Knitting What I Want

2007-05-26T10:37:00.000Z

Things are coming together with the controller – last night and this morning I knitted the four big grey buttons on the top of the controller and the two moving knobbles, operated by the thumbs. I have attached all but one of the knobbles and so far it’s looking really good. I’ve also painted the poles which will go around the plinth and done the finger knitting in dark red wool which will hang between them. I just hope that when I go to screw the hooks into the poles later that I don’t ruin the paintwork.
I’m just about to start making a blog with all the patterns on, finally! Having knitted those extra little pieces for the controller this morning, that should be all the knitting bits done now and so they should be complete patterns. It’s more than likely going to take much longer than I’ve anticipated so just keep your eyes on it. The address will be; http://www.knit-what-i-want-patterns.blogspot.com

2007-05-24T09:26:00.001Z

I HAVE JUST CHANGED THE SETTINGS SO ANYONE CAN NOW COMMENT ON THIS BLOG, YOU NEED NOT BE A MEMBER! EVERYONE PLEASE COMMENT!!!

2007-05-24T08:52:00.000Z

After a quick trip to a DIY store last night, I have the materials for making my little rope barrier which will go around my plinth. Because of a combination of time and money I bought 4 banister railings and a piece of chipboard and my lovely boyfriend is going to turn them into 4 fancy looking posts today and then I’ll paint them black. I’ve decided not to cover them in knitting because I want them to look slick and because then it wouldn’t make sense as to why I hadn’t knitted the plinth. I’m still going to knit the red rope though because that will just be quirky and should not distract attention away from the Playstation.
I found some amazing silver/mirror effect bias binding in the local craft shop which is going to be perfect for the detail I was talking about and I may use it for the lettering too – I’m going to test whether it will work today. I also looked for some dark red wool because the piece of finger knitting I already have is more like pillar box red. However, the craft shop only had “Ruby” wool which was too pink so I’m going to try and pop to the market later because they’re usually pretty good for wool.

2007-05-23T15:15:00.000Z

Today I feel like I’m on “The Apprentice” and that I’m project manager and our task is to produce a degree show and if it doesn’t all go smoothly I’m the one that’s going to get dragged into the boardroom and get fired! However, I am slowly coming to realize through the course of the day that actually my work is fine and will be polished for the show and if other people’s work isn’t then I shouldn’t worry about it to the extent that I am.
I’ve finished knitting the controller! Horray! I finished all the knitting yesterday and then today I have sewn it all together. I have also pinned the cover of the Playstation on a bit better because on some of the corners it wasn’t sitting properly. I’m now just printing off a template of the writing “P L A Y S T A T I O N 3” which is on the front of the console so I can start with the embroidery now. I also need to pop into a fabric shop on the way home to try and find some silver or mirrored fabric as there is a small strip of mirrored plastic on the Playstation which I think would look better done in fabric rather than embroidery.
I think I have solved the touch display issue too. I’m going to use some barriers but I’m going to knit them as I realized that knitting up a rope can be done with finger knitting which takes no time at all, and in fact I think I’ve already got a rope of red finger knitting. I think for the posts – actually, haven’t quite decided what will be best for the posts yet. I’d like to cover them in knitting too but time is the issue with that. Hmmm, I’ll have to think about that for a bit longer.

