“Handcrafts have served as my path to enlightenment, the vehicle for my shamanic journey, the way I discover who I am and make progress toward knowing how to care for myself as well as for others, my consolation in times of unbearable stress.” – Susan Gordon Lydon, Knitting Heaven and Earth
Dear friend,
I hope, with all my heart, that this newsletter finds you well.
It’s been an incredibly stressful few months with the on-going Covid-19 pandemic. And the events of this week in the US have been appalling and extremely upsetting. It is absolutely reasonable that you might not be OK.
Not being “OK” would be a totally normal response to what is going on right now.
So please, if you are not ok, make sure to reach out – to friends and family, to professionals if you need to. You are not alone.
I encourage you to make extra time for self-care. Give yourself permission to rest and restore.
Pick up your knitting, and let it soothe and comfort you.
May you find consolation during these times of unbearable stress.
Peace, Love, & Knit Om…
Becky
:: Knitting – Wellness – Conscious Living ::
Don’t Knit to This – Mason-Dixon Knitting
An important letter about the atrocities committed this week in the US, written by Ann and Kay that I hope you will take a moment to read. Though It is not about knitting, it is an issue that affects us all as humans and as a community. I have a hunch that the majority of my readers are white. As white humans, we have a duty to use our privilege to stand up against racism, hate, and intolerance. Included in this article are some great educational resources to help you get informed.
Bluprint to Close Doors “Over the Next Few Months”
If you haven’t already heard, Bluprint (formerly known as Craftsy), will be closing its doors in the coming months. As you may know, I have been a fan and subscriber of this platform for many years. I have actively recommended it as a place to expand your knitting knowledge and learn from some of the best knitting instructors out there. Note: Today is the last day you can purchase individual classes, patterns, and supplies. See their website for more information (affiliate)
Adventures in Medknitation – Interweave
Meditation is a great way to manage the stress and anxiety related to the Covid-19 pandemic and other upsetting current events. Author, yoga instructor and creator of Medknitation, Suzan Colón, teaches people how to meditate using their knitting or crochet. Interweave staff decided to give medknitation a try, with varying levels of success.
Learning to Knit as an Adult: An Article Roundup – Interweave
For adults, rewiring the brain to learn something new is so difficult, but so good for us. The unique challenges of learning to knit as an adult require patience and often humour to overcome, but the reward is a lifelong companion in the form of craft. Enjoy this selection of articles from the Interweave archive that will hopefully inspire you to be a life-long learner!
Mending: An Ancient Craft for Modern Times
Mending was trending long before the shelter-in-place orders changed the way we go about our days. But today, as a result of COVID-19 quarantines, retail clothing sales in the U.S. are down by more than 50 percent, while DIY basics like clothing repair have become covetable knowledge. With the fast-fashion machine on hiatus, could this be mending’s big moment?
Still Growing: Three Pathways to Successful Aging | Psychology Today
While experts differ, most would agree that the key elements of successful ageing are “life satisfaction, longevity, freedom from disability, mastery and growth, active engagement with life, and independence.” In this article, the author describes three pathways to successful ageing – Active Aging, Productive Aging, and Conscious Aging. How does this related to Knit Om, you may ask? Everything! Read the article, and remember knitting is very much related to self-care, stress reduction, relationships, community, contribution and meaning, spirituality, creativity and mindfulness!
Who Gets to Call Themselves a Crafter? — The Craft Sessions
This is a post about judgement – self-judgement and judgement from others. It’s about the stories we have about who is deemed to be worthy of using a title. It’s about our personal stories around worthiness and our cultural stories. It is permission to call yourself “a knitter” an “artist,” or whatever you want to call yourself, whether you are a beginner or a master. Be you, unapologetically!
Free Downloadable Virtual Meeting Backgrounds – KnitPicks Blog
Jazz up your Zoom meetings with these free yarn-related backdrops. Instructions for how to use them are included in the post!
:: Techniques & Tips ::
Working Gauge vs Finished Gauge: What’s the difference?
Did you know that there are two kinds of gauge swatches and the numbers in your pattern are based on only one of them?
If you’ve ever knit a gauge swatch, and then discovered that your finished garment still didn’t work out to the size you want, you may be using the wrong information from your swatch. Not to worry! In this article, Tabetha Hedrick from Sweet Georgia Yarns explains the difference between a Working Gauge and a Finished Gauge and how you can use this information to make garments that fit perfectly every time!
:: Pattern Inspiration ::
Pixel Stitch Socks by Purl Soho
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Sparkler Scarf or Stole by Susan Rainey
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:: Final Thoughts ::
Full disclosure: This email contains affiliate links. All this means is if you make a purchase using one of my links, I will receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
I hope you enjoyed this week’s newsletter.
Please share it with friends and family if you think they would enjoy it too!
With gratitude,
Always,
Becky x