideas. Can you relate? As the article closes, she invites her readers to consider moving their focus from finishing everything to the freedom of casting on a new project when inspiration strikes. Whether it’s a new pattern, or a pretty yarn that catches your eye, grab it and get busy. Enjoy the process! We LOVE that idea.
Which brings us to our friend Stephanee. We think she’s an inspiration. After retiring from a career that didn’t afford her extra time for crafts or artistic endeavors, she decided to learn some new things. She took up painting and discovered that she’s quite talented. She spends time painting almost every day and has even had her work in some art exhibits! About a year ago, she stopped by the yarn shop for knitting lessons. Picking up the basic skills quickly, she finished her first project, a hat with matching mittens. She was ready for her next project.
Admiring a cozy blue sweater hanging in the shop, she asked if she would be able to make it. You can probably guess what Henny’s answer was. “YES! Of Course!” So Stephanee picked out her yarn and got busy casting on. Oh, did we mention that the cozy blue sweater finished with a generous section of brioche? And pockets? Like any new knitter, Stephanee made a few mistakes. Never afraid of asking for help, she came back to the shop for some guidance. Sadly, the only remedy was to rip it out and start over. While this can be discouraging for a new knitter and frustrating for seasoned knitters, Stephanee just laughed and happily unraveled her work, considering it part of the learning experience. “I’m here to learn, right?” And oh, how she learned! You’d have to catch her at the yarn shop someday to ask how many times she had to re-start THAT sweater.
Each time she finished a project she jumped right into another one, usually without much regard for how difficult the pattern might be. When she came across something she didn’t understand, she asked for help and figured it out. Month after month, she was cranking out sweater after sweater. She even made a couple shawls along the way. A regular at the shop in 2019, she cast on whatever new project sparked her interest and added to her knitting skills with each new pattern. We think of her as our 2019 Rookie of the Year and hope she inspires you to try something new this year!
As we welcome a new decade, we want to thank you for being a part of our community here at Henny’s Yarn Shop. We wish you JOY, CREATIVITY and INSPIRATION in 2020. And we hope you’ll accept our invitation to join us as we CAST ON ALL THE THINGS!