Motivation

You are doing well with commenting and the number is rising.  Remember, I said 'later this week' but, it might be in the next day or so.  Keep it up and you could be the winner! Does the yarn motivate you enough to comment?

Stephanie (not that one) had a great post last week on motivation (which I found via Rebekah's blog).  We know we MUST do certain things, but the motivation to do them is often missing. Why is it that we don't enjoy the very process (yep, that again) of everyday life. What is the real reason we just can't get ourselves up and moving when our bodies are out of shape, or we find that sock or shawl just stopped speaking to us and we can't take one more stitch? Why are we always in search of euphoria, the feeling that comes from starting something new? Are we in denial about what 'really is' or are we stopped by fear of the unknown, (will it fit....is it good enough?)   Do we have a form of ADD or are we truly unhappy with our lives, the reality of our lives. Why can’t we 'Just Do It' or 'Just Say No'?  Is it because we need to face the truth about our lives?  We do need a true reason to continue the process of living and understanding our own motivations (or lack thereof).  What is it that motivates you?  This is a question that went through my mind over and over this weekend as I looked at the many changes in my life so far this year.  I think this will be the theme of the week, as I look at the process of my life, and my knitting life, too.

Here is the Hanging Vines Stole, at the half way point, after a month of knitting. (She enjoyed hanging out in the canyon on Sunday.)  It would be easy to cast her aside and find something new to begin as the second half of any knit can become tedious. But, I am motivated to keep her in my lap for several reasons.  First is love (love is everything, actually).  I love this yarn, the merino/silk,  which Judy spun and dyed. I love the color and the way it moves from a soft pastel pink into a deep shade of red.  The pattern is easy to keep on track and actually rather fun to knit. Every third row there is a 'K3tog' that forms the top of a new leaf and crosses the vine in a new direction. The thought of it finished and wrapped around my body, while the fabric created drapes so beautifully, also keeps me going.  The accomplishment, and the feeling of a job well done, is a good carrot.  However, there really isn't much thought given to the end result or even the project at hand.  Most of all it is the quiet, lovely relaxing time of knitting, the time of contemplation, the simple journey of each stitch...it is the process that keeps me going. That is motivation enough as I love this process.

You can check the Ebay Auction I set up with a few needlework items. The needlepoint canvases are by a fun designer and I hope they will sell for a good price. All proceeds will go to Emma and Oliver.  It is wonderful to see the outpouring for this little boy and we hope to meet his needs. There are 5 items for sale so make sure you check them all.

Comments

[Rachel]

It's wonderful that you set up those auctions to benefit Oliver. Not only are you helping a wonderful little boy in need, you get to clean out some of that clutter!

[AmyP]

The stole is coming on really well. Although it doesn't look like it's heading for monster-knit territory!

[Kim]

Margene.....you must have crawlen inside of my head and saw what I was going to post this week!!! My DH and I had long discussions about similar things this weekend.

Your hanging vine shawl is GORGEOUS! I have the pattern, but I am working hard on finishing up things before starting something new :-)

[Donna]

The stole is looking beautiful...of course I love the color too...pink is my favorite!

[Chris]

Motivation? Chocolate! Oh, wait, you kind of want serious - well, the bunnies get me out of bed everyday. Knitting motivation is a whole nuther thing! The end product is a side benefit, not a motivator. I think what motivates me to knit is too long for a comment - maybe I'll explore that on the blog.

[Beth]

I wrestle with motivation quite a bit. Is that why I cast on another sock last night? (when I have 2 others in process - one with a deadline?!)

[Su]

I hear you about that motivation thing. I've wondered what truly motivates me as well. As for knitting, sometimes it's the finished project, sometimes it's figuring out a new pattern stitch.... It seems to be different each time. I guess my motivation has more to do with what captures my imagination. If I'm fascinated by it I can finish it, regardless of what aspect has fascinated me.

Your stole is lovely btw, I love the colours! :)

[eyeleen]

I think it's wonderful you've set up the auction to benefit Oliver. You have a generous heart.

The stole is stunning and huge! I'm sure you'll have it finished in no time.

[Kate]

I am in awe that you are *this* close to 6500....

and the shawl looks amazing!

[Barbara]

It never fails to amaze me that "you" are waiting to "chat" with me first thing in the morning, and the bloggers I read who live W-A-A-Y further east don't get posted until later in the day. Thanks for the good-morning cheer.

[Cara]

You touched on something I've been thinking about a lot. I'm currently stuck in a rut (anxiety rut) that I knew I was falling into, but didn't have the motivation(?) to get myself out of in time. Now I'm sitting here, kind of miserable, thinking why did I do this to myself?

It really is interesting how the mind works. Although I think I would find it much more interesting if it wasn't kicking my ass at this moment. ;-)

[Cara]

Oh and the shawl looks gorgeous - so glad you are LOVING the project.

[claudia]

What a beautiful stole.

[Judy]

ooohh... I love watching this shawl progress. I'm thinking that maybe pick is in my future. Beautiful!