2007-05-22T08:45:00.000Z

I’ve managed to knit a bit more of the controller now. I started with two sections from the top, to cover the two circular areas where all the buttons are – it was very tricky to get right and took about 4 attempts but once I’d figured it out, knitting an identical one for the other side was straightforward. Now I’m working on a funny triangular shaped piece which will wrap around the middle of the controller then I think I’ll move on to the 2 handle pieces.
I’ve been thinking about the issue of touch for when it is exhibited next week for the assessment and the week after for the public show. I don’t want to use glass cases because I want the temptation to still exist and for people to have to resist and restrain their desire to touch; like I have to restrain my desire to buy all the things I want, else I would be very poor! However, I’m not sure if this same approach should apply to the PS3 because I haven’t had to resist buying one as I don’t want one. I think instead I’m commenting on the impulsiveness and greediness within us all and the prestige we attach to having the newest gadget or gismo. Is having a new PS3 in our lives what we should value and care about or if we were made to stop and think about it (by having to knit one perhaps) would we realise that’s not what we should value? I believe the latter, so with the work I want to make the viewer stop, think and contemplate. Right, got that clear! I’m going to show the item on a plinth, under a spotlight and I know from when I showed previously in a Thursday Show that this type of lighting will help in delaying the viewer’s initial impulse to touch. Then I was thinking about having “Please Do Not Touch” signs; not a barrier but a clear indication not to give in to the desire. However, here’s what I’m worried about – I’m pretty sure that the odd person will touch and I guess that’s unavoidable and actually part of the discourse but then if other viewer’s decide to follow this lead I’m worried it could get out of control with everyone touching it, perhaps even picking it up – and I definitely do not want that, more so because the item could get damaged and it would destroy the whole aesthetic of the piece. So I was thinking about having an Usher next to the item, to over see things and act as an authority. But then I worry about whether people will listen to them! Any thoughts or suggestions, please email me; kimberleyelderton@hotmail.com

2007-05-19T12:58:00.000Z

I’ve finished painting the plinth and it has a top too now – it’s looking very smart indeed!

2007-05-17T16:42:00.000Z

Today I have made my plinth for the PS3 to go on when it is exhibited as part of the assessment show and the public show on the 9th June. I shall soon be posting an invitation on here to all of you who read the blog but to find out more information go to www.artistsontherun.co.uk. This is our group website and has the details of the show plus all our statements.
I lied actually, because I haven’t quite finished the plinth as I need to buy a top for it tomorrow but once I’ve done that and fixed it on it’ll just need painting, which I might ask one of the helpers to do so as I can get on with knitting the controller. My brother has emailed me the pictures now too so I can start the embroidery too – it’s all systems go!

2007-05-15T12:38:00.000Z

Unfortunately my brother has been busy and so I haven't had the photos from him to work from so I resorted to looking on the internet for photos. I typed in "Playstation 3 Controller" into Google images and I got two different types of controller at first, but after reading a few reviews I found out that one was a prototype which was actually dropped before final production and they have kept the same style of controller as was used for the other Playstations. From the photos I have made a cardboard mock-up which I plan to use as a frame like I did for the console itself. I started the knitting for it yesterday but due to the shape it is a lot more complicated than the console. I have divided it into sections and started with what I thought was the easiest section though it has still taken several attempts but I think I’m on the right track with it now. It’s definitely going to be a fiddly job!

2007-05-10T13:48:00.000Z

The Playstation has a finished jumper! All the knitting for the console is finished and it's all sewn together and fitted round the frame. Lots of people have been asking if I'm going to make a controller which I hadn't considered but it seems a popular and logical idea so I think I will. It will also be a very tactile object, because of what it is and because of the medium of knitting so I'm going to consider allowing touch - it's a tricky issue because I was precious about the other items so did not want touch but because I don't actually want a PS3, should I be so precious? On the other hand, disallowing touch on such a tactile object may reinforce the barrier between what we want and what we can have.
My very kind brother is gong to send me lots of pictures from all different angles of the controller and the button details which I still have to embroider onto the console - pretty excited to have actually finished knitting the console mind you :)

2007-05-05T10:15:00.000Z

Things are going pretty well at the moment. It's only three weeks to go until everything has to be up for the degree show but I feel like it's under control. I've decided that I'm going to show my PS3 for my degree show rather than a book of patterns which I was thinking about. This is because I've spent so much time on the PS3 it does deserve to be shown properly and although sometimes I feel otherwise, it is a progression from the other items, even the abandoned ones. Even though I don't actually want a PS3, I have knitted it in reaction to all the hype surrounding it and the fact that it was and is a wanted item by many people; this was a progression from realising through knitting the other items that I actually don't want very much. I think I want to make the title for the piece some reference to the cost of an actual PS3 and the cost of mine and that I've probably had just as many hours of fun making it as people have had playing on theirs since it's release a couple of months ago. It's coming along pretty well - only a couple more small sections to knit and the whole shell is now stuffed and covering in silver gaffa tape. Take a look at the Flickr page because I uploaded some more pictures the other day.
I found out the other day that I've been posted on a couple of other blogs; whipup.net and the CRAFT magazine blog, so if you've just started to read this blog having linked from there then hello!
Hmm, what else to update... I showed the three abandoned Knitted pieces yesterday in the Time Based Foyer at Uni and they're still up at the moment and I will keep them up as long as possible next week, so if you're around in Uni then come take a look. The three pieces are the camera lens from the camcorder, half a bikini top from wanting a holiday, and the knitted "A" as part of Knitted success. I called the work "Abandoned Knits" as for all of the items; the longevity of the desire < the full length of the knitting process - and so each were given up as I decided I no longer wanted them or didn't want them enough. I suppose in the second case it would be true: the depth of the desire for the object < the depth of the desire to knit for that long. Or something like that.

