I’ve been thinking a lot about knitting and geekery and knitting geekery (expect more on that in future posts) lately, and one of the things I’ve noticed once again is the propensity for knitters and gamers or computer geeks to couple up.

Which is making me ponder one question (Okay, two questions, but how I can find myself a geek probably isn’t something this blog can answer.) and that is–why? What is it about knitters and geeks that goes together like peanut butter and jelly?

I’ve seen some theories floating around–both are indoor hobbies, both tend to be slightly obsessive, and it’s possible for two people to sit around engaged in their respective hobbies, and still have a conversation. All good things.

But I think, it’s actually because craftiness and geekiness are more similar than one might think. As I’ve begun trying to figure out more of the technical side of computers (as opposed to the ooh–internet! SHINY! side), I’ve noticed similarities.

It’s about creating things, and deconstructing–or unventing, per Elizabeth Zimmerman, for the knitters–them. Taking something, looking at it, figuring out the logic behind it and how to improve it. And it’s not perfect. You try new things, they fail, you try something else, you make changes to suit your needs. And in the end you have something that may be similar–or very nearly identical–to something else, but that is still uniquely your own.

And that? Is pretty damn cool.