Tuesday 18 October 2011

The High Street Is Ruined

You know, knitting has ruined shopping for me at this time of year *laughs*

I used to love the autumn/winter collections, all chunky knitwear and cosy accessories. But now, when I walk through the shops all I can think is "But I could make that". Never mind the fact that I have plenty of projects on the go at the moment, and I am not an octopus with knitting needles [side note: how cool would that be - 4 projects going simultaneously!]... So I'm not going to be making all of the things I see out there.

But I still can't bring myself to buy them.

If I'm honest, part of it is because I enjoy showing off my finished garments to friends/colleagues/that guy walking his dog/etc... I don't want to be wearing knitwear and have them ask if I made it and have to say no!

Just as an example, I really like this top from Next... There are loads of gorgeous chunky knits in all of the shops, as well as finer gauge items like this, but I just can't buy them.



The high street is ruined I tell you *laughs*

19 comments:

  1. I do this too. Of course the reality is, if I started making one now, it would be finished by the time the weather was getting warmer again!

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  2. I feel the same way, although I know that I don't have the skill yet to knit the things I like. But I do look at woolen garments of all sort and thing about the size needles, the weight of yarn, how pleasant it would be to knit that...

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  3. Whaha I totally know what you mean! Just the other day I saw an amazing collection of chunky cowls in a store and I already had my hand reached out to them when I thought: 'Wait a minute, I recognize that pattern; I could totally make this myself for like half the cost!' :D
    xo,
    wink

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  4. So true! I feel the same way:)

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  5. I am going to challenge myself to make a cardigan, hopefully I will get to the end before spring! I do agree that a lot of things I think "I could make that" often followed by, "out of nicer yarn"! :D

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  6. I totally have the same experience!!
    –Cassandra

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  7. Oh gosh, I know what you mean, especially since I started dressmaking as well. It really makes it difficult to go shopping!

    Love the idea of a knitting octopus, btw. How useful would that be?!

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  8. For me it's not even the fact that I could make them; it's the fact that I can tell you bad the quality is. So much of the stuff out there is made with crappy acrylic and really bad construction that I can't seem to make myself spend money on something that I would be ashamed to say I made!

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  9. Ooo, that's a lovely sweater. By the way, the "proper" answer to, "Did you make that?" (if you haven't) is "No, but I could have!" =)

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  10. Absolutely! But then I don't always knit the kind of sensible things that I wear. I need to discipline myself this year. More sensible knitting.

    But I'm not making a knitted dress!

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  11. I do the same thing! I guess many knitters do. But the flip side of the "problem" is that people start asking if everything I wear is something I knitted, lol. And I have to keep saying "no, I didn't make this!"

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  12. I think the same thing but then I remind myself that no, I'm never going to knit myself a fine gauge argyle sweater for myself. So I just break down and buy it.

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  13. It happens too all if us. I have to try not to stare at people while on public transit. It seems unnerving to most people.

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  14. I had this EXACT conversation with myself today! There were loads of things I really liked and some I would never have the time/patience to knit (fine knit poncho etc) but I still couldn't bring myself to try anything on!!!!)

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  15. I feel the same way about crochet items. It's compounded by the fact that crochet has to be done by hand so I always wonder about the fair treatment of the workers behind crochet garments that are sold in big stores. A little different with knit, but I hear ya!

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  16. I know what you mean, but if the price is right I'll buy knitwear anyway. I don't have time to knit EVERYTHING I want, and sometimes you just want that cute cardigan made of yarn too fine to knit with, ya know?

    OK, now I sound defensive. LOL

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  17. Yep, I do the same thing. Which is why I hate buying shoes. I really resent the fact that I can't make them.

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  18. Whenever I wear a store bought sweater someone asks me if I knit it! Sometimes I just say yes to save time, LOL!

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