Knitting as an art practice ~ Sophie Navarro

I have explored knitting and it has completely transformed my life. I enjoy how it has helped me slow down. I love the possibilities in figuring out what to create. I started out creating swatches to understand the process of the garter stitch and slowly learned how to do the knit stitch. The process took many months of learning that I had to learn the hard lessons. Knitting on the right size needle, counting your stitches, looking at scarf patterns, watching countless videos on purling and then pulling out stitches. There were many projects that I’d start but didn’t finish. It took so much time, patience, determination, classes at my local yarn shop, and reaching out to friends who also love to knit. I still create art, paint, and draw. I have a fascination in growing as an artist. I have learned that when you allow yourself time to learn a new skill or craft, it opens you up in new ways to look at patterns. I like the technical and tactile feeling of yarn. I love challenging myself from one project to the next. Each time I say, oh I don’t know if I could make that, I just pause, check in with a friend to see if someone can help me or I look it up online. I just dive right into the discomfort of the unknown. It’s quite amazing. I would surprise myself with each stitch. I allowed myself to grow and stay patient. It truly ended up transforming how I look at life. There are so many possibilities to create something new and beautiful. You never know how a project will turn out or if it ends up becoming anything. However, my focus became the process and the journey. Now, after 2 years, I am starting to create scarves, hats, and fingerless gloves. I am inspired by all of my discoveries!

Thursday, February 17th, 2022

This has been an incredible week! I have been getting to do some exciting and creative work within my job. I am finding that I have been waking up with more passion each day due to the inspiration I have at work. I am working with positive and incredible people. I have been wearing a variety of hats lately. I get to create new opportunities to work with new people with the UO Steering Committee. We are raising money for the UO Governor’s Employee Food Drive. It has been giving me opportunities to be creative in marketing, social media, art, and collaborating with others. I am so grateful I put myself out there even if at first I felt uncertain about the process and how the outcome would be. However, as I am diving into the process, I keep growing and learning new skills. I get to communicate in new ways. I get to stretch myself creatively and contintue to see how I impact my community on a deeper level. It gives me a new way to express myself. I am looking forward to all the new opportunities around the corner! Here are a few images down below I have had the opportunity to create in efforts to raise more money for Food For Lane County! Feeling very inspired!