A PSA Regarding Knitting

[mizarchivist]

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.

Comments

[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.

[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?

[mizarchivist]

Neat! Sounds like a plan.

[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.

[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.

[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

[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.

[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.

[drwex]

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