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Last night I was talking to James about my book… I told him that I feel like I've been working on it forever. It's been about four years since I first began swatching designs for this book. Four years is a long time, and a LOT can happen in four years.
The process of this book has shifted and changed so many times, and in many ways since its conception. Many of the designs transormed or changed completely from their original thought-form. Some were removed all-together to make room for designs I felt better about, designs that fit better with the other designs.
This book began as something technical—the designs were based on the techniques used to create them. But over time, it has organically transformed into something all its own—the astehetic appeal of the designs and the techniques used to create them together have created 20 beautiful and really fun-to-knit sweaters. I love each and every one of these designs. From their shapes, the yarns I used, their colors, the way they fit when I wear them, the techniques I learned as I created them… it's all taught me so much about the organic nature of creativity.
I have this quote hanging on the pin-board with my design sketches and swatches—"It's a long road from conception to completion." That couldn't be more true. It's a journey—a fascinating, twisting, winding and hilly road to travel from the moment the project is conceived until it's completed. And when it's completed, often it's nothing like how it was conceived—it's bigger, better and so much more satisfying than ever imagined.
When the book proposal was accepted by Interweave, I had no idea what I was doing… no idea where this was going, or how I was possibly going to get any of it done… totally overwhelmed. But I just started chipping away at what I knew had to be done, and the next step would always be there. And whenever I felt stuck, an e-mail my editor would help guide me back onto the path.
In the beginning of something—anything—it can seem so overwhelming. If you just start anywhere, as the process unfolds the next step will naturally be presented before you, eventually resulting in something that feels finished.
But when is something ever really completed? It's more like the journey never really ends, and more like the road just changes, or transforms into something else… or, there's a 90º turn at a stop sign.
The knitting and pattern writing for the book are done, and that's where I feel like I'm at—at a stop sign, waiting to make the next turn in the road. The final sweaters are waiting patiently in their box for UPS to come pick them up. So, what's next?
What will that next road look like? What kind of twists, hills and valleys will there be? Where will it lead? What kinds of turns will be made off of it? Have I already turned down that road? I don't know, and I love that. I love the uncertainty of where I'm going, what I'm doing, and what's on its way into my life. There are so many possibilities—some that I can see clearly, some that are faint glimpses at what could be, and some that are beyond anything I could possibly imagine.
No matter what it is, or where I'm going next, I know it'll be something great, and I'm grateful and eager to watch it unfold.
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