The advancement in handmade pet sweater knitting inevitably involves the test of the hexagram Tun, line Two. The hexagram text states: "Tun is like being in a dilemma, riding a horse in formation. It is not a matter of being attacked or engaged in marriage; the woman remains chaste and does not marry until ten years have passed." This image of a hesitant horseman on the road aptly represents our predicament after starting the knitting but before entering the main body of the work—it's not that there are no needles to use, but rather that we must discern truth from falsehood and maintain our original intention amidst the chaos.
"Tunru zhanru, chengma banru" describes a state of struggling to advance and wandering left and right. When knitting, if we rush to change threads or add patterns at the beginning, or get entangled by popular styles from the outside world, we will fall into this kind of "banru" chaos. The same goes for starting a business and opening a studio. When orders pour in but there is a lack of skilled craftsmen and stable customer sources, we are like riding a horse that keeps circling and cannot move forward, caught in a dilemma. The difficulty of the 2nd day lies in "chenggang" - when yin meets yang at the beginning of the ninth day, the balance of power is disrupted and there are many constraints. For us, it is like starting out with resource constraints, having a direction in mind but struggling to move forward.
"Bandits and merchants seeking to marry" represents the wisdom of discerning the false and preserving the true. The seemingly conflicting terms "bandits" and "merchants" actually signify "marriage" that hides opportunities. In knitting, some people advise you to reduce materials and workmanship for faster production, while others promote inferior yarns to cut costs quickly. These seemingly "profitable" temptations are actually "bandits"; whereas adhering to high-quality yarns, preserving traditional stitching techniques, and creating fine handmade products align with your original intention, representing the "marriage" that resonates with your heart. In life, it is also important to distinguish between the real and the false, not to be blinded by vanity, and not to trade craftsmanship for short-term profits.
"A woman's virtue remains uncompromised until she marries, and only then does she compromise," represents the perseverance of adhering to principles and waiting for the right time. "Virtuous" signifies the original intention of maintaining orderly stitches and uncompromising quality, while "marriage" represents the achievement of turning a work into a finished garment and establishing a good reputation. The hexagram with the hexagram of the lower hexagram in the sixth and second positions is in the center of the hexagram of the earthquake, and although it is in a difficult situation, it corresponds to the hexagram of the ninth and fifth positions. This is just like our fate with customers who truly understand handmade craftsmanship and aesthetics. Although it requires the test of time, we will eventually meet.
Historically, Tao Yuanming refused to bow to the pressure of material gain, resigned from his official position, and lived a reclusive life in the countryside, adhering to his principles and integrity, ultimately becoming a noble scholar of enduring fame. Su Shi, despite a tumultuous life and repeated demotions, always adhered to his original aspiration of "living through life with a straw raincoat," waiting for his time with a broad-minded attitude, and ultimately became a literary giant. For handmade workers, "perseverance" means immersing oneself in needlework, refining styles, and not rushing to achieve success; "ten years to master" means trading time for reputation, making every piece stand up to scrutiny, and ensuring the longevity of the handmade journey.
The needle pauses, the yarn flows with ease and tension, and everything progresses in its own time. May we be like the hexagram Tun 62, discerning truth from falsehood amidst complexity, maintaining integrity in the face of difficulties. Using the needle as a medium and time as a ladder, through long waiting and polishing, let craftsmanship blossom, let the work become exquisite, and knit a lasting prosperity that belongs to the handmade artisan.
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Post time: Apr-22-2026