[Teri]

You are a great "stick with it knitter." When I get unmotivated, I just pick up something else and take a break. I won't see y'all tonight, but I'll be at SnB next week!

[Carole]

I'm more task oriented than process-oriented - I like to finish things and that's what motivates me. I do enjoy the process of knitting, the rhythm and feel of it all, but I really like checking something of my list, too. Great post, Margene!

[Krista]

You and I are just right on the same wavelength (or sinking boat???) at the moment. I've got motivational problems these days all over the place, and you've summed up my feelings so well. How can one come to enjoy the everyday processes of life (dishes, laundry)? There must be a way! Right? I suspect it may have something to do with taking pride in a job well-done, but I'd just rather knit. And, now at the 70% mark on a large baby blanket, I'm even losing my motivation there. Other project ideas are calling to me. I've done a good job of resisting so far. Congrats on the half-way point on the stole, by the way. That, in itself, is an accomplishment.

[Kim]

Thought provoking once again :) When I started knitting a couple of years ago, it was the joy of knitting that made me love the hobby so much. Lately, I've started to feel anxiety about getting this or that finished in order to move on to something else. Thanks for putting the little voice in my head that says; slow down and enjoy the moment :) I actually have a stitching question for you: When you stitch did you use scroll frames(if so what kind)? I have been wanting to get into my cross stitching again and so many people have been suggesting scrolls instead of q-snaps. Just curious about your opinion. Happy knitting!

[Grayce]

Margene Thank you so much for the post on motivation. I surely need some this morning. Temp. is going to feel like 105 degrees and I'm headed outside to dye the last of the yarn for Taos. I need someone to shove me out the door. Grayce

[Jody]

Love the Hanging Vines Stole. The color is great and has me thinking about expanding my color pallette.

That was a very Zen post, by the way. You basically described that life is suffering/unsatisfactory and that we strive to get away from and avoid "what is". Very well said.

[Laura]

Love this stole, and... hello.... am I the first to admit that a YarnHo is motivated by yarn? It's an illness, really. Addiction worthy of 12 steps. But I like it!! It couldn't be a bad addiction if nobody is damaging their health, right? :)

[Liz Cadorette]

Motivation...and now, the guilt. :) I have more projects in a state of unfinished-ness due to lack of motivation to get through whatever snag made me put it down in the first place.

Guilt can be a motivator, though! So we'll work with that.

Comment Comment Comment...:)

[Kathleen]

Hanging Vines is lovely!

[regina]

My two children are my motivation for everything. It might sound overly-simplistic or even corny, but everything I do -- from getting up in the morning and going to work, to eating well and staying healthy is motivated by a desire to stay strong and well for them.

Thanks for such a thought-provoking post.

BTW, your stole is just stunning.

[jenifleur]

Well motivation has been a big theme for me this year, as well. With the knitting, well some projects aren't really goal oriented and others I start to feel "in control" of something-anything-in my life at the time. I do think that knitblogging warps my motivation perspective sometimes. In both good and bad ways-I never would have knit most of the projects I have done in the past couple years if not for blogging, but sometimes I think I do things solely for the blogging rights. (You know, like bragging rights!) On that note, I think I'll go find some motivation to finish my packing...

[Lolly]

the stole is lovely, Margene! I love the handspun you are making it with!

Hope you have a good day~

[caro]

Hanging vines is pretty yummy looking! The colour is gorgeous.

[Tanya]

I'm still gasping over the color of the yarn in your stole. It looks like a beautiful sunset. And its handspun too. Be still my beating heart :)

Tanya

[marti]

I don't need motivation to comment on your blog, it is one that I have always enjoyed reading. Although a little incentive is always nice! Your stole is looking lovely, isn't lace such an addicting thing?

[Teri]

Motivation is a very complicated issue, and I'm having trouble with it myself these days. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Teri

[Lisa in Oregon]

you know, your post is very similar to the therapy session I had yesterday...Talking about my "ADD" - difficulty staying on track, running from one project to another. Not to mention the "i don't wanna do that" stuff...asking myself is it laziness? Denial? lack of self discipline? So much is wrapped up in the "not good enough" stuff from childhood. Thanks for affirming that A. I'm not the only one, and B. I can do something about it.

I am waiting for my Hanging Vines pattern to arrive...yours is lovely. When I saw how big it was, my initial reaction was..."oh, that's too big, I'd never finish it." Made myself go back and re-read your post then.

thank you. Really.

[Anne]

I think motivation is one reason I do a lot of gift-knitting. When I knit for myself, as much as I like to do so, I don't have the same feeling of anticipation that I get when I'm knitting a gift - I can't wait to finish the gift so that I can give it to someone, surprise someone with it. (Of course, that doesn't always keep me on deadline - my cousin's birthday sweater is now three weeks overdue, but she's 2 - she'll never know the difference!)

[Snow]

I really love the knitting process, even if the second half of something is sometimes tedious -- or the edging. If I focus on the actual process, the end result seems like such a gift, whereas focusing on the desire to have that item finished makes the process tedious. It's all a matter of perspective, I suppose.

