Knit Now - UK (2021-01)

How many times have you heard

yourself saying “Just one more

row”? It’s definitely one of the most

common phrases I hear from fellow

knitters. I’ve even got a ‘Just one

more’ spinner pin badge from Twill &

Print (www.twillandprint.com) that

spins between ‘Just one more row,

episode, cookie, cup and nap!’ It’s

pinned to my handbag and I give it a

spin whenever I need cheering up.

There are two sides to “Just one

more row” though, aren’t there? On

one side, the project you love so

much you just can’t put it down. You

have to squeeze in just one more

row before bed. You love watching it

grow and you might even be a little

bit sad when it’s finished. The other

type is the project you’re struggling

with. You want to get it finished –

maybe you’re on a deadline to give

it as a gift – but it just seems to be

taking forever. You set yourself a target of how

many rows to knit every evening – maybe you’ll

motivate yourself with a chocolate at the end of

every row to keep you going.

Really though, what’s the difference between

these two types of project? For me at least, it’s

rarely anything tangible – techniques, size, yarn

or design have little to no influence. The same

project can even move back and forth between

the two camps multiple times when it’s on the

needles. If I’m honest with myself, it’s often

just my outlook that really makes a difference.

This month, Editor Kate is musing on how she can take one day at a time

If I feel like I don’t have any

choice but to keep on knitting

• perhaps because it’s the only
  project I have with me or because
  I’m on a tight deadline – I’m
  much less likely to enjoy it. Over
  the years, I’ve learned that if
  I can take off as much of that
  pressure as possible by giving
  myself choices, I’ll love the
  knitting process much more.

In recent months, I’ve

found myself marking time

in the same way as the second

type of knitting project – telling

myself I just need to knuckle

down, push through and

eventually it’ll be over. I’ll be

able to see my mum and dad

again, see live music, hug my

friends... I don’t always feel

like I have much choice as

to what I can do with my days, so

it’s been tougher than it needs to be. Thanks

to my knitting though, I know that next time

one of those thoughts crops up, I can counter

it, by giving myself choices. Live performances

in person might be off the table, but there are

so many more online options than there were

a year ago – last week I watched the musical

Hamilton, which I’ve been wanting to see for

years! I can’t go out for coffee so I’ve bought

some fancy flavours to choose from at home.

They’re only little things, but they help.

JUST ONE MORE

KATE’S DIARY

“It’s often just

my outlook

that really

makes a

difference”

camomileknits

Frances is a relatively

new designer whose fresh

outlook makes her one to

watch for 2021!

millysknitdesigns

Crystal Hiatt is a

body-positive designer

who has a talent with

textured stitches

ramsay_baggins

Pip is a designer,

podcaster and all-round

good egg – I love following

all their crafty adventures

Follow our designers on Instagram!

verilyknits

Regular readers will

recognise Claire

Slade – she has a

lovely understated

style that I can

never resist

tina.say.knits

I love Tina’s posts –

equal parts inspiring,

comforting and thought-

provoking. Cute cats

are always a bonus too.