Finding Peace

Today I want to revisit just why I call my blog Knitting in the Apocalypse.  In my very first ever post Knitting In the Apocalypse I discussed this in detail.  But I want to touch on it again briefly.  I find knitting and other artistic and creative expressions to be not only satisfying for their own sakes, but they are also very important to me as acts of self-care and healthy outlets when I am facing stresses or challenges.  The things that we all face personally are challenging to us.  These are the “small a” apocalypses, only because they impact fewer people.

But there are the larger events, the “big A” apocalypses. These are the ones that happen on a larger, sometimes global scale.

In spite of the name of this blog, I like to keep this a safe space, it is more about what I do to stay in a good, happy, and centered place and less about what issues are causing me concern.  Yes, there are large issues at play.  Yes, I feel strongly about them.  Yes, I do take action as I’m able that reflect my convictions and values.  But in the current climate I feel there is enough screaming going on, so on this blog, I just want to talk about yarn, knitting, chickens and all the good and happy things.  I want there be a place, however briefly, of calm in this spot on the web.

I cannot, however, fail to acknowledge the big A events without seeming apathetic. This is not a word that describes me.

This week, like most people, I have been following the developments related to North Korea.  No matter where you fall on the Left-Right political spectrum the potential for dangerous, even disastrous outcomes here is something that will concern most reasonable people.  Hard on its heels were the events in Charlottetown ,VA.

Before I continue on about the things I am doing, the projects I have finished or begun, and share with you the pictures of my newest hand-dyed yarns I would like to say this:

Every now and then turn off the news and spend time on the things that keep you in that good place.  There are few things most of us can do that will impact the unfolding events.  However, we can build into ourselves strength and resiliency so that we can face and affect how our circle of friends and family, our communities, and cultures continue to grow and move forward.

As for me, I will make more time for making, even if the housework waits another day.  I will sit by the campfire and leave my phone inside.  I will go out and laugh at the antics of my chickens. I will read stories to my grandson.  I will discuss storyline scenarios with my son. I will talk to my daughter and share her excitement about her upcoming wedding.

I encourage you to do the same.  Need some alone time to meditate?  Need to just go out with friends and just have fun?  Need to plant something? Make something? Get lost in a book or entertaining movie?  Do it.  You will come back better able to face whatever things you still need to face.  Build your own peace and strength. It will serve you well to have it in good supply.

Ok, now, enough with Apocalypse portion of this blog, on to the Knitting portion.

This week I have an FO!  For those unfamiliar with knitting (and other crafty) lingo that stands for Finished Object.  I have completed the Hitchhiker Shawl I have been making for a friend.  I still have have to weave in the ends, but there are only two, so not too painful.  I was able to use  some lovely Malabrigo Rios that I picked up at a recent sale.  It is a tonal green with subtle touches of light browns and yellows and it is just beautiful.  I had originally started it as a Christmas gift but there are a couple of problems.

One, I am not good at all about waiting to give a gift once it is completed.  I get so excited to give it I rarely wait for the event it for which it was intended.

Two, I like Christmas just fine, but Autumn (!) is my favorite time of year and since most of the things I make are hand knitted items made of wool, well, they make great Celebrate Autumn gifts.  In this way the recipient can enjoy them as soon as the weather reaches appropriate temperatures.

I have a good amount of leftover yarn and I am most likely going to knit some fingerless gloves from it.

I am still working on the pair of  Hermione’s Everyday Socks that I began this past week, but I had to pull them out and begin again.  As I was working on the cuff of the first sock it seemed a bit too big for me.  I had cast on the required number according to the pattern, but I felt they needed to be smaller.  As I looked through the pattern I didn’t see what number of stitches I could decrease and still maintain the pattern.  But serendipitously I was watching an older episode of Inside Number 23, “Orange on the Brain (39) to be exact, and she mentioned she was working on this same pattern.  Just like me she mentioned she needed to decrease the size and as she discussed how she was adjusting it I learned that sets of 4 were how I could decrease on this pattern.  So I am going to reduce my cast on stitches and begin again.

The bright side is not only do I now know this information and have added it to the printed pattern for future reference, but I’m getting quite good at the German Twisted Cast on method since I’ve had to practice is quite a bit during this process.

It seems very fitting that I am currently reading the Harry Potter series for the very first time (I know, I know. lame!).  So it seems especially enjoyable to work on a pattern related to the characters I’m reading about.

As I have made a habit of in the last few posts I will leave you with these shots of my most recent skeins of yarn coming out of my kitchen.

and my first attempt at repeating a colorway and the only one posted today with a name:

Dark and Twisty Road

Peace,

Jamye

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