I've had the hanging vines pattern in my stash for a while and it might very well become a scarf or stole in the near future.

[Eilene]

Beautiful stole so far! I'm still trying to figure out what to knit next after Olive.

About this motivation thing...I have so many things I need to get done around the house (cleaning out closets, clothes, yarn, etc) but it is summer & I don't have time right now. So as long as I do it when the weather gets colder, I won't feel as bad about holding off till then. I haven't even been knitting, blogging and posting comments as much.

[Bliss]

Well it's not socks, but Hanging Vines is pretty amazing just the same. ;)

YOU keep a lot of us motivated with your beautiful WIPS in beautiful settings!

[Rebekah]

Those are some great soul-searching questions. Something new to ponder today at lunch. Thanks!

[melanie]

I love the hanging vines shawl! (and your blog)

[Agnes]

When you talked about motivation, I thought my husband bought you to get me into more house cleaning! LOL!

[jillz]

I've found that going back and looking at UFO's with a really critical eye helps me to get motivated to work on them again or rip them out and use the yarn for something else. I don't leave anything hanging around for more than 6 months.

[Chelle]

Reading so many blogs as I do - and yours is one of my favorites, has an unwanted side effect of tempting me to go off in too many directions at once. When I see the socks, or the stole that you are making . . it looks somehow more appealing than whatever seemingly "mundane" project that I am working on at the moment. Right now, it's a baby blanket I am doing for my expectant niece. But I am working on sticking to it. One reason I switch is when I get stuck on one, I start another. But then again, I too often never get back to the dumped project. Chelle

[La]

Well, hell, Margene. What a shameless way to get people to comment....you Commie Ho! ;-)

I LOVE it!

[angela]

Wow.
that hanging vines stole is gorgeous. The yarn (if my monitor isn't playing tricks on me) is spectacular! Wow. (again.) Why can't I think of anything more original than "Wow." It's just beautiful.

[Liz]

I think about this alot, mostly because I think too much, and I'm curious about what motivates people. I think the modern person is much more interested in instant gratification than our forbears. We are constantly assaulted with images from the media about the next, newest, latest and greatest. How can we treasure a "process" when we need to be out procuring the next new thing? By choosing a hobby like knitting, you are deliberately electing to savor the process. The smart knitter does not knit trendy items...they may be out of style by the time she's done (unless she knits wicked fast).
It's hard to win the battle against the majority of society who have been re-programmed to believe that newer is better. By not accepting that as a universal truth, you are more free to enjoy the process instead.

That said, maybe the typical modern person is unhappy with their life because they aren't making or doing anything useful. Lives are meaningless because we live and work and drive in a climate control environment all the time. We have cut ourselves off from the natural world, and... well, that's not natural.

Sorry. Well, you asked. ;)

I love your stole, it's stunning. If I win the laceweight, can I hire you to knit something for me? ;)

[Liz]

I think about this alot, mostly because I think too much, and I'm curious about what motivates people. I think the modern person is much more interested in instant gratification than our forbears. We are constantly assaulted with images from the media about the next, newest, latest and greatest. How can we treasure a "process" when we need to be out procuring the next new thing? By choosing a hobby like knitting, you are deliberately electing to savor the process. The smart knitter does not knit trendy items...they may be out of style by the time she's done (unless she knits wicked fast).
It's hard to win the battle against the majority of society who have been re-programmed to believe that newer is better. By not accepting that as a universal truth, you are more free to enjoy the process instead.

That said, maybe the typical modern person is unhappy with their life because they aren't making or doing anything useful. Lives are meaningless because we live and work and drive in a climate control environment all the time. We have cut ourselves off from the natural world, and... well, that's not natural.

Sorry. Well, you asked. ;)

I love your stole, it's stunning. If I win the laceweight, can I hire you to knit something for me? ;)

[melissa]

I love the stole!

[sherry]

You always give me something interesting to think about.
I enjoy your upbeat attitude.
I tracked down the book on Textile Traditions you mentioned some time ago and enjoyed it.
Motivation? I try to slow down and enjoy whatever I am doing and not get stressed about the next 35 things! It makes everything move more smoothly. And then I can do more....

[Stacy]

Do you ever think about figuring out what it is that changes it? I am definately big on being motivated to start things, and have interest taper off.

But do you ever have a long rally of getting a lot of things accomplished?

I mean you are still you. The yarn, or the laundry or whatever is still the same. What changes your brain from being happy with starts and stops to looking for completion.

This topic is very interesting.

Happy Knitting

[Jenna]

I've been thinking a bit about motivation for a while, too but it's more about how to muster the motivation to do things I DON'T want to do, like wash my dishes or clean my bathroom, even when I know they really need to be done. I'd prefer to do any knitting rather than doing those. if you have any insight about making myself do those things, let me know because I desparately need it!

[Shannon]

Your stole is absolutely beautiful. I can see why you love it so...

[Emma.]

Thank you so very much Margene. That is so thoughtful and generous of you. I shall post the auctions on my blog - hope that's o.k.

My motivations = love of life and my boys [husband and son] and a need to create. Something. Anything !