Bad Ass Knitters Unite!

Hehehe I saw this a few months back on Wendy 's website, and absolutely loved it!

Encouraging knitterly attitude I share with you today, Wendy's 'How to Be A Bad Add Knitter'!!

How to Be a Bad-Ass Knitter Knit whatever the hell you want . . . whenever you want. Buy as much yarn (and books and needles etc.) as you want, whenever the hell you want. Never, ever, apologize for knitting. Never, ever, apologize because you think something you knit isn't "good" enough. Never, ever, apologize about how you knit: right-handed, left-handed, or with your toes! Traditional knitting is timeless. Display your stash with pride! You don't have to follow a pattern exactly -- make changes if you wanna. Never apologize for knitting cat/dog hair into your sweater. It's all the warmer! Whenever a non-knitter asks you a stupid question, remember that you carry long, sharp sticks. All graphics, patterns, text, and content on this site are the sole property of Wendy D. Johnson ©2002 - 2005 Not to be reproduced in any form without written permission from Wendy D. Johnson Note: I did email and check with Wendy that it was okay I post a copy of it here, and link to her site and she ok'd me :)

I love it! Particularly the bit about not apologising for how much stash or needles or books etc you have. I totally agree with that! Within reason of course, don't live outside your means and so on.. But people don't really seem to get, I find, that knitters need TOOLS. And those tools are needles, tape measures (in the shape of woolly sheep), crochet hooks etc.. And that the same as any passion one wants inspiration around them in the form of books and magazines that teach new skills, push the boundaries of ones personal best and encourage the art. And as for the "too much yarn" bizzo? That comes under te tools heading anyway, but also... People collect stamps, people collect trophies, people have huge collections of books or model aeroplanes - the list goes on. Knitting is a past time, and in order to pass time with knitting, one requires to knit things, generally made of yarn. And while it seems unusual to non-knitters (and some knitters too!) horde a stash large enough that you couldn't knit through it in a year - that is inspiration in itself, to lift the lid on your yarn basket and see all the colours and textures resting in there, awaiting their turn on the needles. It would become humdrum and loose the exciting passionate edge if we knit by schedule or roster. "Right, finished the blue clapotis, now I have to knit that orange wool into a cushion cover". I can definately see the value in buying yarn only when you have a project in mind to knit with it, and even only when you have finished a project and need a new one! But for me, I love being surrounded by the lovelies and snugglies of my craft. I don't have a large stash at all, but enough that I can look at it, imagine what yarn could become, have some yarns I know exactly what I'll do with and maybe even a little bit of room for some more. But for now I'm not acquiring anymore yarn. Not until I've done a few more projects, or if I know exactly what I'll be using it for. BUt I don't want to bank up too many obligations. "Oooh I bought that yarn for a tea cosy, I'd better do that up" or "I spent all that money on that yarn for a jumper.. better do it" But then I suppose being an art form, creative and customised, knitting has the flexibility to free the knitter from the confines of locking in a particular project to a yarn. If one decided NOT to knit that tea cosy, they could knit some gloves instead, or a beanie or...?

Hmmm *ponders the subject for a little* I see I've given arguments for and against stash accumulation, which fits quite well actually as I'm very happy with my medium sized stash! But it's high time I hit the road for work! (last day before the weeekend yay!! Last day before halloween party day!!!)