But it seems that many in the knitting community don’t see these as valid reasons.
Another stockinette sweater? A Harry Potter scarf? Where’s the creativity in that? Why bother?
I submit that creativity is over-rated. I don’t mean that’s it isn’t valuable, only that it shouldn’t be held as the only valid reason to so something - anything. For example, I need a hat. Should I buy one? I could, certainly, and that would be the end of it. One nice, new hat, acquired and stashed in the closet awaiting its debut in the colder weather. On the other hand, I’ve got several cupboards full of yarn and more needles than I can conveniently count. I could make a hat - and I did. I used a pattern that was born in someone else’s brain in combination with wool I had in the stash and I made what I needed. Was it creative? Not in the least. Was it satisfying? Vastly!
Being able to make the hat is enormously rewarding to me because it means I was able to fill the need out of my own resources and ability. For me, that’s a critical issue - the being able to do it myself - because that means I don’t have to rely on a store to provide what I’m looking for. It means that even if the item I’m making goes out of style, I’ll still be able to reproduce it - so long as I don’t lose the pattern :) It gives me a measure of autonomy.
A dear friend knits almost entirely for stress relief. She tends to work on simple things without a lot of texture or fussiness and she turns out beautiful pieces. Complicated patterns would defeat the purpose for her and simply add to her stress level. Should she not bother because what she’s doing isn’t particularly creative?
My aunt knits dishcloths, washcloths, hats, scarves and mittens. Period. And the patterns haven’t varied in 30 years. Her family always has warm, winter gear and her bathroom and kitchen are always stocked with fresh cloths. Should she be embarrassed by the lack of variation? Should she not call herself a knitter?
I’m not trying to be disingenuous here. Most of you know that I can get very creative when the mood strikes me. All I’m arguing here is that creativity isn’t the only reason to do something and isn’t always the most important consideration. What we are all doing (in my opinion) is filling the need - whatever our particular need happens to be and I find it fascinating that knitting (among other things) is flexible enough to be so many different things for so many different people.
Oh, and the reason to bother making a Harry Potter scarf?
No trackbacks yet.
Reminds me of the title on a tatting book.."Because I can.” Obviously the author had been asked why she bothered once too often!
May I ask what yarn you’re using for the scarf? The boys need new ones but finding the right colors in the right kind of yarn is tricky. I’m thinking of going with the “new” scarves as seen in “Prisoner.”
As for me, I don’t know why I knit - it’s a compulsion that I choose not to examine too closely. 
Bron - the yarn is good ole Red Heart Supersaver in burgundy and gold (those are the labelled colors). The burgundy I had in the stash, the gold I had to find. Caron’s no-dye-lot has a “sunflower” that might work too.
Robbyn--
Is there any way your could whip up one of those Harry Potter scarves for Zach if you get the time? He is very Harry Potter lately and would absolutely love it!
Donna
What a great post! So true, so true. Just because it’s not the height of creativity doesn’t mean something has no merit and I know LOTS of folks who are just happy to create.... whatever it may be. :)
Very well said! Knitting is very personal and different for each knitter. Sometimes what we desire to knit changes over our lifetime. As much as I admire the fair isle sweaters and the creativity that goes into them, they won’t do you much good if you are shuffling in the kitchen drawer for a dishcloth! Hehe.
If someone wants to knit nothing but novelty yarn scarves, or afghans from Redheart yarn why shouldn’t they be allowed the same respect as someone who would only knit an original design with natural fiber? Their knitting should suit THEIR purpose, not someone else’s.
Sometimes I want to create and sometimes I just need some mindless knitting. I enjoy trying different yarns, but have no problem falling back on acrylic.
I did a Harry Potter scarf from Redheart when it the first book came out. Cascade yarn also has the perfect colors if somone is looking to make a wool scarf.
My daughter’s friends (pre-teen age) are all just amazed by my knitting. Apparently I am the only knitter they know. They are so jealous of kiddo that she always has hats, scarves, triangle scarves, and purses to match everything. I always keep a few on hand for birthday party gifts. Last Fall she had a sleepover party and I had made a few quick knits as game prizes. These little girls fought so hard to win these simply knit scarves and hats and wore them with such delight, it made me wish I had made something for each one (all 18 of them). Creative? Not particularly. They were all garter stitch scarves knitted longways with long fringe, triangle head scarves and stockinette hats in bright “girly” acrylic colors.
It’s all knitting!
Huzzah! Possibly even an ‘Amen, sister!’
For me, it’s about utility, and stress relief, and learning a craft well.
Some knitters may stress creativity above all else, others the challenge of new techniques, or stress relief uber alles, or maybe they have other engines driving them to knit. More power to ‘em. As long as none of them try to proselytize or claim that theirs is the One And Only True Way I won’t have to stab any of ‘em with a DPN.
Anne, Bliss and Melanie -
Thank you so much for your kid comments and your thoughts. It give me a zingy little thrill to know I am not the only knitter out there unconcerned with creating the knitting equivalent of the Mona Lisa! May your needles never break and your yarn never split!
Margene - You said it first and best! And more succinctly too 
You have said it girl! I do love the creativity. But sometimes it is all about the yarn, so stockinette stitch works. Sometimes it is about the mindless activity, or the color. There are so many different reasons that I knit alone. Add all the many knitters to that and the reasons multiply. It’s for how we feel doing it. That said, it’s time to go knit!
Teresa - Here’s to creativity, nessecity and just plain pleasure. And here’s to all the big, small, young, old, delicate and worn hands that hold the needles!
I second the AMEN! Creativity is something I ponder frequently...(because I want to) but more often than not creativity itself gets IN THE WAY!
I think knitting, I view many blogs about knitting, I read knitting....but how many projects have I completed? hmmmm...that could be a whole other mental situation! but I feel it is because when I’m in the middle of a project I just don’t have that ‘creative’ feeling, so what do I do? You ‘all know!!!
This is the exact thing I’m so hard on myself for and then the quilty feelings… If only I was to ‘just do it’ and allow the mundane-ness of it to carry me! 
PJ - Well, I often have trouble finishing things myself - everybody does from time to time. For me, it’s a normal part of knitting.
For me it’s about not being able to sit still. Seriously. I have to be doing something, hence the knitting, crocheting, cross stitch etc. I don’t worry about being creative, I’m not a designer nor do I aspire to be. Is that wrong? I certainly don’t think so, maybe because I’m a cross stitcher and used to working from someone else’s pattern?
Sarra - That goes for me too. I can’t just sit and watch TV; I have to be doing something! Knitting, crocheting, beading - something to keeo my hands busy or I get restless. And I get myself in trouble when I get restless :)
Way to go Robbyn with that thought provoking posting yesterday....this is the true support we need...so much is about the KIND of yarn, the spiffy PATTERNS, the CREATIVE acts..like there is some knitting police out there if you buy...shhh… Red Heart yarn! HAHAHA When it comes down to it our fellow knitters are so supportive and I like hearing from this type posting and other comments that I’m not alone.Thanks everybody! ...and Bliss, your knitwear ‘party gifts’ for the girls was a wonderful and inspirational story. THAT is what knitting is about!! WOW 
::Blush:: 
Thanks PJ. Just speaking my mind - which usually gets me into trouble!
yay! It’s all about the fun! Enjoy making your scarf (I considered making a nice ravenclaw one, but I know I’d never wear it. That’ll be my mile-wide practical streak coming into play)
:-)
Oh why not, Monica - don’t you think you’d be smashing in blue and bronze stripes?
