Earlier today I posted the following on social media websites:
I have just gone through my wardrobe. I really, really NEED a warm black or grey jumper/cardigan. I have NO spare knitting time. Would buying one make me less of a knitter? Will I be kicked out of the knitting fellowship?
The response was really interesting. It was an unanimous don’t be silly from everybody who replied to me. Selected responses:
Bells said: “I buy at least one a winter. I am a realist.” (I like the realism bit)
Katherine admitted to wearing a shop-bought cardigan to her knitting group: “They told me off for being embarrassed that I hadn’t knit it when they complimented it”
Catrin was succinct: “NO!”
And Christina pointed out: “Would you want to be part of a fellowship who would kick you out for doing that?” (she is always to the point – it’s a gift she has).
So, I won’t be a bad knitter if I buy a shop-bought item. It is strange, though, how making things automatically makes me think I should be making everything. It is also strange how guilty I feel at the thought of buying a non-knitted cardigan or jumper.
In an ideal world I would be adding the following staples to my wardrobe. In reality I have no idea when I’d have the time to start just one of these:
How do you combine your knitterly ambitions with your wardrobe needs, time constraints, and your budget?
I try only to buy things that I wouldn’t knit for myself, such as sweaters with impossibly thin yarn knit at totally absurd gauges. I also buy sweaters if the cost of the sweater is less than what I would pay for a comparable yarn.
Besides, at the rate that I go, the season will change* before I finish the sweater, whereas a pret-a-porter sweater is exactly that.
*Or the item of clothing that I want to coordinate with the sweater will go out of style.
I have huge time constraints. Not enough time to do everything I want to do. Read, knit, sew, run and now swimming. Unfortunately, I have to balance a full time job, making time for family etc. And this is coming from someone who doesn’t have kids. I’m amazed at people who can churn out full sized knitted garments every couple of weeks. I can only manage may be one large item a year, so have no problems buying what I need!! Oh and how do I combine my knitterly ambitioins with all the other stuff you mentioned? I’m not that hard on myself!!
I’m with Rhiannon. I buy stuff mostly that is not what I would knit, like the thin, light cardigans that get me through endless spring and autumn days. That said, last year I couldn’t resist, on sale, a beautiful alpaca, thick over-style cardigan with beautiful cables in it. And every time I wore it, people assumed i’d made it. I even wore it in a couple of blog photos and readers assumed it was one of mine. There was some sort of satisfaction in that, as if I’d chosen something that didn’t look like it came out of a factory.
I meant to say that what I won’t buy is knitwear for my niece and nephew. If i can’t find time to knit them small cardigans and jumpers, I’m doing it all wrong. I nearly bought one for Alice last year in Target and put it back, realising I could easily do something for her that was much more satisfying.
I sometimes feel a bit guilty buying knitwear in shops but that is only because I already have quite a bit of knitwear that I’ve already made.
If you need something just buy it. You can always tell yourself it is just a temporary measure until you make the ‘real’ one yourself.
Hello guilt-trip twin! I totally tie myself in knots about buying things I could make for myself… but honestly? The thought of knitting a black cardigan? Nope. Much better to buy one. Or go without.
I don’t enjoy knitting gloves, but yet I feel guilty buying them from the store. I, too, feel like I should knit everything I’m capable of instead of getting store-bought ones. It’s quite silly.
I have one hand-knitted sweater. One. My favourite winter sweater is a huge, oversized cape/sweater thing in dark grey lambswool from a high-street brand that I paid way too much money for. I think I’ve had it for 3 years now. It’s the best and I’m happy I bought it.
I do sometimes look at things and go “pah, I could knit that”. But I’m not a sweater knitter. If I want winter accessories, however… Hah, that’s a different story. I would never buy a commercially-made pair of knit gloves or a hat or a scarf. NO way.
But necessity is more important than pride, and if you need a new cardigan right now, then you go get one. :)