Knitting Handicrafts
Before we get tangled up in grammar, let's introduce some vocabulary for a relaxing hobby: knitting. To say you are knitting, you can use the verb dziergać, often done on knitting needles (na drutach) using yarn (włóczka).
| I like knitting on needles with this yarn. | Lubię dziergać na drutach z tej włóczki. |
| Are you really knitting this handicraft yourself? | Czyżbyś sam dziergał to rękodzieło? |
The Preposition "mimo" with Pronouns
The preposition mimo (or its longer form pomimo) means "despite." Usually, this preposition requires the following noun to be in the Genitive case.
However, there is a very common exception. When mimo is followed by the pronouns to (this/it) or wszystko (everything), they take the Accusative (Biernik) case instead.
This creates two fixed, everyday phrases that function similarly to "nevertheless" or "regardless":
- mimo to (despite this)
- mimo wszystko (despite everything)
Despite This (mimo to)
Knitting a complex sweater often involves mistakes, like losing a stitch (zgubić oczko) or ending up with uneven work (nierówny). You might be tempted to unravel it (pruć), but sometimes you just keep going.
| The sweater is uneven, but despite this I am not unraveling it. | Sweter jest nierówny, ale mimo to go nie pruję. |
| The yarn got tangled, but despite this I finished this handicraft. | Włóczka się zaplątała, ale mimo to skończyłam to rękodzieło. |
Despite Everything (mimo wszystko)
When things go completely wrong—for instance, when a whole skein (motek) gets tangled (zaplątać się) or you make a knot (supeł)—you can use mimo wszystko to express pushing through the struggle.
| I made a knot, but despite everything I keep knitting. | Zrobiłem supeł, ale mimo wszystko dziergam dalej. |
| I see a knot, but despite everything I am not unraveling the sweater. | Widzę supeł, ale mimo wszystko nie pruję swetra. |
Even with numerous mistakes, completing a handicraft is a reason to be proud!
| I made a lot of mistakes on the needles, but despite this I finished this complicated sweater and I am proud. | Robiłam dużo błędów na drutach, ale mimo to skończyłam ten skomplikowany sweter i jestem dumna. |
