On imitation, flattery and inspiration

Wow, lofty title huh? Sorry, I'm not planning a dissertation or anything, but this is a post I've thought about writing periodically. Whenever I read blogs that dismiss popular patterns - Oh, I won't make that. It's so ... pedestrian - I get a little miffed. I'm not much for personal attacks (getting enough of that in the presidential race thanks), so I never comment, but since this is my blog, well, I get to let it out here without directing my ire at anyone individually. I'm also frustrated with those of us who are making a popular pattern, but feel we must apologize for for it. That's a "we" because I've done it too. The old "I know, it's all over the blog world/Ravelry, but I think it's cute ..." intro. So today, let me praise imitation, for it is indeed a fine form of flattery.

Photo break. Lizard Ridge is a perfect example of an immensely popular pattern that I'm happy to copy. I LOVE knitting these squares. Blocking is not as much fun, but it makes them sing.

Intending to block about every five squares so it's not overwhelming. Not worrying about outliers until further along.

Of course many crafters join KALs or copy a pattern down to the yarn color or fabric pack and go happily about their way without a worry. This is a hobby. It's supposed to be fun (as we remind ourselves when ripping out). Many times a little mindless activity is far preferable to reinventing the wheel. Other times we question jumping on the bandwagon of an immensely popular pattern. Still, we leap on because that cart is going somewhere we want to go, and we're hoping it's not hell in a handbasket. Yeah, that's stretching the container metaphor, but I couldn't help myself! I've always loved that phrase! It's so visually evocative. Wikipedia says it's of unknown origin, but thought to be mid-century Midwestern, which given my KY background explains why I heard it so often in my young life that I assumed it was Shakespearian.

Then there are some who get awfully snippy about the idea of doing a popular pattern. I have no problem if you only want to knit or sew completely original work - more power to you on your creative journey - but I've never quite understood the need to turn that impulse into indirect indictment of those who choose to be inspired by someone else's creation. Isn't that why we troll Ravelry for endless hours? Isn't that why we read blogs? To be inspired. To see something so intriguing, so beautiful that we just have to make THAT. NOW. And sometimes we see a person who seems to have gotten it just right. The perfect pattern. The perfect color. We don't want a modified version of it, we want THAT. Why not copy it? We'll still get the joy of the creative process.

Here's my in-progress copy of the Flutter Cardi from the new Interweave.

Must admit I've stopped knitting on it over the last week or two since we've had warm weather, then rain. Spent days and days cleaning the old growth from the garden and replanting for spring. February is our April and haste must be made if one wants spring flowers. When my husband came home last week and found me planting by porch light at 9 PM he questioned my sanity, but I crowed the next day when we woke up to rain. For those of you who don't know, here in San Diego County we get 10" or less rain per YEAR. Some years 5" or less. Gardeners here rejoice at the sound of rain. And yes, I am obsessive.

Still looking for a pattern for this Lavold Silky Tweed, but at least I found a good use for Asian pear wrappers. They were almost in the trash, but I held my hand closed thinking There must be a use for these foam nets? ...

Not much in the veggie garden right now, but the greens are still coming on. Kaffe Fassett found chard inspiring and turned it into fabric. I am thankful. My husband put a few stalks in a vase one day to brighten the bookshelf and I just had to photograph them with my Farmers Market quilt.

   

Separated at birth?

I'm honored beyond measure to tell you that my quilt has a doppelganger. I grabbed that photo on the right from Julie's blog, but there are other larger ones at the link. If you appreciate costume sewing you must scroll through the rest of Julie's blog because she and her daughters do simply amazing Renaissance Faire outfits. Julie was very thoughtful and asked if she could make her quilt in a similar colorway. Of course! I'm so sorry it's taken me so very long to say thank you publicly. I just hope that one day our quilts meet for a party.

My newest quilt was inspired by the $700 Ethan Allen Rosette Quilt from last year. It's not on their website anymore but I found this photo from the catalog on a home decorating blog (yes, also copied to my server). For once I'll be able to tell my DH that I'm saving money with my crafting! OK, truth is I cut the pattern down from a 98" x 95" bed quilt to a 60" x 40" wall hanging, but I'm sticking to my $700 price point.

Over the weekend I happened onto the torn out catalog page stuck between pattern photocopies and suddenly knew it was the handwork I was looking for to take to softball and gymnastics. I'd bought this yo-yo maker a while back with this quilt in mind, but it had fallen off my radar.

