Comparing Knitting!

As I was looking at a new pattern the other night, I was thinking about the knitting process and how you can compare so much of knitting to other things. There are podcasts that creatively connect to things such as a coffee shop like the Knit Knit Café podcast. The following morning while I was practicing yoga, and attempting to do a new move, I found a similarity.
When I first started out knitting (only 4 short years ago), everything was very unfamiliar to me. There were many tools that I needed and had to familiarize myself with what their purpose was; straight needles, circular needles, different sizes and lengths, stitch markers, stitch holders, and the list will go on and on. I would read different books and magazines to learn new things, well the basics at first. I had to continuously look to be sure I was in fact casting on correctly and in fact doing a knit stitch, not a purl stitch. I would look at pattern and think, “Wow! I can’t do that yet, but I will.” After quickly getting down the basics of the knit and purl stitches, casting on and casting off, with out looking in a book or having to double check that I was doing it right. I was able to create many different items, mostly scarves, without looking at a pattern. I would look for another pattern that was slightly more challenging and go through the same process until again I was able to do this with out looking. I could read the abbreviations without having to look up what PSSO, YO, K2tog, and BO mean, just to name a few and know how to do them. I would move on to more challenging pieces until I was again comfortable with my newly learned skills and move on. It is an exciting process because there is always something more that I can learn, do and master. In only four short years I have emerged into a knitter.

When I first started doing yoga (only 4 short months ago), everything felt very strange to me. There were things that I needed; a mat, blocks, strap, bolster, etc. I grabbed a Yoga Journal magazine and a few basic yoga books and started to teach myself the poses, or asanas as they are called. It appears that each pose has several names. I had to keep looking to be sure I was in fact in Adho Mukha Svanasana also known as Downward Facing Dog, and not Ardha Uttanasana which is Standing Half Forward Bend. Once I learn the poses and am able to do them and hold them for a few breaths, feel the stretch and length from them, I move on to new asanas. Yoga is amazing because there is no one to compete with to be better, just myself. There are always more to learn, do and master. In only four short months I have emerged into a yogi.

Knitting and yoga are two personal enjoyments that provide very similar results. They are noncompetitive, relaxing individual things. They can be done with others, however it is still a personal experience that you have. Someone can guide you when you are stuck or just not right in your stitch or pose, however you are the one to learn, do and master. I enjoy my knitting and yoga and how they both bring me such similar joys.

With what do you compare knitting?

Enjoy your similarities.