2007-04-24T10:08:00.000Z

Right, today I shall definitely do some knitting for the PS3 - really must other wise it's just getting silly.

2007-04-19T12:56:00.000Z

Hmmm, don't you hate that feeling when one moment it's the beginning of the week and the next it's already Thursday!?! Am back in Cardiff now but still not properly picked the knitting needles back up again. If I still want to finish the PS3 before term re-starts I'm going to be knitting solidly through the night for the next 3-4 days. I do however still feel productive as I have instead been writing job applications and viewing houses for when my contract ends in a month or so. All I need now is money to secure the house - it's a shame I can't knit some real money so it would actually be useful!

2007-04-10T13:47:00.000Z

A late Happy Easter to all my blog readers! I have been at home with my parents since the 2nd April and unfortunately our pc at home doesn't like logging on to Blogger, hence the lack of updates last week. I haven't actually been doing much knitting though and have instead been clearing my room ready for when I have to move out in June and catching up with old friends and family. It's actually been very refreshing to not be thinking about knitting and what it is that I want. I had reached a point where I was becoming uninterested and uninspired by my work which is never a nice feeling. I think having a break, even though it's only been a week, has helped and will spur me on to be more productive for the rest of this week and next.

2007-03-30T10:42:00.000Z

I heard back from Welsh Artist of the Year and unfortunately the ipod didn't make it into the exhibition. But on the plus side, I now have it back and so I will be able to figure out the pattern and hopefully publish that soon, either on here or on paper or both.
I wasn't feeling very well yesterday and so I didn't come into Uni to continue knitting the PS3; instead I stayed home and sorted out my entry in the Wonderwool Wales competition. This is a competition for items made from 75% welsh wool and the winning entries will be displayed at the Smallholders festival in Powys in May. I've entered my leg knitted web which is a piece I made before Christmas. More information can be read about it on my website and because it's separate from this project I'm only going to put the new photo's I've taken of it onto the flickr page. Go take a look.

2007-03-27T10:56:00.000Z

I knitted for most of the day yesterday and have been knitting all morning today - and so far I've made two of the faces for the PS3. I've decided to knit in black, although the console is also available in white and silver. I've also decided to use rib stitch because I think it looks a bit neater than garter and just makes it a bit different from the other objects. I'm hoping to upload some initial pictures soon.

2007-03-23T11:34:00.000Z

Well, I am writing this having failed to make a PS3 by midnight last night - it was fairly obvious once I started that it was going to take a lot longer especially seeing as I want to write the pattern for it as I'm going along, so there will be a fair amount of trial and error. I'm going to start the knitting today having made a cardboard frame and figured out the basic net.
When I told people yesterday that I was going to knit a PS3 their response was "But do you want a PS3?" - and I don't but I'd failed to explain to them my change in direction slightly: to knit what everyone else wants. Maybe this process will actually help me realise what I want? The PS3 wasn't one of the items on the "British Shopping Basket" list but I was just absolutely amazed that people would be queueing for it for over 12 hours, and the price is absolutely extortionate! It just really makes me question where people's priorities lie with their money and with their time - £460 is approximately how much one of these machines costs and it's essentially just for watching films and playing games! This is no doubt an object which a lot of people want, but I really don't - hopefully by knitting one I can highlight the sheer absurdity of putting so much prestige onto a games console!

