Ways We Keep Our Knitting Interesting

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If you’re a knitter, then chances are you’ve experienced a knitting slump at some point in your life. You might be feeling uninspired, uninterested, or just plain tired. If you find yourself staring at piles of unfinished WIPs, then it might be time to change things up! Here are some of the ways we at Interweave keep our knitting interesting.

Keep Your Knitting Hot: Blow on the Coals

Andrea Lotz, Interweave Social Media Strategist

I think it’s normal in life for a love of knitting to wax and wane as circumstances change. Sometimes the desire to knit burns like a bonfire, and other times it’s just a glow in the coals. So long as the fire never goes out completely, you can always blow on the coals.

During college, I went through a major knitting dry spell. I attended school in Arizona and wasn’t yet aware of all the awesome warm-weather things that can be knitted with cotton, linen, and other lightweight yarns. I was also working on other creative pursuits, so I didn’t really miss it.

When I came back to Colorado after college, though, I really wanted to get back into knitting. I was browsing in a yarn shop with a friend when I put together a three-color palette that I absolutely loved, in colors that I wouldn’t have thought could possibly go together. After knitting a gorgeous colorwork hat, the spark was rekindled. I started doing more color experiments with bright, risky colors that I loved.

Then I got a job at Interweave, which meant I was knitting more than ever. It was like a roaring bonfire, and I was knitting every spare minute I had. But as we all know, bonfires consume as much fuel as they put out warmth. It got difficult to separate work knitting from fun knitting. I had to learn to listen carefully within myself for those tugs of true inspiration.

For me, learning new skills is what keeps the fire burning strong. I’ve learned so much in my six years at Interweave: grafting, brioche, and so many cast-ons and bind-offs, to give just a small sample. If I ever feel my love for knitting growing cold, I blow on the coals by learning something new!

Look for What You Love

Julia Pillard, Digital Content Editor, Interweave

At the beginning of the pandemic, I spent a lot of time on Pinterest, saving lots of outfit inspiration. We couldn’t really go anywhere, so I spent a fair amount of time daydreaming about what I would wear when we could go outside again. There were many moments of “ooh, I love that sweater,” and “that’s an adorable hat!” Many of these looks were well outside my ability to create (boned-bodice dresses with full and floaty skirts, for example). Some, however, were entirely knit-able.

That is one of the things that always keeps me engaged in my knitting—finding things I would love to wear. While I enjoy knitting for other people, there is something about stitching together a sweater and imagining the perfect outfit to pair it with that just keeps me knitting. I love coming up with outfit designs and imagining where I’ll wear the whatever I’m making. If there’s anything that keeps me knitting, it’s the excitement of knowing that, soon, I’ll have a brand-new piece to wear and love.

Sprinkle with Simple

Kerry Bogert, Content Manager, Yarn

When my knitting mojo is scarce, one of the ways I mix things up and keep my knitting feeling fresh is to do something simple. There is nothing more satisfying to me than an FO! But, if I cast on a lot of projects and they aren’t holding my attention, it’s probably because I need the sweet simplicity of a project that only takes a couple of days to finish instead of weeks or months.

I just did this before starting our April 2022 Ancient Gemstones KAL. I treated myself to a beautiful skein of Purl Soho Lovebird in the Candy Shop colorway and whipped up a hat. No pattern was needed, just my chunkiest needles. The ease of working something that didn’t require thinking was just what I needed. Now I’m ready to cast on something a bit more challenging!

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Wherever you are in your crafting journey, we hope you keep your knitting interesting! If you’re feeling uninspired, consider joining us for our April 2022 Knit-Along. We’re making a shawl that you won’t want to miss! And, as always,

Happy Knitting,
The Interweave Team

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Keep your knitting interesting with Interweave!