Happy belated #knits

Hi Knit Friends, 

I’ve been slacking lately. My knit enjoyment has been down. I’ve finally settled on the shawl project to make my aunt. She is so special to me and I hate that her partner my uncle is gone. Grief is such a nasty beast. I only feel a fraction that my aunt must feel. It so unfair. I called my aunt on her birthday to wish her well. I could sense in her tone a faraway wish that he would be there with her.

I will say it’s a pattern from one of my favorite designers. It has a chart that I am diligently following. My increases are sort of yucky so I’m unknitting from time to time. Friends what’s on your needles? 

Knit with meaning

Hi Knit Friends,

I thought I would feel differently by now, but grief is a damn bitch. I am extremely grateful for my LYS. Accepting my strangeness and allowing me just to soak up the knit atmosphere. Laughs were hard to come by in the early days, but in my recent trip I started opening up. Opening up to me means laughing and BSing with my regular friends. Occasionally my thoughts drift to my uncle, but he wouldn’t want me to stay I unhappy for long. In addition to my curious dog Eddie. He can snatch a skein in under 3 seconds. He keeps my company when I knit so I guess I can overlook the occasional skein thief.

K N I T T I N G update

I started working on 2 new projects that are giving me joy. A hat called Check This Out! Hat and a pair of socks for a friend (not pictured).

I’m in a dilemma with knitting a gift for my aunt. She chose the pattern and I already can’t stand it. Part of me is fighting it with its 210+ cast-on. I should have known it wasn’t going to be easy. I love that at least the yarn is yummy Malabrigo Rios, but I have to ripe it out because it was a Mobius cast-on by accident. Both are textured, but one grow outwardly (Alicia Plummer’s MidAutumn) and the other is built in the round (photo by Tricotbec- Brookstone). I don’t have time to play around as her birthday is the first week of February.

 

In another topic: Work update

I am please to announce I’ll be starting a new job at a local university. It only took me five years to aquire a job in the same state I reside. It will be a positive shift where I can really take care of my home and make it more welcoming. I slowing telling a couple of people I work with case I don’t want a big fuss. The funny thing is that my old director is organizing a Luncheon for my departure from the city. I love the people at my old job, but loss motivation. It took me a good year to start looking. As a fellow knitter should remind myself that if the pattern isn’t meshing then it time to get a new project. What’s on your needles, friends?

2017 Intentions

Good morning Knit Friends,

I do not feel like my normal chippery self, but life must go on. I lived most of 2016 with intention. I define intention as action behind words. An example of intention in 2016 is that I went to a library conference and managed to present in two different segments. My confidence in research and having a professional presence both were achieved. I even managed to utilized Twitter at the conference and while watching Super Soul Sunday. That was the biggest surprise when I saw that I was re-twitted. 

In 2016, I honored my intention my making a cabled hat. It was scary, but I made it through. It had a good home for a knit friend.

In 2017, I have more knit plans:

1. Finish 4 WIPs. One sock, two shawls, one hat, 
2. Schedule 2 knit sessions for cabling
3. Start first sweater by Nora Gaughan called Mohr 
4. Make 3 socks for me

In non-knitting goals:

1. Complete book chapter by providing research and analysis
2. Complete research for local symposium conference
3. Attend a library conference in August
4. Attend a professional football and college basketball game
5. Have fun even if things don’t turn out the way I want it to.
6. Read 10 books, most are non fiction (the list is at work)

Lastly allow myself to grieve through writing and talking with friends. Listen to music more and allow for silence whenever things become too much. My uncle was like Mr. Miyagi from Karate Kid. He always asked a question when I’d ask him something as a little kid. I can almost hear his voice saying “Do not give up Grasshopper, I’m with you always”. 

Still here… amongst #knitters

Hi Knit Friends, 

Special thanks goes out to my LYS friends whose presence was an antidote for my grief. I remember studying Elizabeth Kúber Ross in undergrad. I wasn’t interested in what she thought then, but now it makes some sort of sense. The stages of grief. I’m still angry and resentful. I truly to be myself, but the loss of my uncle who was my shining light isn’t physically here with me. Advice for grief that isn’t helpful… “It gets better with time”. This makes me angry. For the bereaved time is like poison. I’m still not myself, but made it a point to be around others for the sake of having normalcy. 

KNITTING UPDATE

I haven’t done too much. I want to finish this test knit that is beyond due. A dear knit friend showed me a fabulous hat batter with chunky yarn. It’s mean green for a dear friend. I working on another Kate Davies hat and bought some fabulous colors from Tempting Ewe Yarns. 

#Knitting through it

I decided to start a series of small projects to at least get me through my flight home. Doing service by knitting for someone else is my way of grieving and it’s for a worthy cause. I’m knitting Standing Rock hats for the activist. Details for the mailing address are on the Ravelry page here.

#Knitcircle gift

WARNING: POSSIBLE TRIGGER ABOUT DEATH. 

Hi Knit Friends, in the knitting world, crafters are privy to some of the most heart wrenching and endearing moments when they enter a knitting circle. 2016 has been a challenging year. I have gained a better perspective, taken more risks, and experienced a great loss. In my knitting circle, I am never disappointed because I always leave a little lighter.

I had a heartwarming chat with a new knit friend (Named V34). This is my first experience with a major death in my family. Only in a knit circle could one find sage advice. V34 shared her story of dealing with the loss of her husband. I was able to listen to her share and figure out how best to show up for my aunt. Several helpful things that I took from the talk was to let my aunt know that I am available for her, let our family grieve as they see fit, and to be of service for the bereaved. Even before his death, I had often come to the knit circle to vent or listen to fellow knitters. Knitting has become a way for me to focus my nervous energy. I would probably be bald from twisting my hair if I didn’t have knitting. I was working on Wheat Fields (picture above), but in my grief screwed up the sequence of lace. Just as life we can choose to handle things in certain ways. I chose to just leave the error because to an untrained eye the shawl has character. Perhaps a year ago, I’d rip out the large lace sequence- but not I’m just riding it out because my uncle lived his life with ease and humor. Rest easy Uncle.

Knit Gift-along 2016

Hi Knit Friends,

Today I am trying to find ways to be grateful. It’s still hard to believe that my uncle is no longer with me. Last night, I watched the football game in his honor- quite fitting that the Raiders managed to beat Houston. No surprise to my uncle as I’m sure he probably had his hands in making it happen. Or maybe it’s the kid in my that has yet to let him go.

The last two years I have participated in Ravelry’s Giftalong. It a tradition that I hold to as I love to support small businesses. Each year over 300+ designers get together and select several items to sale at a discounted rate. I am doing my part in sharing this wonderful opportunity to all my knit friends

Here is the direct link for over 300+ designers participating in Indie Gift-along

Here is the link that I used to craft my collage: Collage Maker: Be Funky

Below is a lovely selection that I have chosen to purchase.

Passport Mitts	Check This Out! Hat	Birdcage
Skookum (hat)	Free space	Tacit (mitts)
Compass Shawl	Luicida (hat)	After Party (blanket)

 

 **this list reads from left to right. here’s a list of details for the Indie Design Knitalong. Discount (up to 25% off) designs begin today Nov 22,2016 to Nov 30, 2016. 

Friends what are you making for the holidays?