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Knitting mantra

I discovered something quite interesting yesterday that I bet we knitterly types all do. Maybe you are aware of doing this but I was not.

I was on the phone with the trucking company. The trucking company that was suppose to pick up the 411 kilos of yarns all boxed, palletted (hmm, is this a word?), shrink-wrapped and was currently residing in the driveway. It needed to leave yesterday because today we are expecting snow and we’re up high and I know they won’t show in the snow and it needs to get to Vogue Live and there is a shipping deadline that if you don’t meet they charge you a flippin’ fortune and…well, you get the picture.

Long story short, they dropped the ball. They really messed up and of course their mess-up meant more work for us. I can NOT express how much I hate it when someone else’s error makes more work for me. Seriously, I hate it. I make enough of my own errors that I really don’t need any help in this area.

So now, we had a whole lot of yarn sitting outside that we needed to deal with for the night. We then need get the aforementioned truck here early in the morning before the snow hits.

I was on the phone with this guy who obviously was not getting what a huge deal this was. It had to be that he just wasn’t getting it that their “error” was making such a problem for us otherwise he would apologize or at the very least sound like he gave a @#!*. At the least, this was aggravating and as I was trying so hard (I think my tongue was bleeding) to communicate this in a clear rational way. In the most tense moment when I had to pull on all my resources not to yell at this guy, I realized I was repeating over and over to myself the knit pattern I was currently working on. It’s an easy-peasy knit 2, purl 3 rib scarf out of handspun that I love.

Knit 2,Purl 3. Knit 2, Purl 3. Knit 2,Purl 3. Knit 2, Purl 3. Knit 2,Purl 3. Knit 2, Purl 3. Knit 2,Purl 3. Knit 2, Purl 3. Knit 2,Purl 3. Knit 2, Purl 3. Knit 2,Purl 3. Knit 2, Purl 3. Knit 2,Purl 3. Knit 2, Purl 3. Knit 2,Purl 3. Knit 2, Purl 3. Turn and…

Over and over and over.

I tuned into it once I realized I was doing it, got my point across without losing my temper.

I got off the phone, vented pretty loudly to a friend and then Debra and I set to problem solving the trucking company’s error.

Thank you, Knit 2, Purl 3. You saved the day.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about personal comfort levels, stress tolerance and coping skills. Anything fiber-related is most certainly a coping tool for me.

What I wonder just how long I have been quietly knitting in my head in situations where I could not really knit? I marvel at the brain’s ability to cope, to take what it finds comforting and assuring and plug it into a stressful situation. I did not consciously choose to do this. I didn’t wake up one day and say, “Hey, how about I try an internal knit mantra for stressful situations?” It just evolved, grew was I guess a natural step for my knit brain to take.

I bet yours does it too.

Off to call trucking company to make sure they are showing today. Knit 2…

I wonder if my brain in all it’s wisdom (hehe) has been subconsciously spinning also? I know it dyes.

Update: It’s 4:17 and still no truck. Been on hold with trucking company for 5 minutes. Mantra now: K1,P1.  K1,P1.  K1,P1.  K1,P1.  K1,P1.  K1,P1.  K1,P1.  K1,P1. K1,P1.  K1,P1.  K1,P1.  K1,P1.  K1,P1.  K1,P1.  K1,P1.  K1,P1. !

And we have lift off.  Yarn on it’s merry way to Vogue.

18 Comments
  1. Katharine #

    I love the Fragile box is sideways smile I’ve definitely had stitch patterns in my head keeping me from running through a store aisle knocking everything down because I was so frustrated.

    November 30, -0001
  2. I remember when we were at Pete’s grandma’s funeral many years ago…to keep from rolling into a fetal position and balling I kept repeating “red lace socks” in my head…at least I stayed out of the fetal position!

    Those ice formations are so cool…I’m so bummed to see that they’ve melted away now…perhaps some new ones will show up with the snow/ice that’s predicted today!! smile I’m camera in the car ready!

    November 30, -0001
  3. so what does it say about me that i don’t use a knitting mantra, but alternate my tone to put enough scorn and sarcasm into what i’m saying so the person feels at least as annoyed/angry as i do (usually more so)?

    maybe i’m not a real knitter yet.

    or a horrible person.

    (same dif?)

    November 30, -0001
  4. You know, in my world, when a trucking company misses their pick-up time, they get charged a fee for it.  Like $800.  You don’t miss your deadlines in logistics.

