Why do I have such trouble knitting in daylight? Knitting — like all my needlework over the years — has been an evening activity. An “after the work of the day is done” activity. The exception being waiting rooms, the lobby of the ballet school, anywhere I was forced to just sit.
But to sit down in the middle of the day and knit? It feels awkward — kind of self-indulgent, possibly decadent. Oh, if I am working with a knitting student or meeting a friend who knits for coffee, I have no problem knitting in the light of day. I have also been known to knit a little lace on the back deck in the summer sun. And I knit on my ‘Hawks Socks while watching the Seahawks game yesterday without a qualm!
I seem to be able to do some knitting related work in the daytime. Weaving in ends — that is best done in good light and is kind of a chore, so I can justify that in the afternoon. Blocking, yes, that is practically like doing laundry, so that is okay. I can work on designs, charts, math at my desk — kind of like doing my homework after school. But to just knit…?
Today, I decided to just take a break and sit down and read Game of Thrones while knitting the eternal stockinette of my Caramel cardigan. Right there in the living room in front of God and everybody — well, in front of God, at least, since there was no one else around. (Note: I usually cannot seem to let myself sit and read in the middle of the day either!) it was a delightful 15 minutes that flowed into a lovely half hour!
But it still felt a bit awkward. Maybe I just need more practice at it. Will I ever become comfortable with daylight knitting? I cannot say. But with nightfall coming a little earlier each day — and the long dark winter evenings ahead — I may not have to!