These are gilded Asian themed fabrics from my stash cut to 5.5" squares. I'm changing the colorway to match my fabric, but following the rhythms of the EA quilt. 14 yo-yos down, 240 to go.

To finish this:  Artists have copied Mother Nature and each other forever. Yes, great artists produce groundbreaking work, but they build on inspiration. Art isn't created in a vacuum. Knitting and quilting are perfectly suited for sharing creativity. Any work you make will be both individual and part of a greater whole. Don't worry about copying someone. We go out shopping and buy clothes and shoes that literally thousands if not hundreds of thousands of other people in the world are wearing. Even if you're a boutique shopper, there are probably more people wearing that "unique" shirt than have made almost any knitting pattern, Clapotis aside. And why not make a Clapotis? Who cares if 5000 other people have? Isn't it wonderful that a knitted object can identify you at just a glance to other knitters around the world? If it came off your needles, hook or machine, it's yours. Enjoy.

Comments

[Julia]

Having just completed my second Clapotis, I can safely say that "I feel ya". I love my clap - I just hate the knitting. It is the scarf I was wearing when Christine of Bigpinkcookie.com saw me at SXSWi several years ago. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship and if it hadn't been for a recognizable knit, she never would have noticed me.
I have admired the Lizard Ridge for some time, but thought it had to be more fiddly than I was willing to do and that it would not be the same without that exact fabulous yarn and honestly, I can't afford it. But I do love to see them come together.
I just yesterday picked a handful of red Swiss chard from my garden. It is really beautiful stuff. Never thought about it as a cut flower though. Great idea. That yoyo maker is brilliant. It's the only way I would even consider a yoyo quilt. I gotta figure out a gimick for a no-show job. There's just way too much stuff I need to be making. Your projects are always such a treat to visit.

[Toby]

Well said! Not to mention, if 5000 other people have knit something that's still tens of thousands less than the number of people who have, say, the red knit cardigan I bought from a big name retailer.

Who are these dismissive folks that hang out with other knitters ALL day long? I mean really, I have yet to see a knitted item that I recognized in person unless I'm at a LYS or knitting group. I suppose if I worked at a LYS or knitting magazine I might feel that way, but I suspect even there you don't all end up in a meeting wearing the same popular cardigan from last month's issue.

[Octopus Knits]

I couldn't agree with you more! I don't think anyone should choose to make something simply because it's popular, and (likewise) no one should rule something out because it's popular. If you love it, that's all that matters. Lizard ridge has been in my queue since the pattern came out, and I have knitted two clapotis (one scarf size and one wrap size) : ) I am trying to do more designing, but there are so many lovely patterns already out there that I want to make...

I went in for doctor's appointment a few weeks ago wearing my Tilted Duster, and was surprised and delighted when the doctor walked in and, recognizing the sweater, said "Oh! You're a knitter." That's the first time that has happened outside of a yarn store / wool festival type context. It was pretty entertaining.

Your post is a visual feast (as usual!) -- and I can certainly understand why Julie was inspired by your quilt. The new one (with the rosettes) is intriguing! Your fabric choices are gorgeous.

P.S. Love the chard! (and your use of the Asian pear wrapper)

[Julie Rappe]

I'm thrilled beyond words to be included in your lovely blog. You have been the inspiration behind the biggest epoch of my life. Seriously! I think I found myself again because of you. I got back into knitting, and it has given me such fulfillment and peace. Can't really explain the whole Zen-ness of its effect on my uptight personality. I don't think I could get through a day without it. I try not to think about all the years I could have been doing it.... Your blog inspired me to start one of my own. I so admired its style and content, the photos. I've been trying to model mine in your image ever since. Of course that over two years ago now and I have found my own unique voice, but you are still my style guru. The gardens, the quilts, the kids, the kitties, the dog, and that darn fig bread. I have you to blame for my fig obsession. I'm making fig icecream as we speak. My life would be very dull indeed if you weren't in it. Thank you for including me and my copycat quilt in your blog and your life. -Julie

[Nancy]

Thank you Julie. I am really touched. I bet your fig bread kicks my fig bread's rear!

[corrie]

wow your knitting and quilts are amazing! love all the colours and am dying to see how the knitting turns out! it looks great so far!

Corrie:)

[katie]

I'm loving those Lizard ridge squares, they're just sooo beautiful.

