Blogging, etc., etc., etc.,

The following is a comment that I just made on The Knitty Gritty for her post asking the question: Has blogging about knitting (or just blogging in general) enhanced your knitting? If blogging has been a benefit to
your knitting, how? If not, why? I thought that it was an interesting enough post that I am copying and entering my comment below. Proceed as you wish.


Oh yes, I guess I am not the only 'can-opener' around. There are plenty others waiting and ready to let all those worms out and free! - WARNING: the following rantings are just one person's beliefs and should not be misconstrued as anyone elses. Also, said person (me) respects any and all opposing views/beliefs. You have been duly warned. You may now continue.


Blogging?, I think that it has helped me, not so much in improving my knitting per se, but moreso in exposing me to what others are doing and how to stretch and challenge myself. I feel more 'connected' to what is going on in the knitting world and not allowing myself to get pigeon holed into just one aspect or type of knitting/knitting experience.

I blog and read others blog to enrich my SELF. Would I like to see more traffic on my blog? Well, duh! There is always that child in us that wants acceptance and love and to 'fit in and belong'. Do I feel the rush of excitement when I get notified that somebody 'out there' has commented on my blog? Well, I would be silly to even think of denying that for the same reasons I noted above. However, that said, I still blog. I blog b/c of the (few) but precious friends I have acquired through blogging. I blog b/c I feel a bit more focused in my knitting and myself when I do. I blog to keep up with what's going and to make myself vulnerable to rejection b/c only in doing so do you have the opportunity of being accepted. I blog to keep track of what I am doing, going through, experiencing.

To blog is to keep fresh and new. To blog is to write things down and then let them go. To blog is to smile with, cry with, share with, and vent with others who may (or may not) have a word of encouragement or advice.

Should people blog? That's a personal question. I think that there are probably phases to blogging (much like a marriage) for anyone who blogs. E.g. The honeymoon phase when the world is your oyster and everything is good and right. The "what the heck was I thinking" phase when you can't believe you even started the whole thing. The "well, this isn't what I dreamed of but it's not all that bad phase" when you get slighted and embarrassed at your naivetee (sp?) about what this would really be like. The "I'm in love all over again phase" where you get re-energized and focused on what is at hand. Etc, etc, etc, . . . . .

The bottom line is that blogging is a different experience to different people and to make things that much more complex, it is a different experience at different times for each individual blogger.

However we all look at thisphenomena, one can never and should never judge oneself (or ones blog) by how popular they/it are/is or by how many friends/visitors they/it have/has (say THAT three times fast!). Do for you and your blog what you and your blog want/need. Quality not quantity should be the goal. No visitors? What the heck, be proud of what you write and accomplish and enjoy the fact that it is all out there for anyONE who may enjoy it.