Present Joys

Remember how I said I was going to make a bunch of sweaters? That’s how this whole thing started, after all. I love this collegiate sweater I made and I wanted to make more.

I bought a knitting machine at the very end of january. I’d wanted one for a long time, so that was great. At the time, I tentatively planned to use the machine to produce some unknown quantity of sweaters.

Much of february was consumed with another intensive project. That’s not to say I’m trying to pass the buck; only that I didn’t put much time practicing with the knitting machine or familiarizing myself with large-scale production techniques. Despite my lack of productivity, by the end of february I’d done some patternmaking research and produced a fairly detailed plan of the sized garments I hoped to make.

By the beginning of march, I’d started to realize how little time I actually had; if I was going to produce sweaters all my myself using my own knitting machine, I’d have to get my act together fast. I had my yarn supplier make me six pounds of yarn according to some vague specs. Last week, I went and picked up the yarn. This past weekend, I started trying to create production-ready sample garments with the yarn, and everything completely fell apart.

As I began knitting, the crushing weight of my overambitious planning fell on me like a load of bricks, and my stress level increased 200% in an instant. Who am I kidding? This yarn is not what I wanted! There’s no way I’ll be able to make more than two or three of these things in a month’s time! This machine is a total drag! Everything is terrible!

So I’m going to restructure my project a little bit. Instead of foolishly thinking I’m going to actually make tens or hundreds of finished garments myself, I need to outsource production to a serious knitting mill. Instead of planning to deliver sweaters by the thesis exhibition on may 1, I’m going to do a Kickstarter-style project. I’ll create a few prototype sweaters beforehand and use the thesis exhibition as an opportunity to get people excited about the project.

Instead of putting all my time into hastily producing a bunch of sweaters in the next few weeks, I’m going to focus on three things:

• finding a great knitting mill to collaborate with
• developing my overall brand (“CCAD is Ours”) and creating a compelling brand story—getting people excited about the idea of this brand; finding ways to conceptually tie all my products together; advertising my offerings effectively
• designing an engaging exhibition experience for the thesis show

I should have been more realistic about the sweaters. If I’d spent a little more time thinking, I’d have realized how unrealistic my original goals were. Perhaps I am being over-dramatic. Either way, I think things are back on the right track. I’ve got a lot of work to do.

What’s next?

Thankfully, all my eggs are not in this sweater basket; I’ve been conducting interviews and curating photography for that “CCAD family scrapbook”, and even if the rest of my project is a complete wreck, I think the book will turn out okay. I’d love to have these books printed and bound and ready to sell in person at the thesis show on may 1, so I’m working hard to finish the book and to find a good printer.

I’ll also be working to complete the few prototype sweaters. Once I have these, I’ll be able to shoot some promo photography. I will also be working to maintain healthy sleep schedule!

Stay tuned for more mental breakdowns and progress.