Rachel's post about focusing on process got me thinking. This is something that has been in the back of my mind for a while, but I hadn't quite put my finger on it. I love the process of doing things. It's how I learn.
I used to blog more about process, but somewhere along the way I got caught up in the finished product. That's not so much fun, for me anyway, because I end up rushing through the process. I'd like to write more about how I get to where I end up. Just thinking about lingering in the process more and absorbing it all makes me happy. One of my goals for the upcoming year is to be happy in the moment. I think focusing on process will do just that.
Now that I have a few sweaters under my belt, I've decided to step out of my comfort zone and experiment a little with a basic pattern, the top down raglan cardigan. It has been quite the learning experience. I decided to change the neckline, add a waist detail and attempt to accommodate my bust. So far, some things have worked, some haven't. I learned that I should have thought about my button hole placement a little better, especially considering that I planned to pick up stitches at the neckline. This little snafu has made me change my neckline plans to include a collar which may, or may not work. Also, I think that I may like this cardigan to be a bit longer than it currently is - which means ripping out. Honestly, I don't know if this sweater will even be wearable. It's all been one big experiment that may flop. But that's okay. I'm enjoying the process. I love that I'm learning about sweater construction and how to better fit my body.
When I look at a finished product, it's the process I remember, everything that went into it and all that I learned. That's what inspires me to branch out and try new things, and ultimately gives me joy. Process.
"moving right along...footloose and fancy free...getting there is half the fun, come share it with me..." a line from a song I remember singing in a Muppets musical ?? from my wee elementary school days, which is now STUCK in my mind. Ah, now I've got it, it was from The Muppet Movie - Movin' Right Along.
