(What in the world was I thinking?)
Detangling yarn, rather like housework, is highly conducive to introspection (and the occasional muttered imprecation). As I work the yarn over and under and in and out of itself, I ponder the significance of my actions. What does this silly attempt say about me? ("Misguided optimism" and "the triumph of hope over experience" are two phrases that come to mind.)
Am I a foolish optimist? Perhaps - at least where my own actions are concerned. I always think that projects and tasks will take less time than they do - which explains why I'm usually a few minutes late. Every year, as Christmas draws near, I take on too many projects at once, in the happy assumption that I can easily finish them all before the big day. (Do I finish them all? Usually - to the great detriment of sleep and regular meals and Mr. M's comfort.)
Is this optimism, or self-delusion? (Or simply a lack of organisation?)
And which is better: to think that a thing is possible - which some might call dreaming - then try it, only to experience failure? Or to assume the worst, and never try at all?
It would take more of a philosopher than I am to answer this question. Besides, I've got yarn to untangle.
At least it's part silk, which makes it nice and slippery. :)
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Are you a risk-taker with yarn (or other aspects of life)? Or do you prefer to play it safe?
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Haha better you than me Sue good luck! and have a great weekend don't spend it all de tangling :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda - it took all Friday afternoon (darn it!). Lesson learned. :)
DeleteHa, ha, I am just like you, I am definitely a risk taker in matters like these. I take on loads of things, and am normally sewing something up, five minutes before I'm due to arrive, but hey, it's me, deal with it! I've done the yarn thing, and probably will again, just because if it worked, it would be quicker, and therefore it's worth trying.
ReplyDeleteRight, better go, as my eyes are closing as I type, unlike you am not a night owl!
Oh gosh, Faith, I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only very-last-minute gift maker out there. :)
DeleteOh, I always think things will be easier and take less time than they really do, but hey, life works out! If you make people laugh at you hard enough, they don't notice when they get gifts late!
ReplyDeleteI must tell you, I had some yarn in England that was HOPELESSLY tangled (I had taken some to whip up a few things as gifts) but my wonderful IN-LAWS got hold of it and worked and worked with it and completely untangled it.
That is such a wonderful memory from last year for me!
Meeting the Queen could not have pleased me more!
I'd rather have helpful yarn-detanglers any day! How nice of them. :)
DeleteUsually I play it quite safe, I like things to be in order, not too much change for me. But I will take on something new, and I expect to be proficient at it right away, do I think to much of my own skills? I think so.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you and hope you got that beautiful yarn untangled.
Meredith
I don't think you think too much of your own skills, Meredith - it's just a hopeful attitude. :)
DeleteAnd yes, the yarn finally got untangled, just when it was too dark to take a photo.
I relate to this. I love winding balls of wool by hand. I remember one hank of dishcloth yarn that I bought really cheaply when I was learning to crochet. It took several days to unravel and wind up.
ReplyDeleteBut it's so satisfying when that last twisty knot comes out, isn't it? Thanks for commenting! :)
DeleteGood luck with the detangling! And as for what is better...I tend to put off doing things I think will be failures, but when I try it, I at least learn something if I'm not successful. But I always have to talk myself into it.
ReplyDeleteHear, hear! I am just the same. But since I started blogging, I find I'm more willing to try new things. It must be a confidence-booster of sorts. :)
DeleteHve had to untangle lots of yarn for various reasons. It is worth it once it gets untangled. I also think that I can do way more than is posssible (for me) in any given time frame. Sometimes I get it all done, sometimes there is a plan B. LOL
ReplyDeleteThis year I have 1 and 1/2 Christmas projects done already.
For which Christmas? :)
DeleteSeriously, I am SO jealous of your beforehandedness! (IS that a word?) I can't even think of Christmas gifts - as in what to make for whom - until about November. The ideas just aren't there.
Something soothing about the untangling...it's brainless and sometimes that's just what the brain needs...a rest. :-)
ReplyDeleteYes - like doing dishes. Only that's just when my brain starts buzzing with ideas. :)
DeleteMy oldest daughter who loves to do puzzles is a master at untangling yarn and much more adventurous than me who almost always plays it safe...sweet and simple and untangles slooooooowly.
ReplyDeleteI cheering you on as you triumph over your tangled yarn, Sue!
xx,
Gracie
Thanks Gracie! It was an exercise in perseverance and patience ... grrrr. :)
DeleteGood luck on the detangling. I usually end up with a horrific knot! And I think it's always better to at least try even if you fail, than to have never tried and missed the experience.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Sharon
Amen to that, Sharon. Though the pursuit of knowledge can sometimes be painful. :)
DeleteThis tangled mess often happens to me too, especially as the yarn ball gets smaller and comes undone. I am not so good at untangling and I think I tend to rush it too much and the yarn snarls back at me and somehow challenging little knots appear! Oh my!
ReplyDeleteHave a good weekend!
I can just see the yarn snarling back at you - what a wonderful metaphor/pun! :)
DeleteYou have a good weekend too.
Part silk, that sounds "yummy-for-the-fingers"...
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for appreciating my Sistine Chapel metaphor, in my yesterday's post. I thought I went over-the-top-into-snarky. But thank you for being sweet about it.
As you so beautifully stated... In our fast, fast, fast world, blogging may well come to being just Tweets. And more's the pity!
"Auntie"
It's very yummy for the fingers - and not just silk but "mulberry silk" as the label says. Doesn't that sound delicious?
DeleteI didn't think your post was at all snarky. :)
For reasons known only to be I love rolling yarn into a ball, detangling it, I find it very soothing. I wait till my skein of yarn is about 1/2 done and then I roll it up, unless I hit a tangle in the yarn and then I do it sooner.
ReplyDeleteI'm still working on a lap afghan that was supposed to be a Christmas present, hopefully it will be done soon because I promised myself that I'd start nothing new till all the old are done.
Ooh, good for you. I make those promises to myself but always break them.
DeleteI'm ashamed to say I've resisted the rolling-yarn-into-a-ball habit. But now that I'm working with better yarns that come in long loopy hanks, it's become imperative. :)
On the upside, your yarn tangle is a work of art. Rather looks like a giant Chrysanthemum. :) I shall take your query to my stump and ponder it a bit. Off the top of my head, though, I feel this: a thing undone, is merely an invitation. :)
ReplyDeleteGood one, Marigold! You are indeed a Wise Goat.
Delete(That picture - which to me looks like pasta - was the tangle mostly tamed. I couldn't bear to photograph the worst part of it.)
:)
Haha--I'd definitely call it optimism!
ReplyDeleteYes - foolish optimism. :)
DeleteI love puzzles so detangling anything (for someone else) is great fun for me no matter how long it takes. If I make the mess then not so fun! I do not attempt working from both ends any longer - too much stress! Silly as this sounds, I will usually pull out my kitchen scale and weigh as I go, working only from 1 end. There is still the pleasure of wrapping and rolling but less stress for me. Always love to read what you are working on!
ReplyDeleteI did think of pulling out the kitchen scale as I got to the end - with 2 balls connected in the middle. But I just eyeballed it. :)
DeleteI saw a photo on Ravelry this morning of a couple of kittens trying to help wind a hank into a ball... cute and funny as can be! I have to say, it looks like your hank had some kitten paws in it!!!
ReplyDeleteI think they would have tangled it less than I did. :)
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