    November 30, -0001
  5. Valerie #

    Hope they picked up the pallet!!  When stressed too much to go to sleep, I often go through the motions (in my mind) of casting on (usually in some beautiful yarn I’ve been looking forward to knitting with). I’m out cold by about stitch #50.

    November 30, -0001
  6. Hmmmm . . . From someone who has family who have worked in the trucking industry, let’s just say they’re not big on details.  (My dad’s a driver, as was my brother.) I’m so sorry that this happened–best of luck on getting it straightened out . . . and highest congratulations on not chewing that guy out.

    November 30, -0001
  7. Just wanted to add: the header photo for the blog is amazing.  I love icicles and green things together. smile

    November 30, -0001
  8. I’ve lulled myself to sleep by knitting in my head. I’ve also gotten through some pretty boring conference calls by knitting in my head but that usually just makes me desperately want to pull my knitting out and work on it (which I do if I’m not on a video call!)

    November 30, -0001
  9. Trudianne #

    What a GREAT idea. That being written by a woman who actually did manage to lose her temper yesterday at a salesman who not only was causing me more work, but then insisting I pay him for it. Arrrrrrgh.

    Shoulda’ had a knitting mantra in my head considering I (like Valerie and Laurie) go to sleep by knitting in my head and I (like Laurie) knit while on hold or during non-video conference calls… Which is EXACTLY why I refuse to get set up for video. (he he he)

    But I digress. Thank you for the temper management method and good luck with the shipping. My fingers are crossed that it all worked out well.

    November 30, -0001
  10. I do this all the time…additionally I use the K1, P1 to fall asleep on those nights where it feels everything is running through my mind.

    My sister gave my a wall hanging for Christmas it reads “Knitting Keeps Me from Unraveling”…how true it is!

    November 30, -0001
  11. ~margaret aka dragonflysock #

    I’ll try the knitting mantra tomorrow as I slide my way to work through the snowstorm in the afternoon. Usually I find myself singing “slip sliding away”, the Paul Simon song, to keep myself from panicking.

    November 30, -0001
  12. Hazel Smith #

    Actually, I don’t use a knitting mantra(blush); instead, I sing opera arias in my head. You really wouldn’t want to hear me sing them out loud. In fact, I often wake up in the morning with an aria that’s apparently been on an endless loop in my brain since the previous night. I knit while I’m watching an opera dvd so the 2 go together in my mind.

    November 30, -0001
  13. SantaFeLil #

    It seems like there are a lot of us who go to sleep shadow knitting.  I regulary go through the motions of my current project to get sleep.  If only I would wake up and find my knitting that much further along.

    November 30, -0001
  14. Hazel Smith #

    Gucci bags narrative is wonderful in its diction and structure. I’m looking forward to the next installment(LOL). Sometimes spam is fun rather than irritating,as the quote below illustrates.

    “Joanne

    November 30, -0001
  15. Helen #

    I know exactly what you are talking about (writing about?). I discovered a few years ago that I was doing almost the same thing when I had a lot of stress at work. Instead of reciting a knitting pattern, I picture a project I’m currently working on and a wave of peace and calm seems to radiate out from it. I wasn’t doing it consciously at first, didn’t even realize it was happening, but now that I’m aware of it I can call up a picture of a project whenever I need the calm and I feel the waves wash over me and help me deal with problems, or problem people. Such an amazing thing our knitting is!

    Helen

    November 30, -0001
  16. Very glad to see that update!

    And that picture! It’s strikingly pretty and it instantly reminded me of the inside of Carlsbad Caverns, only come alive somehow in the green and growing.

    Ice stalactites in kid mohair or angora, growing stitch by ongoing stitch gathering length and strength, brushed and long and airy.

    November 30, -0001
  17. I think you need to patent a new childbirth method!  We could have the Blue Moon method instead of Lamaze or Bradley!  I’m done having kids or I’d give it a try!

    k2, p3, k2, p3, k2, p3, push!

    November 30, -0001
  18. Purchased 8 skeins BFL sport- 4 in blackbird and 4 deep unrelenting grey.

    Making Lucy wrap by Marion Foale.  THANK YOU for getting the yarn to VKL…I want you yo know it was worth it…I think I don’t want this particular knit to end!

    AND I LOVE your knitting mantra…you ROCK!

    November 30, -0001

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