Not So Basic

What’s a skill you consider basic, that most people don’t actually know how to do?

I wasn’t going to answer this question today. But the thing I was going to post in its place is better for tomorrow. So I’m coming back to it because I actually need your help with something related to this. Stay tuned…

This question was initially hard to answer because I think all of the skills I have that I consider basic, lots of other people know how to do. For example, I can drive a stick shift car. But more people than not probably know how to do that. Come to think of it, I haven’t driven a stick shift car in a really long time. I’m sure I’d remember how. People say it’s one of those things that’s like riding a bike. You never forget. I almost bought a stick shift car when I was in the market for my Kia. Kind of glad I didn’t get one though because there are some intense hills with red lights at the top of them in my city and the roll back before acceleration when the light turned green always gave me anxiety.

But now let me circle around to something that is maybe not so basic, but probably fewer people know how to do than the number who can drive a manual transmission car. I’m talking about knitting and crocheting. Those skills are just super easy for me. Granted, they weren’t always. Especially knitting. SO many failed projects. I learned to crochet when I was 8 or so years old, so I’m good enough now to wear I really don’t need a pattern for making stuff. Just show me a picture, and I can replicate it. I can also write patterns for crochet. Knitting, not so much. I think knitting is a lot more complicated than crochet, but still the basic stitches are super easy.

Now here’s where I need your help. I have a short-sleeved sweater/t-shirt that I’m making and will be done with at some point soon. I’m already itching to make another sweater after this. It’s going to be very basic. No fancy stitches, cables, or design elements. Just a loose, baggy, long-sleeved sweater that I can put over a collared shirt and wear to work. The question is, which yarn should I use to make it?

First up is this ginormous cake of yarn. It’s 2,187 yards and was a gift to myself after I finished my first year of grad school in 2023. It’s almost as big as my head:

Or…should I use this set of mini-skeins that I bought in the form of a Barbie-themed Advent calendar the year that movie came out, which Google tells me was also 2023.

I just don’t know which one I’d like to use. Logic says I could always make two sweaters…and the yarn certainly isn’t going anywhere.

Please comment with your opinion…mega ball of yarn or Barbie themed yarn?