Knitting

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Are You a Patient Crafter?

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Are you a patient crafter or does knitting make you patient?If you’ve been a knitter, or done any kind of crafting in front of other people, for any length of time, you’ve probably had someone say something to you along the lines of “I wish I had the patience for that.”

Stephanie Pearl-McPhee has written and spoken a lot on this topic, and today I found this from her book Knitting Rules!:

I have the attention span of a three-year-old full of chocolate bars at a birthday party…Knitting grants patience to those who do it. Ask around. Most knitters will tell you they’re at their most patient with needles in their hands, and that this practice maker them more tolerant of ordinary setbacks.

Felicia from the Craft Sessions recently wrote about patience in crafting, too, saying that knitting is about the process more than the product (for her, anyway, I know some knitters are not like that), so patience doesn’t really play into it in the sense that we’re antsy to finish a project so we can wear or use it.

Indeed, we tend to be knitters because we need something to do in order to make us more patient in situations in which we would rather not be.

But the thing is I’m not patient. I need knitting because I’m not patient. I can’t sit through a school concert, or hours of book reading to small people, or a two hour trip to the park, without knitting.

Can. Not. Do. It.

Without knitting all I can think is run away run away. Because I lack patience.

I definitely feel that way. I need to knit when I have to go to a meeting, or hang out at the library with my daughter, or, yes, at the park or waiting for an appointment.

I do like having the products of my knitting to use and to give to others, but it really is more about the process, having something to do, to fill space that would otherwise be spent waiting most impatiently.

What do you think? Are you “patient” as a crafter or does knitting make you more patient? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

[Photo via the Craft Sessions.]

Comments

  1. I am definitely more patient when I am knitting. It is funny; I can walk up and down the hall wondering what to do next. Then I pick up my knitting, and, two hours later, I realize that I have just been sitting, patiently, seeing the rows grow on my project. Yay! Knitting; my favorite hobby.

  2. I fidget. Which makes me antsy and easily distracted. When I knit, that smooth repetitive action uses up the urge to fidget, and that allows me to relax and pay fuller attention to everything. Plus, I end up with cool things.

  3. I’m not a knitter…but I’ve quilted and done other crafts and I’ve started sketching… and it has the same effect – and people all still say that line about patience! Or they talk about talent….no, really, it’s just sitting down and doing…finding the thing that works for you and doing it.

  4. I think we are all patient in certain ways and in other ways not so patient. I could sit and knit a sweater from start to finish, but to me, that has nothing to do with patience. I just like doing it. At the same time, I can be SO impatient when my computer doesn’t do something fast enough. Patience can be said in many ways, I guess!

  5. I am known as the impatient cajun. So knitting and crocheting is totally against everything I am. Recently I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Knitting has been my answer to a mind that goes to worry mode.

  6. I’ve always thought of knitting and crocheting as my personal Zen experience. I can knit while I talk and in the dark. Ive been doing it so long that it’s in my muscle memory. I mention this because you asked about reactions when people see me knitting I took my knitting with me when my husband and I went to the movies. Everything was fine until there was a very quiet scene and the only sound heard in the theater was “click, click, click …” The man behind me stood up and yelled, “YOU’RE KNITTING IN THE DARK?” I turned around, smiled and VERY quietly whispered “Yes.” It was an easy question to answrr! Lol.

  7. I am absolutely more patient because I knit . I find that knitting is hypnotic to me . It calms me , takes away my physical pain ,and gives me something in common with some really great people.

  9. I knit because I need something to do while watching TV with my husband. I love the beautiful things I can make with all the energy. I would say nervous energy not patience.

Have you read?

Totoro Knitting Patterns

We’re a big Studio Ghibli household, and while they are sometimes very protective of their copyrights (as evidenced by the number of patterns on Ravelry that were removed from the service when it received a takedown notice back in 2021), there are still a fair number of Totoro knitting patterns (as well as other designs I’m sure we’ll get to someday). Let’s check them out!

Yaya Labs has a cute plush Totoro that looks like it might stand up on its own. The pattern is available on LoveCrafts, and it calls for DK or light worsted weight yarn in four colors. The pattern is considered advanced but it does include a photo tutorial. It stands 10.6 inches or 27 cm tall.

A similar pattern can be found a Shino Craft, which doesn’t have the leaf hat but does include little hands, and the legs aren’t as separate from the body. This one calls for sport weight yarn and is knit flat on two needles. 

All Made Here has a Totoro pouch that is super cute and looks pretty easy to knit. It measures 14 by 18 cm and is rated for advanced beginners. You can get the pattern when you subscribe to updates or follow the designer on Instagram. 

Stitch Totoro on a sweater with the Totorogenseren sweater from Anna-Sofia Vintersol. This free download on Ravelry uses worsted/aran weight yarn in two or three colors. The pattern comes in nine sizes, with a chest measurement ranging from 77 to 149 cm. 

The Forest Spirit Fair Isle Jumper from Kraft with Kindrex features a row of Totoros on the circular yoke, along with other little colorwork designs. The design includes three sizes, with chest measurements ranging from 91 to 101 cm. It calls for 4 ply (that’s fingering/sock weight in other parts of the world). 

Or you can stitch Totoro as part of a project with more Ghibli characters, as on the Magical Anime Knit Sweater (a longtime bucket list item for me) from The Bearded Sewist. This on has a circular yoke and rows of different characters including Totoro, Ponyo, soot sprites, Calcifer and more. The pattern comes in four sizes and is rated intermediate/advanced. It calls for DK weight yarn and you can grab a copy on Ravelry. 

Or try Katharina Kuntz’s Anime Scarf, also on Ravelry. This one is a double knit scarf worked in fingering weight yarn in two colors, with allover designs from Studio Ghibli movies. She started by knitting the movies in chronological order but gave that up after she realized all her favorites would be in the middle and therefore not visible when worn. You can probably rearrange the motifs further somewhat if you want to showcase your favorites.