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Consider Knitting

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Re: Consider Knitting

#21

Post by croisillon »

n4r9 wrote: post #18
sergioisidoro wrote: post #12

The thing knitting taught me is that you can have something beautiful and useful even tho literally every part of the piece is a single point of failure. No redundancy, no backstop. If any of the stitches gets cut, the entire piece can unravel completely. We're so used to redundancy, but sometimes you just need to get things done, and it's ok if it's all a deck of cards.

> it's ok if it's all a deck of cards The idiom you're looking for may be "house of cards": https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/house+of+cards

after that comment i hope he gets his deck in order

Re: Consider Knitting

#23

Post by kzrdude »

sergioisidoro wrote: post #12

The thing knitting taught me is that you can have something beautiful and useful even tho literally every part of the piece is a single point of failure. No redundancy, no backstop. If any of the stitches gets cut, the entire piece can unravel completely. We're so used to redundancy, but sometimes you just need to get things done, and it's ok if it's all a deck of cards.

At least the yarn has more han one strand. It's redundant at some level :)

Re: Consider Knitting

#24

Post by degamad »

bonki wrote: post #2

I like crotcheting (tried it again for the first time since childhood during Covid). My main problem is that, unless you have already mastered it and can do it in your sleep, I have to fully concentrate on it to not fuck things up, which means I can't do something else at the same time, e.g. listen to an audiobook. And because I'm so slow it takes too much time for me to not think that it's a waste of time because I…

Could you try crocheting something for a purpose? Say, make small stuffed toys to donate to a local charity?

That way, the task becomes "meaningful" and thus worthy of the additional time and focus that it demands, without becoming a pressing obligation on you to cause additional stress...

Re: Consider Knitting

#25

Post by lemming »

smackeyacky wrote: post #7
petesergeant wrote: post #5

While I'm very open-minded to knitting, also consider picking up a musical instrument. Guitar, ukulele, keyboard. There are apps that'll teach you, and it's immensely gratifying -- if like me you obsess over certain songs -- to then be able to work towards playing those.

No better time in history to learn guitar. Amazing online resources, the world is flooded with cheap guitars as well if you’re happy with 2nd hand. There is a technical side to it (tuning, restringing) and plenty of toys, pedals and computer integration to any nerd hearts content. Even if you get stuck at 3 chords it’s amazing the number of pop songs you can suddenly play. Plus if you get past there you still have cl…

Do you have any recommendations for online resources? A few years ago my wife and I started with Justin guitar, but then we switched to piano to tempt our daughter. Is that a good choice, or are there better options?

Re: Consider Knitting

#26

Post by al_borland »

bonki wrote: post #2

I like crotcheting (tried it again for the first time since childhood during Covid). My main problem is that, unless you have already mastered it and can do it in your sleep, I have to fully concentrate on it to not fuck things up, which means I can't do something else at the same time, e.g. listen to an audiobook. And because I'm so slow it takes too much time for me to not think that it's a waste of time because I…

This was probably my issue as well. I grew up seeing my grandma crochet. She’d do it while watching TV (though I’m not sure if she was actually watching or just in proximity to others watching), and she was quick. I have a couple afghans she made. She probably made a couple dozen.

The learning curve was higher than I expected, especially without someone to be there showing me stuff. I just tried watching some YouTube videos. I got frustrated and quit rather quickly.

I’ve heard knitting is easier, but I like the idea of crochet better.

Re: Consider Knitting

#27

Post by bowsamic »

petesergeant wrote: post #5

While I'm very open-minded to knitting, also consider picking up a musical instrument. Guitar, ukulele, keyboard. There are apps that'll teach you, and it's immensely gratifying -- if like me you obsess over certain songs -- to then be able to work towards playing those.

I agree, musical instruments also have the benefit of a much higher skill ceiling. That can also be a downside though, since it can make it frustrating to learn

Re: Consider Knitting

#28

Post by al_borland »

sergioisidoro wrote: post #12

The thing knitting taught me is that you can have something beautiful and useful even tho literally every part of the piece is a single point of failure. No redundancy, no backstop. If any of the stitches gets cut, the entire piece can unravel completely. We're so used to redundancy, but sometimes you just need to get things done, and it's ok if it's all a deck of cards.

When I visited Sweden I stumbled across nålebinding. It predates knitting and crochet, and from what I read, it didn’t suffer from this issue of unraveling. Though I think that is a double edged sword, as it also means it’s hard to go back and fix a mistake if one is made.

Re: Consider Knitting

#29

Post by dagw »

petesergeant wrote: post #5

While I'm very open-minded to knitting, also consider picking up a musical instrument. Guitar, ukulele, keyboard. There are apps that'll teach you, and it's immensely gratifying -- if like me you obsess over certain songs -- to then be able to work towards playing those.

Knitting has the advantage that you can do it anywhere and at any time without 'bothering' anybody else. Sitting on the bus, watching TV, having a conversation. Most people I know who knit use it almost as a 'fidget toy' that they're subconsciously playing with while simultaneously doing something else. Only looking down every few minutes or so to make sure they're on the right track or to make some change

Re: Consider Knitting

#30

Post by petesergeant »

lemming wrote: post #25
smackeyacky wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No better time in history to learn guitar. Amazing online resources, the world is flooded with cheap guitars as well if you’re happy with 2nd hand. There is a technical side to it (tuning, restringing) and plenty of toys, pedals and computer integration to any nerd hearts content. Even if you get stuck at 3 chords it’s amazing the number of pop songs you can suddenly play. Plus if you get past there you still have cl…

Do you have any recommendations for online resources? A few years ago my wife and I started with Justin guitar, but then we switched to piano to tempt our daughter. Is that a good choice, or are there better options?

I (op) restarted guitar recently, and Justin Guitar definitely seemed to be the internet's recommendation. I found it to be OK! The content is good but the app was a bit janky. I switched to online Zoom classes. Two people I know have used Simply Piano (and there's a guitar version of the same app) and swear by it, so probably also worth a look.
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