Knitting and watching

Published on by Juliann6 Comments

My design wall is not very inspiring at the moment so I thought I would share some knitting and watching.

I have been wanting to knit this sweater for a long time. I had the yarn in my stash but kept putting it off. The yarn is from a farm “close” to me. I happened to be in a yarn store when Sarah had a pop up shop and I fell in love with the natural colors. I have been following lambing season on Sarah’s IG – very fun but also so much love and labor on the part of lambs and humans.

I have been watching some lovely knitting and gardening podcasts while I work on this sweater. First up is Marion’s garden channel. She started to revive her garden last year and it has my garden brain so inspired. And I am enjoying the calm Sunday knitting time with The Cornish Knitter – like having a friend over to knit and chat. Finally, Sherry Iris is doing an embroidered nature journal which feels like a meditation practice.

Also on the needles – a very yellow sock and a bright pink shawl to remind me to look outside as the primroses and daffodils put on their early spring show.

I hope you are finding joy and calm in your making these days.

Design “wall” Wednesday #9

Published on by Juliann12 Comments

This week I have my back to the design wall because it is holding a project that is not ready to share. And I am taking a break from that project to do a bit of ironing and enjoy the sunshine. When I stand at my ironing board, I often think of my mother. She spent so much time with her iron and board in those days before permanent press. One day, I commented that it seemed like a boring task but she told me that she really enjoyed ironing because it was time to be rooted, fairly still in front of the board, and a time let her mind wander. I have always loved natural fibers (especially linen) so I too spend a fair amount of time with my iron and I have to agree, the warmth of the steam as it presses the fabrics can be very meditative.

This brought to mind a book I have been reading, Everyday Sacred by Sue Bender. In this book, she tells the story of a begging bowl – “All I knew about a begging bowl was that each day a monk goes out with his empty bowl in his hands. Whatever is placed in the bowl will be his nourishment for the day.” She begins to ask herself a simple question, what do I need in my bowl. Isn’t that a lovely way to frame our days?

So that is what I am thinking about as we head into a new month – what do I need in my bowl this day, and then the next, not trying to think too far ahead because that is where the flurry of busy-ness begins to make the beauty of each day fall away.