mizarchivist | A PSA Regarding Knitting

Please. For the love of ALL that is holy. Do not ask me to knit you anything in exchange for barter unless you have something to offer of equal value. Something that is permanent that I can keep. Offering to barter in the moment services, like massage or babysitting is never ever in a zillion quadrillion years be worth it to me. Ever. Because it will take at minimum a week, maybe two (socks/hand warmers/scarf/cowl) or a month or three (blanket or sweater). I'm either going to have to make it in advance or follow up far after the fact from the service being offered by the other party. The thing I'm going to get is going to be an hour or two of your time, possibly a few times, but very very fleeting. And you're going to get to keep a thing that I just spent days/weeks/months working on. This doesn't feel equitable. I am SO happy that I just figured out why I have such a visceral reaction to this suggestion.

Further, because it's not remotely obvious unless you live inside my own head-- I don't actually enjoy knitting as much as my other crafts like clay or spinning or painting. Partially because I usually have to continue knitting far beyond the point of enjoyment. I get bored 75% of the way through, which is not true for the other 3 mentioned crafts. In socks, it's right after I turn the second heel and have to keep going. Also. Often-times, it has to fit someone. Pretty much everything but a blanket or scarf requires it fitting, so ... you know. No pressure. That means I make you something it must mean I really like you. I like you for you enough to knit you a thing that may have caused me a great deal of irritation and boredom for a few hours... or a week. So, if I'm voluntarily making you a thing, that's cool! My choice, and my timeline (usually). But when you make it transactional, it removes the majority of the fun and puts 500% more pressure.

Also, insert yadda yadda links to already published articles and blogs about the chronic undervaluing of women's work over the centuries... etc.

This has been your pubic service announcement for the day! Thanks for reading.

Current Mood: contemplative

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From:

drwex

I am glad you like me enough to have knitted me something. Should the occasion arise I might barter you some of this money stuff for things you have knitted, but maybe instead for other things. Like, I seriously need a pencil tin for my work. We should talk at some point.

From:

mizarchivist

I would be happy to craft you a clay thing for moneys. Finding a pencil case shape is damn hard, so keep your eyes open for such a thing. We'll talk.

From:

zzbottom.livejournal.com

I have a domed-top large-sized altoids tin. I am not sure if this is pencil-long or not. I also have some other vintage tins that might do. Maybe after I get back from vacation we should try to get together and you can peruse my tin selection?

From:

mizarchivist

Neat! Sounds like a plan.

From:

minkrose

I have two tins I wish to gift to you! One is a larger cookie tin, which I'm not sure if you want, and one is a circular tea tin that might be tall enough to put pencils in, if Wex is OK with a cylinder that opens at the top. If not, I'm sure someone else would like it.

I need to drink the last teabag from the cylindrical tin, but perhaps lunch soon? Worky-stuff proceeds apace for us both, it'd be nice to talk about that.

From:

mizarchivist

The cookie tin only if you want to use that as the canvas of the project we mentioned before Arisia. Otherwise it'd be too big.

I have fun with cylinders but don't personally peg them as pencil cases. But I can use them for general use, for sure.

Lunch would be lovely! We have much to catch up on, I think. I'll ping you in other formats to determine that bit.

From:

minkrose

I keep my pens in a cup, so I think that's why I was thinking cylinders (though hey, sounds like the shape is good for Wex; I do think mine's a bit large for that purpose, though). Of course, I already HAVE a fabulous TinTin mug that I picked up in Brussels, otherwise I'd be tempted to use this tin for myself. (now I want to make a tin-TinTin joke....)

If I have brain today (so tired) I will try and send you some info about my upcoming schedule. <3

From:

drwex

I'm thinking about something cylindrical and sized to hold the 6-7 items I use most often. All the rest can live in drawers. I'll keep an eye out.

From:

catness.livejournal.com

I have a tin that might work perfectly for this. Slightly less than 6" tall, and 2.5" diameter.

Hrrrm. I just tested, and some pens might be too short for that. Might put something weighted in the bottom inch of it, though.

From:

drwex

That sounds brilliant. We should give it a try if we can arrange the transfer at some point.

From:

woodwardiocom.livejournal.com

Gods bless you for articulating boundaries. Srsly.

From:

mizarchivist

I'm adulting like a BOSS today. I also feel 10 lbs lighter having had the revelation. Because I was just so grumpy about the well-intentioned suggestions. The "argle-fargle-froth" kind of thing with no coherence whatsoever. I will take coherently peeved over non-verbally irate. Oh yes.