[Jo]

This is my first visit, and what a riot of colour it's been, i love Lizard Ridge and hope one day I have enough noro to make one! I'm with you completely, knit what you love, and love what you knit!

[Khalila]

What a wonderful blog post! Your writing is so fun to read and your pictures are so visually inspiring. Hope to see you at knitting group tonight. I'll be wearing my Clapotis in case you have trouble finding us. :)

[Juanita]

As usual your post was wonderful, and your work is always beautiful!

[ellen]

Bravo, Nancy. Thoughtful words and wonderful pictures. February is also our April in North Florida, but we had 8" of rain last week! WRT your comments about knitters who look down on popular patterns, anybdy who has read or participated in a KAL knows that very few knitters exactly follow the pattern, and for many it becomes a mere suggestion or source of inspiration.

[juliet]

I am all in favour of the tried and tested - if loads of people have knitted it up then most of the glitches are long gone by the time I get there, after all projects such as Clapotis are a broad church and there is room for everybody and their own little tweaks/colour choices. Also sometimes a tried and trusted can be very soothing knitting (you feel like there is a little community of people who also love something and it's nice to belong to something like that) and it gives the opportunity for a relatively safe learning experience if it involves a new technique, that also means a great springboard for a new uncharted route when you then create your very own something - very rarely is something "new" ever so completely "NEW" that it has no connection to anything gone before. So, I am all in favour of the old favourites (they get to be old favourites for a reason after all).

The quilt project looks really pretty and handsewing is very relaxing, the colours look gorgeous

I adore the chard photos (chard is one of my top vegetables - I love all leafy greens and chard is just the best in the garden - it can even withstand the Scottish climate)

[Christiane]

I loved every word and photo of this article, yes I name it so for me it belongs into a IWK or so, because on doing what someone else had done first the best ideas will come and modification is life.
You are right the wheel doesn't need to be reinvented and I live on everyone who likes my ideas and finds them worthwhile to copy them. Besides to be an inspiration for others is anything but relaxing. In order to relax what is important for more creative juices I knit another Tilted Duster, my second one.............invented from talented Norah, why not give her credits?

The chard in front of your quilt is mouthwatering, could take a bite:)

[moni]

I completely agree! And thank you for this post! I get miffed too when i hear people complain about a pattern that everyone knits. I got so sick of reading those threads on the Ravelry forums. ugh!

Anyway...

Love the quilt you are going to do. Can't wait to see your progress on it. I love Asian prints so much. I think I am going to splurge on some when I go to my favorite quilt shop in Long Beach, WA in a couple of weeks.

[Cindra]

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Lizard Ridge. I never tire of seeing people's interpretation of it. Each one is beautiful and different. You are so right... the blocking is so essential! What is that little beauty in the upper left hand corner being blocked out? I also fell in love with the Ethan Allen quilt. Can't wait to see yours finished. You sure have been busy... look at all the beautiful projects on your page!

[Tami]

I whole-heartedly agree with you. What's wrong with wanting to make a pattern that others have made? Even if you try to choose the exact same yarns/colors/prints/fabrics the final product will still be slightly different and your own handiwork. Not every single piece that you make needs to be original. Sometimes it's just the process that's so important. If I knew how to knit better I'd be right there beside you (and everyone else) knitting a Lizard Ridge too. It's such a great combination of beautiful yarn and a stunning pattern.

Found you today via Kathy of Pink Chalk Studio. Cheers!

[Tracey]

Oh I adore your blog! Thank you, I couldn't have said it better myself. I love coming to Stitch n Bitch "wearing the same prom dress" as someone else, it just means we both have good taste and it's instantly something to talk about. Besides which its more fun to kvetch about pattern issues if someone else out there has made it too.

I found you when I was doing my internet search for "mr greenjeans errata". I will definitely be back. I love it here. Your quilts are...gorgeous!

[jennyy]

Isn't pride one of the 7 deadly sins? Some people just always need to criticize others to lift themselves up. I'm glad you're not one of them!

[Cindy D]

Lovely quilts! Tell me about the form you are using for the yoyos. Do you actually use it to do the gathering?

[MJ]

For the gripers, why bother complaining about a pattern everyone's knitting? There's a reason it's popular! It looks good! I've lately been knitting my own designs, but I found a pattern I'm going to knit soon, and I wouldn't have found it if there weren't 500 other people who bookmarked it in Ravelry!

Love the Tumbling Blocks, Nancy. I have the kit for the neutral colors, and damn I didn't take it along with me to Europe!