Niche bloggers display pinpoint control when it comes to staying on-topic. Some of the rest of us need a little more latitude. My belief is that revealing yourself through discussion of a few personal interests makes it easier to get acquainted across the blogosphere. So, what you might construe as off-topic, I find illuminating.

Take knitting, for example. If you are a knitter, you like the look and feel of fibers held in your hand, and you love seeing the texture unfold as the item takes shape. Whether you’ve knitted for years or have just started, you have probably amassed a number of tools and books of patterns and instruction. Just like beginning a new work project!

Beginning a new piece requires forethought and a test run (called swatching). Then once you have begun, there’s the pure enjoyment of the process of simply knitting away while sipping coffee, chatting with friends, watching a movie, waiting to pick up your child in a parking lot, or maybe even while participating in a webinar.

Knitting is a time-filler far different from reading or chatting on the phone, for in the act of all but the most complex of patterns, you can still communicate with others. And if a mistake is made, you just unravel and start again.

We knitters value quality craftsmanship in other parts of our lives as well: appreciating the little details in fine cuisine, in a garden, art, or fine woodworking. Non knitters wouldn’t believe the hours it takes, from selection of just the right skein until the item is finally knit, sewn together, washed (by hand), and blocked (laid in a undisturbed place to air dry).

During those hours, your life is happening. With each stitch, your work and life challenges remain and are dealt with, and some limbic memory of them is knit into every stitch of every item you make. Catching a glimpse of a blanket or sweater, or pair of socks knit for someone else years later brings back everything else that was happening in your life during the months when it was under construction.

So what does being a knitter convey to your clients and colleagues? That you’re old fashioned (hope not!)? That you are a creative person who values detail and quality (hope yes!)? That you are dependable in that you finish what you start (may or may not be true in that I have 4 unfinished projects)? In my work as a virtual assistant specializing in web development, I find many parallels with my approach to knitting.

That mouthful said, here are a few of my current projects:

1. Baby Bell Bottoms in baby alpaca are done, pictured right. (Nona at nonaKnits steered me to this pattern from Alison)!

2. Pictured top right is my granddaughter Tessa’s first sweater, made to match her first blanket, knitted at endless baseball games the year she was born. Now working on a little pink and white sweater to match pair of seersucker capris and a little gathered skirt. No pictures as it doesn’t look so great; may have to start it over. Sigh.

3. Still toiling along on my Tahki Joli ladder stitch wrap sweater.

4. Finished with tank made from yummy silk/cotton blend yarn found in Jerome Arizona at Knit 1 Bead 2. See a tad of that above left.