Finding the right fit as we grow with our community.
I’ve been thinking a lot about fit recently. We play games, I think, when something doesn’t quite fit as we expect. We try to rationalize, or in my case, deny what is obvious, rather than face the fact that something isn’t working as planned.
I had to frog and restart my Reposado Tee recently due to fit. I chose a size that I thought was right for me and excitedly cast on. Within a few inches, the nagging feeling started… I trudged on, as one does, contemplating ripping out each row as I completed it. Finally, I took the shirt off the needles to try on. I am glad I listened to my gut as it, in fact, did not fit.
I measured the garment flat and it seemed to be the size I had intended to knit. Not trusting that, I knit an arrears gauge swatch and after it was blocked I was able to confirm that I was knitting at the correct gauge for the pattern. Essentially, I blamed my knitting for my own problem which was that I had not measured myself in some time, and also I had not considered what sort of fit I would want in this top before I cast on.
My knitting was fine - in fact, it was perfectly at gauge, but I chose the wrong size. The correct size is currently on my needles, and I’m enjoying a much more carefree knitting experience than the first time around.
At the shop, our classes and social events have been well received and we’re starting to recognize the faces of our repeat customers! We are watching friendships grow between folks who met at the shop, and have had the pleasure of hosting knitting groups from around the area.
As we find our fit within the community, we’ve also been painfully aware of those members of our community who cannot join us in person due to accessibility issues with our building. Though we have only been in this space for a few months, we found one that is a better fit.
As the universe is wont to do, a beautiful, large, accessible storefront became available just one block away - most recently home to Gemplers. We’re delighted to move into this accessible space that is also much larger, allowing us a classroom space separate from a “hang-out’ space - so both can happen at the same time!
We’re not sure of our move-in date just yet, but our goal is to be open at the new location in early September. We’ll keep you updated on our progress here in our newsletter and also via Facebook and Instagram.
I hope you are finding the right fit in your projects.
Happy Making!
Stephanie