Getting Bucked Off a Unicorn

Shifting your knitting perspective

The theme of my recent YouTube episode was…

Unicorns and Dragons    

Most of my knitting projects in the episode could be linked to these beasts, or another magical creature—fae, goddess, Peter Pan, etc..  Given enough time, I could invent convoluted solid arguments for magical themes in all of my projects.

Over the past three weeks, I immersed myself in books that swept me into other worlds.  I rode on the knobby back of a dragon into battle.  I summoned elemental magic, guided by the power flowing through my own unicorn.  It. Was. Fantastic!

In case you are curious, these fantastical books were Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by A. F. Steadman, and Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.  Please, please, please, if you enjoy fantasy and adventure, read Skandar with (or without!) your kiddos.  If you like those elements plus some romance mixed in, read Fourth Wing!  (Don’t read that one with your kids, though.)

I won’t delve into book reporting at the moment, though I discuss each more in depth—no spoilers—on my YouTube episode. Right now, I want to chat about these unicorns.

(For the record, my brain and fingers each are desperate to write “dragons”—I adore dragons!  But for now, let’s head back to the smaller, fairer creature.)

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Close your eyes.  Wait, wait, hang on!  I didn’t think this through.  Read this paragraph, then close your eyes.  I want you to hold in your mind’s eye the picture of the perfect unicorn.  What color is it?  Any rainbows involved?  How does it sound?  Smell?  Act?  Go ahead and picture your unicorn.

Are you back with me?  I expect your unicorn was elegant and beautiful.  I’m willing to bet there was some version of a sparkling rainbow involved—somewhere from its flowing mane to the ground beneath its well-groomed tail.

Now imagine the opposite of that glittering gorgeousness.  Visualize a huge beast with bursting muscles, wild eyes, and blood dripping down its maw from the cute rabbit it just devoured.  These are the incredible unicorns that Skandar encounters.  They are so cool!

I have to admit that back in the 80’s I low-grade hated unicorns.  They were always air-brushed and gag-me-with-a-credit-card sweet.  They were generally enveloped in rainbows.  I felt like the companies that pasted these creatures on everything were patronizing me.  I knew that no creatures could be so pure and sweet and idyllic.

I even remember—vividly—being very young and observing my older cousin’s wall hanging. The 5”x7” framed print featured a unicorn who was galloping through the mist with a trailing rainbow.  I can still feel the wave of horror and disgust that overwhelmed me.  How could I ever truly respect my cousin again?

Thankfully I outgrew that phase—to some extent.  I no longer resent my cousin’s choice of bedroom decor.  I still despise feeling patronized, but at least now I can apply words and logic to my senses.

Admittedly, I am perfectly content to purchase any number of kids’ items that have unicorns slapped on them simply because I know my child will squeal with delight.

Unicorn bathrobe? Check.

Unicorn water bottle?  Check.

Paint-your-own-unicorn-nightlight?  Check.

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Skandar is the book I didn’t know I craved when I was young.  These unicorns are fierce, and powerful, and they buck all the unicorn tropes I despised as a kid.  I will never again see unicorns in the same light.

As I get older wiser and gain greater perspective on most areas of life, I realize that most things I dislike (other than beets) may simply need to be reframed for me to change my opinion.

In knitting, I tend to avoid overly-fussy projects.  I don’t want to weave in five bajillion ends.  I don’t want to have to carry 3 fuzzy mohair lace strands together throughout a whole sweater.  I don’t want to manage 3”/7.5cm floats on every round.

Obviously someone in the world thinks these projects are worth the fuss, or they wouldn’t exist.  Perhaps I should see these projects from a different perspective:

Using all of the scraps in my stash may require an excruciating number of ends to weave in, but I will be knitting up every last bit of my dear yarn.  Plus I will be using it, rather than storing it for the rest of my life.  That mohair sweater will be cozy and elegant.  The excessively long floats will allow me to create a beautiful colorwork image on the right side of the fabric.

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My upcoming pattern, the Echo Lodge Socks, is currently in testing.  I have at least two knitters in the test who have never knit toe-up socks before.  As a designer, this is an incredible opportunity to test whether my pattern can lead a toe-up-beginner through all the steps involved.  (So far, so good!)

I know from my own experience, as well as from observing other knitters through the years, that toe-up vs. top-down socks can create a chasm.  Knitters often seem to pick one and stick with it.  Forever. The fact that these testers are trying a new sock style is impressive and greatly appreciated.

For years I refused to knit top-down socks.  I loved being able to manage my yardage with a toe-up sock, and I enjoyed knitting the Fish Lips Kiss (FLK) Heel.  Granted, after about fifteen FLK pairs, and another fifteen afterthought heel pairs, I realized that style of heel doesn’t work with my foot anatomy.

I argued internally that if I knit a top-down sock, I wouldn’t know how much yarn I would need to use, and I would have to do that fiddly heel flap and gusset, and then I would have to PICK UP STITCHES!

Needless to say, I got past all of that.  But it took my being brave enough to admit that there might be a different way of looking at the techniques than the views to which I clung.

Now, I get so excited to manipulate sock designs through the many options afforded by both toe-up and top-down socks.

If you are someone who is perfectly happy to hang out in your toe-up or top-down tent, far away from the other camp—go for it! 

Knit your own queue!

But, if you are feeling a little adventurous—or maybe curious about what those weird knitters on the other side of the campground are raving about—consider climbing out of your comfort zone and try seeing your knitting from a different perspective.

Slàinte mhath and happy knitting!

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Want to hear more in my most recent YouTube episode?

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