2007-03-22T13:42:00.000Z

I've decided that my afternoon's mission is to try and knit myself a Playstation 3 by midnight tonight, that way I'll be the first one in the country to own one! I'm not quite sure how long it will take but we'll see. I was inspired to do this when I heard on the radio this morning that people were queueing outside shops from this morning to get theirs at midnight - honestly, do people have nothing else to do? Have we gone mad? I hope knitting one will highlight this madness somewhat!

2007-03-21T11:20:00.000Z

The CAT show is over, it went really well but I still haven't re-made my studio space in Uni because I know I'll lug everything back in only to have to lug it all back in a couple of weeks. I probably will bring some things in within the next couple of days but for the moment I'm doing paperwork and research stuff instead. Yesterday I worked at home and went to have a browse round the charity shop at the end of the road which was a good thing because I found some really cheap black wool - one very useful colour which I've been missing! Also, I was listening to the radio most of the day and I heard that the National Office of Statistics published the "British shopping basket" yesterday, something they do every year which is basically a list of the top items we buy as a nation, everything from vegetables to hair straighteners. Anyway, this inspired me because I thought it could be a good way out of the predicament I'm in - Question: How do you knit what you want when you don't want anything? One possible answer: Knit what everybody else wants (is this what I should want?) If you want to view the overview of the basket go to http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/bas0307.pdf

2007-03-13T10:41:00.000Z

Today I don't really have any drive to do any knitting. It's because the Cardiff Art in Time show is happening for the rest of this week which wil be exciting but means I'm not really going to have much time for knitting and so I'm reluctant to start any because I know I won't be able to fully get my teeth into it. I'm also really uninspired to carry on with the bikini and the holiday idea, which is because "the holiday" is not actually a tangible object I'd ever be able to knit, I can only knit things which allude to it. I had a phone conversation last night with Freddie Robins and she had thought similar about the holiday idea, and that the other objects worked better. We were talking about modes of display and I was discussing how I want there to be that barrier which prevents the audience from feeling that they have complete access to the objects and how various people had suggested glass cases as a method of achieving this. Freddie Robins suggested that if the objects were only to exist in pattern form then this would really be stressed, especially if there weren't even a photograph but perhaps just a drawing or impression of how the finished item may look. This would inforce the point about self sufficiency and that you are only allowed the object if you've given the time to make it. The more I think about it, it is this notion of self sufficiency linked with working to fulfil ones own desires which is the central theme to the practice.

2007-03-12T13:14:00.000Z

I looked up some different definitions of "want" and "desire" on Wikipedia on Friday, which has helped inspire a few ideas. It talked about having a "thirst" for something and about "wants" in terms of economics and the necessity to find alternatives because our wants are not always possible. It also went into great depth about some Buddhist thought on "wants" - I'm not sure any of this information will inspire me to knit anything particular but it's definitely helping me to clarify what I'm doing and why I'm doing it.
I had another email from the UK Hand Knitting Association today about getting involved in "The Great British Picknit" which sounds very exciting. It's their new project which will tour the ICHF shows over the next two years, growing in size as it goes and inspiring people to knit what they want - they wanted to know if I had any patterns which may be suitable for a picnic and so I may be getting involved with that which will be an exciting opportunity.
Also today, I'm uploading the pictures of the work I showed at Uni last week, onto my Flickr page so take a look.

2007-03-07T11:27:00.000Z

Uggg, I feel all full of cold today :( I knitted a bit more of my bikini yesterday as part of a knitted holiday so I almost have a complete top now. Mind you, I'm not going to modelling it any time soon cos stripping down to a bikini isn't going to help my cold much!
My Dad popped in last night and we were talking about the project and the blog. He was talking more about why I desire these things and maybe it is less to do with greed and more to do with status and prestige - which is interesting. After all, I did choose to knit an ipod as opposed to any other mp3 player. We were also talking about how it's made me realise how little we need and how little I want and so is about self sufficiency. I was saying that I want some new clothes but if I was to knit them it wouldn't be subverting the medium at all - no-one would wonder "what's she getting at?" and thus people may not question their own needs and desires quite so much.
I don't think they'll be any knitting today although I was planning to start the "think talking" - however, being full of this cold I think I might loose my voice if I was to attempt that today. I think the only knitting I'll do today may be to finish off my housemate's leg warmer which I've been meaning to finish since Christmas.

