This is going to shock a few of you, but we’re going to talk about knitting. Heck no, I don’t have anything to show you, no finished object report, but I have figured out why my mojo went south for the winter. (At least it still has snow if it went to Alabama…)
An unflattering self-portrait of me in my only 2010 FO
You see, I have several secrets on the needles right now. All but one are gifts to some of you, so obviously, I can’t talk too much about them here. The other is a big ol’ secret sample knit, and that’s more than I should say according to the terms of the “contract.”
Gmarie and I were thinking that simply knitting for hire was hijacking my mojo. While chatting with Alison last night about something almost unrelated, I had a little epiphany. My mojo runs away when I can’t share my knitting with y’all. I have no knitting group, and generally, I’d say my social interaction needs are far, far below average, but it clicked last night…
So, no more secrets, once I get past this pile. And some of those I’m going to share, and just not say who gets it in the end. That does mean no more secret sample knitting. I do enjoy TEST knitting for friends when the project suits me, so feel free to ask about that, as long as you have no secret demands.
What drives your mojo into hiding?
Chan Knits 
You know – I often post my projects on the (poor, sadly neglected) blog even when they are gifts. I mean seriously – you had no idea the simple summer socks were coming your way even though they were photographed flat.
I think you need to do what inspires you. If you don’t tell the blog world it’s a gift – then the blog world will never know. And frankly – few of us are rude enough to ask or tell you how much we’d like a certain item! Just sayin’ so share away!
Love the winter snow photos of the girls. Got more coming today? g
Hmmm…I think I can totally see your point. When I can’t share what I’m knitting, or when it takes too long to complete a project, I find myself with nothing to say, and somewhat less interest in the project itself. LOL…get ’em in, get ’em out, rope ’em up! Seems to be my motto. 🙂
Not being able to share does take a lot of the fun out of it, as does “contract/knitting for hire.” I think G is right, you can tell us about stuff, just don’t tell us it is a gift, we’ll never know and you will be happier! (And have mojo!)
From my experience, big, never-ending project can also tug at the mojo, so fast, instant-gratification projects tossed into the mix help a lot too! (You know, stuff dishcloths or coasters.)
I can see how that would affect your mojo… for sure!
Now I’m wondering what the test knit is! 😉
That makes complete sense.
What makes my mojo go? Stress. Stress from work, stress from kids, stress from DH. Stress. And you know what? That is when I need my knitting mojo the most.
I totally get that. That’s a small part of why my booktwo knitting has suffered, but right now it’s got me but good and I’m running with it for all I’m worth.
My mojo takes a hike when I’m really tired. All I feel like doing are small things like dishcloths. My sock mojo, for instance, has completely fled. I think that’s more from doing the same thing for 3 years, though.
You know I don’t knit, but I have to be inspired to sew. I need sunshine, or a celebration, or a holiday, or something to get me started. And I won’t stop once I start, so I can only sew on weekends. It’s so hard to get all the circumstances to line up! And with my severe back problems from September through January (as opposed to the lesser problems that led up to that), I couldn’t get my buns off the sofa to do anything! Show us what you want, and don’t tell us if you’re knitting for yourself or others, and we’ll tell you how much we like it – because you know we always do!
And we were supposed to get 3″ to 6″ of snow last night, but the storm stayed east of here, so we only got a dusting. Oh, happy day!
I just wish I could get a project started. Each evening I think about what I want to do next, but I don’t have the energy to get everything together to start on it.
Go ahead and show us what you’re doing. That’s half the fun.
Endless stockinette. That’ll kill my knitting mojo in a heartbeat. Just want to scream or shorten the sweater or sleeves…anything to be done with the stockinette.
Got a kick out of Scrabblequeen calling out her “Rawhide” quote above. You have to be a certain age to remember that one!!! Which tells you that I am not as young as I used to be…
Well, Im glad you got your knit mojo back! Id love to see more!
My mojo hides when I feel like I “have” to finish/accomplish something. I like to just learn and have fun.
Can’t wait to see your knitting when you can show us again!
I still have a test knitting scarf to finish, as well as John’s sweater. Those took a back seat for the Ravelry Olympics.
I’ve got a hat that MUST get done tonight, and then I need to work on my shawl. I am having serious doubts that it will get done in two weeks.
I think stress drives my knitting mojo away… I do better with spinning at times like these. Or reading a book. I have several I really want to read right now too, maybe I’ll start one this week.
I already know about you know what, so you are welcome to share that one. 🙂
I tend to agree with you when I am knitting samples for other companies I can’t share I feel like half the fun is missing, when I am knitting something new for myself that no one is pre buying or knows about I like keeping the secret until its done in case its a dud which sometimes it has been!!!
Still fighting the good fight with this cold, it won’t let up so not alot of knitting happening any way probably still a lot by some standards but by my own measure I am way way behind, head hurts too much to read or concentrate on patterns, luckily I have a pi shawl on the needles that is totally mindless and very restful
I think my Wii stole my mojo. I’ve only had it for a week, but have not gotten much knitting done since I got the Wii. Last night I picked up the balance board and Wii Fit software, and that thing totally kicks my butt! Ouch!
I understand, I get my knitting, sewing, cooking mojo stolen all the time. Like right now I don’t want to cook anymore because in a week he will be gone and I won’t have to. Maybe you should start a small project for yourself so you can share again.
I certainly hope you’ll post photos of your gifts soon. You don’t have to tell us who they are for. We want to see!
I lose my mojo to Bejewled. That shouldn’t be. I’ve given it up for Lent.
Knitting the front to my cardi for the 3RD time is hard too. I just want to be on to finishing the hoodie.
It’s important for knitters to share their work and you don’t have to post who they’re for.
Certainly glad you found the reason for the lost mojo and even happier you got it back :).
I lose it because I knit alone most of the time. My darling friend, Alicia comes over when she can. But like nearly everyone else I know, she works full time during the week. I am unable to drive, and there is not a knit shop very local for a bus ride. Love to read others’ blogs.