My personal productivity 'hack' (insert vom emoji at that word) is to set a timer for 5mins and see how much of a procrastinated task I can get done in that time. 5mins is such a short and manageable time period that it encourages me to start, and most of the time I can almost complete a task in that period, often that I've been putting off for 6 months...
Sleeves ARE torture! Socks are lovely. I hear you loud and clear. I use the tomato technique as well, but mostly because I can easier talk myself into sitting down for 25 minutes than for 2 hours. Maybe I should use that right now for that damn sleeve I need to knit and don’t want to.
For sleeves I always trick myself by saying I have to do 5 rounds or so on a sleeve before I can work on my current favourite thing. Normally I do a few more rounds once I get into it
My superpower for knitting would ironically be to stay out of flow when I'm working an increase or a decrease.
For me flow is the beautiful state where I lose track of time because I'm totally immersed in my work. If this happens when I'm writing it is blissful because I feel connected to the page and the words come tumbling out, as if I'm just a facilitator who's job it is to help them escape into the world.
It's also the state I reach when I'm deep into a knitting project and I know my repeat pattern (cable at the moment) well enough to read the needle rather than the paper.
But when I'm increasing the stitches for the sleeve, as I am now, or shaping for the raglan I have to properly concentrate. 'Increase by one stitch every 3rd and 6th row' 🤦♀️I have ended up writing out the count, tallying each three rows and noting whether the increase is on an odd or even row above each tally, just so I remember where I am.😂
Ah yes, I know the feeling. Cabling and colour work scratch the same kind of itch for me. When you don't need to read the chart and you can just motor along it's magical
Oh I adore the yarn on the needles with that cute stitch marker! My eyes are so very tired so I might have missed if you mentioned the name of that yarn!
Starting a task is the hardest bit for me. I find every single way to dilly dally, overthink, do more research or procrastinate. I find that scheduling a task and jumping right into it when the time comes, keeps things going well for me. Btw, loved today's article. Thank you!
Your comparison of sleeves vs socks is interesting. I’m the reverse. I’ll knit sleeves, no problem, but can’t stand knitting socks. I almost always use magic loop for both, so not a short circular needle issue. Sweaters make me feel accomplished and delighted. The sleeves are merely a signal I’m nearly finished and can wear it. Socks feel like work for nothing, and the purl nubs have actually given me blisters in the past. Sign me—Weird Knitter 😬😜
That's funny - I love that we are all so different.
If the purl bumps bother you by the way have you tried the Princess Sole where you purl the sole stitches (meaning the smooth stockinette in next to your skin). It won't solve your other sock issues though - but you never know 😂
I haven’t tried a princess sole yet, though I’ve heard of it. Every year or two I get tempted to knit bulky slipper socks. So maybe this year I’ll give into temptation and try a Princess sole with them! Thanks for a good reminder 😄
My personal productivity 'hack' (insert vom emoji at that word) is to set a timer for 5mins and see how much of a procrastinated task I can get done in that time. 5mins is such a short and manageable time period that it encourages me to start, and most of the time I can almost complete a task in that period, often that I've been putting off for 6 months...
I'm often amazed (and also insulted) at how many of my often-prevaricated tasks can be completed in 5mins
Just for one minute and then you can stop, the hardest part is getting started. I use that in coaching a lot
I knit my sleeves before I knit the body of the sweater. It lets me get to know the yarn.
That’s such a good idea - sort of like big swatches.
Sleeves ARE torture! Socks are lovely. I hear you loud and clear. I use the tomato technique as well, but mostly because I can easier talk myself into sitting down for 25 minutes than for 2 hours. Maybe I should use that right now for that damn sleeve I need to knit and don’t want to.
For sleeves I always trick myself by saying I have to do 5 rounds or so on a sleeve before I can work on my current favourite thing. Normally I do a few more rounds once I get into it
My superpower for knitting would ironically be to stay out of flow when I'm working an increase or a decrease.
For me flow is the beautiful state where I lose track of time because I'm totally immersed in my work. If this happens when I'm writing it is blissful because I feel connected to the page and the words come tumbling out, as if I'm just a facilitator who's job it is to help them escape into the world.
It's also the state I reach when I'm deep into a knitting project and I know my repeat pattern (cable at the moment) well enough to read the needle rather than the paper.
But when I'm increasing the stitches for the sleeve, as I am now, or shaping for the raglan I have to properly concentrate. 'Increase by one stitch every 3rd and 6th row' 🤦♀️I have ended up writing out the count, tallying each three rows and noting whether the increase is on an odd or even row above each tally, just so I remember where I am.😂
Ah yes, I know the feeling. Cabling and colour work scratch the same kind of itch for me. When you don't need to read the chart and you can just motor along it's magical
Oh I adore the yarn on the needles with that cute stitch marker! My eyes are so very tired so I might have missed if you mentioned the name of that yarn!
It's a Fade set in sockweight yarn from an indie dyer called Pixie Yarns. I think the colourway is called Barefoot.
Thanx💕
Starting a task is the hardest bit for me. I find every single way to dilly dally, overthink, do more research or procrastinate. I find that scheduling a task and jumping right into it when the time comes, keeps things going well for me. Btw, loved today's article. Thank you!
Oh, I could procrastinate for England. I joke that I either do an incoming task immediately - or never (until prompted or guilt tripped)
There seems to be no in between.
😂
Your comparison of sleeves vs socks is interesting. I’m the reverse. I’ll knit sleeves, no problem, but can’t stand knitting socks. I almost always use magic loop for both, so not a short circular needle issue. Sweaters make me feel accomplished and delighted. The sleeves are merely a signal I’m nearly finished and can wear it. Socks feel like work for nothing, and the purl nubs have actually given me blisters in the past. Sign me—Weird Knitter 😬😜
That's funny - I love that we are all so different.
If the purl bumps bother you by the way have you tried the Princess Sole where you purl the sole stitches (meaning the smooth stockinette in next to your skin). It won't solve your other sock issues though - but you never know 😂
I love the differences too!
I haven’t tried a princess sole yet, though I’ve heard of it. Every year or two I get tempted to knit bulky slipper socks. So maybe this year I’ll give into temptation and try a Princess sole with them! Thanks for a good reminder 😄