2007-03-06T15:21:00.000Z

I will post some pictures from the documentation of the show soon - at the moment the computer doesn't want to talk to the camera for some reason!

2007-03-06T15:03:00.000Z

Oooops, has been a while since I last posted. Showing my work as part of the Thursday Show went really well. I got lots of good feedback but again, I need to clarify which particualr discourse the work is about because several came up in conversation. I think it's mainly concerned with desire and linked with that, greed. One suggestion which a lot of people made was to put the items in glass cases to reinforce the reflection of the museum context and also to act as a barrier to reinforce the fact that the audience can't have the items - playing with the nature of desire. This is obviously a reflection in itself about me not having the items due to lack of money. However, I want there to remain a heavy element of choice and temptation and so I'm not convinced about going with the idea of glass cases. Someone I know of at the moment isn't paying bills and rent due to apparent lack of money but yet this same person goes out clubbing at least twice a week. In the same way, I say I can't afford an ipod but if i didn't pay my rent or if I didn't choose to own a car I could - so there's that element of choice and temptation to indulge oneself which I want to keep within the work.
Lots of people were asking whether there's one big thing that I really really want and why I haven't knitted that but I've discovered through this process that there's nothing I can think of that I desperately want. In this respect the practice has been quite theraputic and has shown me how little we all actually need and how greedy we can become especially when things are made for us. It's also made me more appreciative and I hope it has others too.
One last comment which stuck with me which I think will be interesting to watch as the project continues is how my desire might change, more so over a longer period of time. This might include eventually having children and how my desires will probably then be for things for them. An interesting point and one which I think is already developing as I realise how little I want.

2007-02-28T11:47:00.000Z

Well yesterday afternoon I did actually manage to do some knitting but only for the little pockets which I wanted on my posters to hold the flyers. Still, at least it's knitting! I've just had a tutorial and we discussed all sorts of things to do with the project. My main theme seems to be desire but I actually need to clarify this before I can confidently say that this is the main thread. One way I'm going to try and do this is similar to automatic writing, but basically to think out loud and record myself. The hope is that words, phrases, themes etc will emerge in this which will help me to clarify the meaning the work has, or the meaning I want it to have. At the moment my brain seems to spread in all sorts of directions when I try to describe what the work means or what it's about, so hopefully this will help that.

2007-02-27T10:42:00.000Z

Please look at the Flickr account for all the photos, but the new ones at the top of the page were set up and taken last week as I experimented with how to show the work. I'm hoping to display the items on plinths when I show the work this Thursday and as of today, I am going to blitz the Uni campus with advertising - so hopefully some of you reading this are doing so because of that :)
I really am quite precious about the items because I put a lot of time and effort into knitting them and so I really want to discourage touch. I realise that the lighting I am planning to use (like that used in the photos) could look quite theatrical and staged but then hopefully this will have the desired effect of discouraging touch. I'm going to make little plaques too, though have yet to decide whether to have just information about the items on them or whether to include quotes from this blog.
I also think it's probably necessary to set up a monitor with this blog on as I suppose it's unrealistic to expect everyone to have looked at it previously. Anyway, I'd best crack on as I need to get these posters and flyers up, and then hopefully this afternoon I'll be able to get back to some actual knitting.

2007-02-26T10:45:00.000Z

I'm having second thoughts about the camcorder now. On Friday I got to thinking about whether I actually want a camcorder or whether it's only because of circumstance. The desire for the camcorder is based more on practicality rather than greed like the previous two items. So for the moment it's on hold and I've started knitting a bikini as part of "Wanting a holiday".
I'm going to show the ipod and the profiteroles this week in our "Thursday Show" (the weekly critique within the Time Based department at Uni) but I'm apprehensive because I don't think people will appreciate just how long I've spent working on these two very small items. Knitting is usually portable and one of the most cited benefits of knitting is it's ability to be carried out alongside other activities (watching tv, listening to music, chatting etc). However, I am designing the patterns as I go along which includes a large amount of trial and error, therefore I need to concentrate quite hard which makes it quite impractical to knit whilst doing anything else and therefore I'm perhaps not as productive as hard core experienced knitters.

