First I just want to state that this is my opinion only, if you chose to take it personally that I don’t like XYZ and I am clearly OPRESSING your creativity then that is so not my problem.
A while ago I was reading about knitting heresies on LJ and knitters review, some of them were quite funny. However behind the humor was something rather disturbing. The very fact that there was considered an unspoken orthodoxy in knitting and that so very many women (yes although I am quite aware that men knit I would guess over 95% of knitters are still lacking the phallus of might) felt compelled to adhere to whatever they felt were the One True Path To Being A Real Knitter. Besides for some reason I think a man that knits is already breaking not new but weed infested overgrown ground. However it goes deeper than that because there appears to even be different sects in the knitting religion. So in the interest of declaring any bias I might hold to certain knitter types let me get my heresies stated. Further sections will highlight different knitter types and their version of the One True Path To Being a Real Knitter.
v Warmers are dumb.
Ø Wrist Warmers: Perhaps the most ridiculous things ever. Unless you are a tennis player or have some sort of RSI and even then I doubt a hand knit will do as much good as something your Orthopedist would suggest.
Ø Arm Warmers: The same people who make these complain about sleeves on a sweater. If you hate making them for a sweater why make them as a project? Also why not in fact just put on a damn cardigan.
Ø Leg Warmers: Dancers of course have a reason for wearing them. All others please let 80’s fashion mistakes die.
v Stash: No matter the size is Neutral.
Ø The people that stash (of which I am one): Some people stash for a rainy day. Some, like me, stash when they find spazzo sales so they can afford to use better yarn. Unless it looks like one of those hoarder people live in your home or you have have spent every cent on stash and can no longer pay your rent. Just accept that you buy yarn because you like yarn. It’s your home and your money, you are more than allowed to do with it as you like. If you feel guilt because you could have donated it to whatever is the trendy cause of the month look at it as your personal jobs creation program. Without yarn buying there will be less yarn choices and less yarn shops.
Ø The people that do not stash for whatever reason: Not stashing does not in fact make you a better person. It’s a choice. I do in fact somewhat admire the freedom non-stashers have. When they want to do a project they can just pick their yarn and go get it. Since I have a stash I feel compelled to at least try and find a substitute in my stash first
v Yarn Snobbery
Ø No one should feel better because they use Mcsnotty’s Yarns and no one should feel bad because they use the mart of wally yarns. Each has its place and project.
Ø Knit picks is not always the cheapest option for a natural fiber per yard. Now before someone issues a knitting edict against me for my heresy, let me state that I love my Knit picks needles. I also like the fact that knitpicks has made knitting with natural fiber more affordable. They also are providing some of the competition which is making big box store yarn suck less (see the redesign of Lion brands yarn line or patons sws for an example).
Ø Personally I am a yarn snob. However except for sock and my drawers of one of two balls of random yarn most of it I bought for 40% or more off.
Ø It’s hilarious to see yarn snobs go gaga for blends like cashmerino or any of its clones. I am one of those snobs since I love Cashsoft.
v LYS
Ø Owners: Quit whining about how online shops take away your biz and find a reason for people to come to your shop. Community sells. Yes I am aware it costs more to run a brick and mortar store but the markup on top of the MSRP is a bit much. I usually manage to find something to get when I go in but I buy for big projects online usually because not only is it cheaper but I can get what I want. I can count on one hand the times I’ve been to a shop that had the yarn I wanted in an amount that was suitable for a large project. And usually no I’m not willing to special order it and pay more when I can have it within a week and at a better price. Also friendly helpful staff would go a long way towards convincing me to shop with you. Also get some decent freaking light. It is absolutely crazy that I need to take yarn outside your shop to be able to see what it looks like. Bring in more local or indie dyers. Us sock addicts well we have small problems with sock yarn addiction.
v Washing Handknits: There is more than one way to skin a… well you get the drift.
I forgot that knitting Continental is highly superior to knitting English.
This is a good post. When I started knitting (and, well, ever since then) I’ve been mainly without knitters with which to hang.The singular exception is my friend Lisa, who is probably still afraid of cables and who just had a baby so is rather distracted at the moment. She only began knitting because I taught her. So it would seem that aside from Lisa, all my knittahs are virtual, and I never had to deal with someone telling me to my face that I’m doing something wrong. Reading a general post in a Knitlist email about why someone thinks English is better or Continental is better just serves as entertainment rather than a personal attack.
This argument (like so many of them) comes in two forms, though. The first is “my way is better”, but the second is the preachy and elitist snob version: “I’m such a hardcore knitter that I’ve taught myself how to knit Continental AND English, and my extensive research has led me to believe that you are poop on my shoe when it comes to knitting knowledge.”
You forgot the overly loyal people “Only bamboo/addi turbos/dpn’s/merino (or something similar) is correct, cause that’s the best”
and “If thou followst a pattern thou art unworthy” type.
Ha, a very fun post to read. I love knitting and the online knitting world and all the weird little swirls and whirls of backlash and lash, ebb and flow. I think most people do it how they do it, learn new techniques and just get on with it without much fuss (‘cuz, really, it’s just knitting, people) but the vocal minority can be very fun to watch/read.
I have Game of Thrones on audio, and the next one (although I haven’t got too far in that one. I stopped listening for a while and forgot who a lot of people were. ;-O). Entertaining, and a good twist on the genre (killing ‘heroes’).