Knitting in the Man Cave...

My husband Pete, like many other spouse, has his space. For us, it's in the lower level of the house.

With an outside door, he can enter his domain greasy or muddy or covered in cow dung... I don't have to clean it, so I don't worry about it.

His corner of the universe - where he can hang out in his skivvies or watch whatever or do whatever or cook whatever without answering to anyone but his maker.

(That being said, I do clean and tend to the couple areas of "shared" space... my stationary bike, a corner where I have a chair, my seat at the table...

We do like to hang out together after all.)

Anyway, next to my chair I have a wee knapsack that holds knitting.

Now, you may remember, I'm not a proficient knitter. I tried a scarf way back in high school... and set aside the mess and any aspirations of knitting, until a few years ago when I decided to pick it up again...

When I discovered, much to my amusement, the intervening years had taught me about tension and enough grace that knitting was not a disaster.

I have since made a few items when the pattern has caught my eye... much to my delight!

Though not enough for my fingers to remember, between projects, what they have learned.

I needed to practice my knitting without a specific project...

Well, when friends start to de-stash/clean their craft rooms, I gladly accept some yarn.

I then look up a free online pattern I think might teach me something.

I put it all in the knapsack and hang it on my chair. Then it's easy to work on when I'm sitting downstairs.

In the evening when Pete and I watch the news, I allow my fingers to remember what they have learned.

Thus, I spend time with Pete, it gives me something to occupy part of my attention (rather than the depressing news) and puts a few rows on whatever I'm knitting (without a deadline).

My current project is a cowl done up in light blue acrylic yarn. ("Ravelry: Autopilot pattern by Dominique Trad" https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/autopilot)

I'm really digging the way it looks... methinks I'll do this one again.

When I'm done with whatever I have made, it goes into a box to send to a friend, or bring to a church, or take to the local shelter.

My little knapsack doesn't take up much space in Pete's mancave and brings me much joy and allows my fingers to remember what they have learned.