In the "Yijing" (Book of Changes), the fourth hexagram of the Qian hexagram, the hexagram 94 states: "Or leap into the abyss, and there is no harm." This hexagram is imbued with a sense of dynamic choice: the dragon stands at the edge of the abyss, facing a choice between leaping to the heavens or sinking back to the abyss's depths. It corresponds to the most pivotal period of decision and breakthrough in the career of a handmade dog sweater knitter.
At this point, the handmade worker has long emerged from the dormant stage of "the hidden dragon", passed through the initial stage of "the dragon seen in the field", and honed solid basic skills through "perseverance all day long". However, at this moment, despite having mastered the craft, one may encounter a subtle bottleneck: should one stick to the familiar comfort zone or take a bold step forward? This is the profound meaning of "or leap" - not to act rashly, but to dare to make mistakes; not to sink, but to have the courage to upgrade.
The wisdom of "soaring across the abyss" is embodied in every innovative attempt in hand knitting.
Historically, those who have mastered this art have made the choice to "leap" at crucial moments. Li Shizhen, a pharmacologist of the Ming Dynasty, was already a learned scholar before compiling the "Compendium of Materia Medica". However, he did not settle for the existing knowledge system. Instead, he chose to "leap" out of his comfort zone, traveled through mountains and fields, tasted hundreds of herbs, visited famous doctors, and completed a huge leap and breakthrough in knowledge between the vast classics and the real world. His "leap" was for the sake of truth and self-transcendence.
This is akin to a seasoned hand knitter. When you have mastered the art of hand knitting classic sweaters and have garnered a large following, should you continue to produce the same designs or venture into new stitching techniques, color combinations, and silhouettes? Should you embrace the challenge of intricate patterns you've never hand knitted before and explore fiber materials you've never encountered? This leap may bring failure, countless needle dismantling, and the risk of falling like a dragon leaping into the sky or slipping and falling into the water. But as the hexagram's text suggests, as long as you are moving in the right direction and proceeding cautiously, there will be "no blame." This kind of "leap" is not reckless, but rather a brave attempt to reach new heights, leveraging past accumulations.
This hexagram carries a particularly profound revelation for the hand knitter:
1. Dare to break out of your comfort zone
Don't get stuck in a rut just because your classic styles are selling well. The essence of life lies in constant breakthroughs. Try to tackle challenging diagrams and experiment with different hand knitting styles. Even if you're not perfect at first, the attempt itself is a leap forward.
2. Stay clear-headed when advancing and retreating
The character "OR" signifies choice. When circumstances change, or when one feels exhausted, it is important to know when to "sink back to the bottom of the abyss", recharge, and organize one's thoughts, rather than pushing forward. Being able to advance and retreat, to be active and quiet, is true wisdom.
3. Every attempt holds value
Whether it's "leaping" to new heights or "gathering strength" in the depths, both are part of growth. There's no need to fret over temporary setbacks; they are merely preparations for a better takeoff next time.
Hand-knitting is a dialogue with wool, and also a dialogue with oneself. In the stage of "leaping or diving into the abyss", may we all maintain that sharpness and courage. When it's time to delve deeply, we should immerse ourselves; when it's time to make a breakthrough, we should leap forward. What we knit is a unique dog sweater; what we achieve is a more enriched and composed self.
Post time: Apr-14-2026