2007-02-23T12:30:00.000Z

I've opened a Flickr photo account to complement this blog (thanks Geraldine from BHKC for the tip!). To look at more photos and in better quality and as a slide show etc, check it out at www.flickr.com/photos/knit-what-i-want

2007-02-21T12:25:00.000Z

Yippee! The profiteroles are finished and even if I do say so myself, they look good enough to eat :) I finished them on Monday but had problems uploading the pictures yesterday. I can't decide if I prefer them stacked up or laid out next to the squiggle of chocolate sauce. I have been strong willed and not bought anymore - I think the satisfaction of finishing the knitted ones was enough excitement.
So now it's onto a camcorder. As part of the Fine Art degree I'm currently completing, we have to use video as a method of documenting our work and it always gets to a point in the term where the camcorders we can borrow from the department are in high demand, so it really would be handy to have my own. Hence I'm knitting it! I asked my tutor's advice on which camcorder to get and he recommended a Sony Z1, but having done a little bit of internet research I've decided on a Canon XL2. Partly because I've used Canon's before and like the ease of use and the quality and partly because aesthetically, it will be more interesting to knit because it's not all black. I started yesterday with a lot of calculations, and have begun knitting the lens part of the camera. This item is going to take a lot longer than the ipod and the profiteroles because of the size so I may start up another project alongside - the classic knitting trait of having more than one project going at a time.
The length of time it takes to knit the camcorder will hopefully be fitting to the longevity of the desire for the object. Investing in a camcorder would not, for me, be a whimsical decision such as it was to buy profiteroles. The conflict between the depth of the desire and the time it takes to make the object should hopefully remain balanced with knitting the camcorder and therefore it could be considered the most successful object so far. We'll see.

2007-02-19T10:44:00.000Z

It seems that as the weeks pass I feel less and less productive despite being busier and busier! The weekend consisted of a wasted journey to North Wales and two days of work (my part-time shop job) and so the profiteroles remain unfinished :( Hopefully today they will be finished. There are only a few dollops of cream and chocolate to add and there's only one left which needs to be sewn together. Then the research shall begin in earnest this afternoon into which video camera I want to knit myself.
I have entered the knitted ipod into the Welsh Artist of the Year competition which will be exhibited at St Davids Hall, Cardiff, this summer. I have put the asking price at £166 as, according to my research, the better model of the ipod nano (and of course I'd want the better one as it has a larger storage capacity) started at $249 when new, which converts to roughly £166. I'll have to wait about a month to find out whether or not I've been accepted for the exhibition.

2007-02-16T11:17:00.000Z

Ok, first posting! I decided the first thing I wanted was an ipod! It took me about a week to knit it and it was fairly simple. The main body was folded over with a piece of card used in the middle for stability, the headphones were knitted like small bobbles and the cord was just a one stitch strand of knitting. The screen was also fairly easy but the dial took a few attemtps and still ended up a little larger than would have been ideal. All the tiny detail such as buttons and pictures on the screen was finished off with embroidery.
Just before the ipod was finished I made a list of things that I wanted - everything from a holiday in the sun to a banofee pie! The next item(s) which struck a cord (I must've been hungry at the time) was Profiteroles. These are still under construction but hopefully I'll finish them today. As you can see from the pictures above all the sections are made they just need assembling and the chocolate and the cream needs to be added. I was thinking about having cream splurting from a few as well as dribbled over the finished mound. The profiteroles have taken me longer than the ipod but that's due to other University commitments and trips. I really want to finish the profiteroles this week other wise they're just not time efficient really. I actually reached a point last week where I'd been working on them so consistently and for such a long time that I gave in to temptation and bought a pack from the supermarket on the way home - not really the idea but an interesting outcome! I hope it doesn't work in the same way when I go back to knitting more expensive items - or rather, it can't work in the same way when I go back to knitting more expensive items because I can't afford them!