Addicted to knitting.

A few days ago I was playing this game with myself to make the mundane housework a bit funner; empty the dishwasher - knit a row, hang out the washing - knit a row, chop up some vegies - knit a row... You get the picture? It just made it all a bit more fun. Knitting was my reward for all the other bits.

Then all of a sudden it occurred to me that I wanted to knit more than I wanted to do anything else right then.

Was I addicted to knitting?

So I asked Mr Google and I found these symptoms of addiction.

• Tolerance - the need to engage in the addictive behaviour more and more to get the desired effect. Yep! I probably don't need to but I definitely want to.
• Withdrawal happens when the person does not...engage in the activity...Don't try to hide my knitting needles from me or you'll see withdrawal!
• Difficulty cutting down or controlling addictive behaviour. Don't wanna - not gonna.
• Social, occupational or recreational activities becoming more focused around the addiction...Yep! If I can knit, I'm there.
• The person becoming preoccupied with the addiction, spending a lot of time on planning, engaging in...addictive behaviour. Hmmm Ravelry, I have you to blame for that one.

I could also add to that list: spending money on feeding your addiction (patterns, yarn, needles). And staying up at night planning for your addiction (if I knit that for her with that yarn in that colour...)

Please don't get me wrong. I am in no way belittling the seriousness of addiction and addictive behaviour and symptoms, I am just slightly amused and slightly scared of how easily our craft behaviour can slot into these definitions.

When Bren told me that he was going to be spending some time with a friend of his with a baby this weekend, I straight away started going through patterns and yarns to knit her up a beanie. Any excuse really.

Unfortunately, this Bear Beanie turned out enormous and so was claimed by Miss Pepper. It was quick and fun to make and was the first time I had used four double pointed needles. Details here.

You guessed it, I'm off to cast on a smaller size for the baby.

Have a fabulous weekend. X