From:

spinrabbit.livejournal.com

Woot!

From:

lifecollage.livejournal.com

Indeed - huzzah for boundary-setting. And valuing your time. And valuing your priorities.

Also? For making the distinction that you are not one of the knitters who knits because they can't *not*, or that it's the only thing you do that is creative/crafty. You have other pursuits that you enjoy, and the knitting is what you do when you can't do those (like commuting and TV watching and and and). This makes you different than many of the knitters/fiber folks that some of these folks know, who knit compulsively and *fast*.

In short: <3

From:

weegoddess.livejournal.com

This distinction is something I've been trying to name; thank you.

From:

mizarchivist

Well said! Yes!

From:

zzbottom.livejournal.com

I have not quite figured out how people have been able to make things like knitting and crocheting really in any way profitable for them. It seems like it can be fun as a hobby, but as an hourly rate, so undervalued.

Go you for valuing your time and effort appropriately.

From:

mizarchivist

Thanks!

From:

weegoddess.livejournal.com

Thank you for posting this. GO YOU for using your words and setting clear boundaries.

If/when the next person asks to barter for me to alter a dress, or create a new pattern out of a worn-out garment, or something akin, I'm going to point them to this post, or at least quote the hell out of it.

From:

mizarchivist

Oh good. I am happy to have had the breakthrough that helps other artisans be able to articulate the "uh.... no."

From:

pisicutsa.livejournal.com

Is it bad if I say I don't think of you as a knitter but rather as someone who occasionally knits cause they want/need something? :) (I see myself the same way FWIW - I make things with yarn if I want said thing but I have never ever thought "I would love to make that for you" in response to a direct request, even when money was being offered). That being said I am glad to know at least two people who are constantly posting on FB that "OMG I NEED A PROJECT BUT I HAVE NO DESIRE TO KEEP IT SO JUST PAY FOR THE YARN AND SHIPPING AND GIVE A TASK TO ME TO DO NOW NOW NOW!" since it is actually a win-win for me and them. :)

From:

mizarchivist

*laugh*

From:

asciikitty.livejournal.com

Well said!

I'm having feelings about this, but can't articulate. Hmmm.

From:

ricevermicelli.livejournal.com

Oh my yes. Word.

I mostly knit for me, because knitting for other people os aggravating. Also, it is the most expensive way to acquire a sock.

I like knitting, and I think of myself as a knitter, but I can indeed not knit, and sometimes I prefer that.

From:

42itous.livejournal.com

I have often had similar thoughts. I have even sent my parents to professional tailors for alterations that I could do in 20 minutes, because I would rather do something else with my 20m, and my parents can afford a tailor!

I honestly cannot understand why people knit if they don't love the process. Do you love the process? I mean, apart from the last 25% of construction (which is not 25% of the process) -- there's a lot that goes on before you even start knitting. If it's analogous to quilting, I'm guessing there's a lot of enjoyment in finding the right pattern and materials, before you even start the "work."

From:

mizarchivist

Lifecollage did sum it up neatly. It's a good thing to do, and I do like it better now that I spend so much time with asciikitty, who is an enabler.
I like that my mathing skills are better for it, and my technique and overall knowledge is exponentially broader with A. around.

The thing that is telling is that I am never bursting to the seams excited with prospective projects with knitting as I am with clay. Some clay projects make me so enthused it takes an effort not to scream from how awesome it is.

so... you know. that.

From:

sariel-t.livejournal.com

Rock on! Yeah, only really special people in my life get knitted things.

From:

curly-chick.livejournal.com

Words cannot say how much I hear you.

I can't tell you the number of people who have asked me for legal assistance for their aunt Suzie or Uncle Fred. It will only take a minute, they say. Then they want me to actually speak to Suzie or Fred. It completely minimizes the work I do that I should give it away for free just because I work where I do. Moreover, Suzie or Fred can sue me if I don't make the boundaries clear to them and even if they do, they can sue me regardless. And I should take that risk on my license because....?

I have no problem helping out a friend. If you are a close friend, I have no problem talking to you about a relative of yours. I do have a problem with people who think my services should be given away for free because I am in the helping business. And, I should be spending my free time helping people for free because that is what I do for work. My free time is my free time.

Thank you for allowing me to vent in your live journal. This probably merits a post of my own.