At the risk of being redundant, here I go. I love this book that Silje and I are reading and I’m sneaking ahead at night after she goes to bed…again. It brings me back to when I was a little girl and used to write chapters of novels and dream of getting published. (The story is about a little girl who is a writer and wants to publish a book.) I’m loving it. Silje’s liking it. I think in about a year or two she’ll love it.
Since our deal is that she cannot read a designated school book until it is assigned to her, and of course once we’re done with it it’s free game, I’m sure she’ll read it many more times. At this point she re-reads her assigned books about 3 times after we’re done. Some more, some less.
I got the variation to the Little Pearl Vest done. It’s just a little sampler fair isle on the body. I made it a size too big for Solveig, but let her wear it to church last Sunday even though the shoulders were big. Actually, after considering the “flair” in the shoulders as the size goes up, I’m adjusting my pattern slightly in the increase area so it will be more hugging the shoulders and less flaring, and am checking my adjustments with a vest for Silje. I haven’t made anything for her in awhile.
The yarn I’m using for Silje’s Little Pearl Vest is actually from a project I’ve been meaning to frog for awhile, but haven’t had a chance. So without the messy winding up the yarn business, I’m just knitting straight from the unraveling sweater on the left.
I’ve hit a bit of a wall when it comes to designing. I finished the editing for the Buttercup pattern, and that got sent out to the testers. I have one more edit, and as I faced this next pattern for Little Pearl coming up, I went ahead and got a tech editor so the stress about checking my numbers 15 times for each size would fall off my shoulders.
Although I feel very professional getting a tech editor for my patterns, and I am relieved that I have the necessary help for them, I find I’m still coming up against a hard place when it comes to designing. It’s not that I don’t have more ideas. It’s that figuring out how to execute each idea requires so much measuring and planning and math, math, math, math.
I was talking to Knut about it the other night. I love designing patterns. I feel so creative and it gets my brain going and I think it’s so important that as adults we continue to learn and think and not just coast for years on end. I was wondering out loud why on earth I’m making myself do something so difficult? Maybe it’s easier for other designers (although I doubt it).
Still there’s that little voice inside me wondering if I’m cut out for it. I wonder if I’m just wasting my time. If I could even describe the butterflies I get in my stomach when I’m getting near the end of a pattern. I have 3 new patterns that will be done by the end of this month if all goes well! That’s a lot of butterflies. What if they’re bad? What if I start getting floods of emails telling me the patterns don’t make any sense, they came out the wrong size, I wasted their time and money…etc.
Knut lovingly told me that #1: if anyone should be stressed it should be him. His biggest cross country ski race of the year is this weekend. I did note that. 😉 #2: Don’t quit something because it’s hard. Maybe it’s fine to quit if it’s best for the family. Maybe it’s fine to quit if you hate it. Sometimes you quit if you feel no desire for it or you have no time to give to it. It’s not fine to quit because it’s hard. If it’s hard, it’s worth doing. He encouraged me to show my kids what following a dream looks like. I shouldn’t stop because it’s scary or because the work is hard.
He’s right. We try to tell our kids not to be afraid of hard work. O, I love my husband. He never ever thinks my dreams are stupid. I hope I can always do the same for him. I’m looking forward to be standing at the finish line this weekend with my cow bell ringing loudly as he finishes this 50 kilometer race for his 3rd year. He’s earned his spot into wave 1 (out of 8 waves of starters in the classic style) this year, so he’ll get to be right behind the elites. It’s a massive race with thousands of skiers. At that point it won’t matter that he’s barely had snow to train in…he’ll be skiing with the fast people so he’ll have to go fast.
Anonymous says
February 22, 2012 at 7:12 amGo fast, Knut! Go fast!
–Grant and Sharon
Tracey says
February 22, 2012 at 12:54 pmDreams are never a waste of time and I think your dream is a wonderful one. Your knitting is stunning and I can only hope one day to knit as lovely as you! I am looking forward to one day knitting one of your patterns.
Have a great great along day!
EMMA says
February 22, 2012 at 1:02 pmYou are definitely cut out for designing patters; that little vest is adorable. I imagine that it is very hard work, all that math, math math!
Good luck to Knut for his 50km classic race. My husband also is a cross county skier (he is lucky enough to be able to ski everyday), and we also have a cow bell!!
Mom says
February 22, 2012 at 1:29 pmI LOVE this post. Especially the part about showing your kids how to follow a dream. Both of you do that so well! Have fun this weekend and don’t forget to pack the cowbell! 🙂
Swanski says
February 22, 2012 at 1:48 pmLovely vest!! Math is not one of my favorite subjects and yet my son is majoring in it…go figure!
Ellen says
February 22, 2012 at 1:56 pmYour husband gives good advice. Of course I can sit here and nod my head easily but putting into practice is another matter. Yes, don’t give up (now I’ve got that Peter Gabriel/Kate Bush song in my head!). – I just finished one of your patterns and included it in the yarn along.
The vest is wonderful and looks very sweet on your little one.
Lee Ann says
February 22, 2012 at 2:13 pmThe vest is beautiful, and I bet your patterns will be as well. Congrats!
Jen says
February 22, 2012 at 3:24 pmThere are going to be critics out there for every one person that knits up a pattern of yours and loves it.
Don’t let the naysayers discourage you. You are very talented.
Lori ann says
February 22, 2012 at 5:12 pmi’m so grateful for people like you, making these patterns for others to enjoy. your hard work is so appreciated, and i think it would be a rare person indeed that felt otherwise.
keep towards your dreams, you have a gift (i love your knitting). and i love the support and love you show for your husband and his dreams as well. that is so beautiful to read.
and your baby is truly gorgeous.
xx lori
Rosina {Rosy ~ Posy} says
February 22, 2012 at 8:01 pmOh that little vest is adorable!! I always love seeing your patterns and I don’t think it will ever be a waste of your time especially if you are enjoying it 🙂
Stacy says
February 22, 2012 at 9:37 pmEverything about your post was lovely. Good luck to your husband in his race. The vest is beautiful.
Heidi says
February 22, 2012 at 9:53 pmBy the way, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the flair on the shoulders. Do what you will though. 🙂 It’s just very chic.
xoxo
www.theevolvinghomemaker.com says
February 23, 2012 at 1:20 ami think your hubby is awesome. what a way to show support. lucky girl! good luck with the patterns, i am sure they will go great!
🙂
jen
Cristy says
February 23, 2012 at 10:26 pmHope it goes well at the race! Can’t wait to see your soaker pattern up for sale!