The Paper Chase
Sharon had a very amusing post the other day about some knitters' (ie. her) affinity for collecting patterns; aggressively, voraciously, and ceaselessly - though not necessarily in any kind of organized manner. In fact, the act of collecting seems to become an end in itself, whereupon the knitter receives all his or her gratification from merely obtaining new patterns, (with the ultimate goal being the possession of all patterns ever written in the history of global civilization.) Cataloguing them so that they can later be found and possibly USED is less important. Make that much less important.
Boy, did I hear that.
I was just going through my measly 2 shelves-worth of patterns, (after spending the better part of an evening getting reacquainted with my 4 closets-worth of stash) and found myself thinking, "When did I manage to accumulate all this?" Forget about just keeping up with current US patterns/books, I'm also addicted to Japanese knitting mags and vintage patterns. Book after book, magazine after magazine, I kept finding patterns that I'd completely forgotten I had.
Of course, simply not looking at patterns anymore is not even an option. What if I miss something really, really good? Dammit, why are there so many great patterns available? More importantly, why can't I find someone to pay me to look for them full-time?
Stupid world.
That being said, I'm off to Rhinebeck this weekend - - forget the tote bags, we're renting a minivan. And possibly a U-haul.
Overheard on the subway today: [Guy yuppie talking to girl yuppie co-worker in a hideous off-the-rack limp-fringed poncho] "Wow, that's a great poncho. It makes you look like Jessica Simpson."
I swear, I'm off ponchos until this whole trend is dead. God forbid someone should think I'm wearing one because I'm looking to Jessica-freakin'-Simpson as a fashion role model.
Suddenly I feel much better about not having started my poncho in time for autumn.
Posted by: Nancy | October 13, 2004 at 10:19 AM
Listen, you don't have to worry, we all remember that you are using Punky Brewster as your fashion muse!
I'll be at Rhinebeck too -- I'll leave my poncho at home. Heard it supposed to rain and be cold. :(
Posted by: ann | October 13, 2004 at 12:49 PM
Re: The yuppie conversation. Did you laugh out loud? I think I would have.
I know what you mean about the poncho trend, but I succumbed when I saw the Karis pattern in Rowan. It looked kind of different and fun to knit. Don't know if I'll wear it in public, though!
Posted by: mariko | October 13, 2004 at 01:59 PM
For what it's worth my boys (9 and 11) BLUSH when they hear the name "Jessica Simpson." Every mother's worst nightmare. :)
Posted by: Kerstin | October 13, 2004 at 03:57 PM
Gah! I'm so out of the loop I didn't even know Jessica Simpson and ponchos had become synonymous. That makes no sense, actually.
Posted by: Em | October 13, 2004 at 03:58 PM
A hand knit poncho does not come near a store bought poncho at any point in time. The hand knit poncho might get a cold from the store bought poncho it would be sad.
Posted by: Danielle | October 13, 2004 at 10:33 PM
ok, i was working on a poncho as i read this and that js comment was enough for me to put it aside, lol! and i wouldn't know what you mean about book/mag collecting. i'm not really into that (wink, wink).
can't wait to see what you haul back from rhinebeck. so sad i can't make it up there. bring back lots!
Posted by: froggy | October 14, 2004 at 12:54 AM
I think what he meant was "wow, can I get into your pants?"
Anything else is just window dressing around the basic subtext.
Anyway, isn't Jessica Simpson the shawl trend girl, not the poncho trend girl?
Posted by: juno | October 14, 2004 at 10:03 AM