Regarding knitting while stressed or grieving, I heard a great thought to consider from Roxanne Richardson. If you know you typically associate the memories of whatever is going on in your life while you knit with the item you are knitting, consider knitting items to be gifted during times of stress or grief. You might not end up wanting to wear or use the item once it is finished and this way it gets used and you bring someone else joy.
for mindless stress knitting I love endless tubes of sock yarn I knit until I run out of yarn and then start another skein. Later when my mind has more capacity to work I cut the tubes and add cuffs, toes and heels. When my Mom was ill at the end of her life my sisters and I took turns staying with her. We sorted through her stash and found countless Mittens without thumbs and hats that only needed the crowns finished. We finished those and also had Mom pick out wool and we would start a hat ribbing. Once the ribbing was done my Mom would knit away and then we would finish the crowns. We all felt comfort with the wool being made into stitches on our fingers and when siblings and their children came to visit they would rummage through a bag of knits while Mom beamed proudly at our round robin knitting work. At the very end Mom couldn't knit anymore but would pick out colors and wind up balls of yarn for us to knit and crochet with.
I learned to invest in my learning time when I first started gardening. Nothing is worse than slaving over the garden bed and learning to grow something, then finding it for dirt cheap in the grocery store. I started growing vegetables that I couldn’t get in the store, or things like parsnips that were crazy expensive. It made me more invested in my learning, and it made, the end result so much more rewarding. When I started to learn to knit, I looked for yarn, colorways and patterns that made me happy to use my time and gave me a fully unique and “quality” item.
I had a rough year and I found myself looking for knits that gave me the opportunity for a lot of straight knitting, meaning it was a lot of in the round knitting - sweater body, socks, hats. Or a favourite simple shawl. If I'm stressed, I don't want to on top of that put something that is going to take a lot of brain power. Hope your family members have a speedy recovery!
When I am going through a stressful time, I love to whip out dish cloths! Quick finishes mean instant gratification, and you can pick out a whole bunch of colors that bring you joy-- no need to coordinate them for a larger project. They're easy to take with you if you need to go to the hospital, and don't take up too much mental space either. My go-to is the Traditional Dishcloth by Staci Perry, but I also love any of the cloths designed by The Kitchen Sink Shop! I think Kitchen Sink shop has several themed collections of dish cloth patterns-- literary themed, dessert themed, they're ALL great. There's a wide variety of styles (lace, cable, knit/purl relief) so you can choose what you have the mental space for. I hope this is helpful! Sorry my comment was so long, haha!
I knit Chinese Waves dish cloths whenever I need mindless knitting. For slightly less mindless but still easy - Pebble Arch Shawl uses a single skein of sock yarn for a nice sized everyday neckwarmer for when other shawls are too big. And Jason's Cashmere Hat is quick and easy for gifts - reasonably easy cables and really nice crown decreases that maintain the pattern. At the moment I have both a dish cloth and a shawl on the needles - what I work on depends on the type of "joy" I need when I reach in my knitting bag! The shawl is my new favorite for everyday and the hats are my go-to-gift for almost everyone that needs cold-weather gear.
I am a spindle and wheel spinner and I completely relate to the fiber stash I am intimidated to spin. I have been spinning almost 15 years and I managed to buy Qiviut fiber and a peduncle silk to blend it with...I havent touched it in a year. 😅 I think my New Years resolution is to roll up my sleeves and do it. Thank you for the courage and encouragement to tackle the special stuff.
Hi Andrea! I got into support spinning this year as well and I just want to say, when using natural wooden tipped spindles, always use a wooden support bowl. Same with metal tipped or ball bearing spindles, use ceramic or metal plated bowls for those! I hope you continue to love support spinning! 🥰
My comfort knit go to is the Free your Fade shawl. I have knit several and wear them all! My most recent FO will be a gift for my dear sister-in-law who was admiring the yarn while I knit. Won't she be surprised!I
Agree about the DRK everyday cowl being a good option! Also, the shift cowl, I have made many of these and that seems to be my go to feel good pattern ❤
I am working on my tesselated socks right now. Two at a time. I am using two yarn bowls with all three balls in each bowl. I have been doing the rotate thing. The only issue has been the fuzzy yarn because it is to sticky. I always two at a time because I can guarantee both socks get done and are the same size. I am just about to finish the patterning and getting ready to do the toes. Love the pattern. I think if I had the time I would have been able to finish these in four days but it was pretty busy last week.
hi I think choosing peace is always the best option, venting to us is good because we really care. I would offer to come help you clean and pack but it's a 26 hour flight... your new design sounds exciting. sending virtual hugs.
Indeed - TAAT on the Totally Tessellated Sock KAL did slow me down. I really thought I could manage all those little balls but not so much in a car traveling. One tip was when I got home - putting all the little balls on the table really helped speed it up and minimize the ‘tangle’.
I’ve knit probably 12 pairs of DRK everyday socks they are a go to pattern for me. The I think any of the DRK everyday patterns are very soothing, I’ve also made the sweater and cowl.
Omg! Yes! When I first learned spinning, I tried with Corri like everyone suggested, but it was SO slippery and long. It wasn't until I spun with Jacob that I fell in love with spinning
I second the vote for the Musselburgh hat as a relaxing knit. Once you are through the cast on, which is a bit finicky, it's a wonderful meditative stockinette in the round project and you can use any yarn weight as you figure out your gauge after you get going and follow the pattern based on your gauge. I also love the Inclinations cowl and the DRK Everyday cowl, really lovely patterns and you could do them all in one color if you don't want to manage multiple yarn balls. Last vote is the Watch Cap Hat by Purl Soho, a 2x2 rib hat, free pattern, and it's easily adaptable to either DK weight or worsted as I've done it in both.
Agreed! I found the staple length to be difficult with corriedale, but that was largely because I wasn't understanding stable length so I was both holding it with one hand and pulling against that with the other hand. My thumb on my pulling hand was so sore, then I finally got it and allow myself to pull longer working with the stable length and all the pain went away. I naturally pull about 2 inches. p.s. Still on stock one of my Tessellated socks, still loving it, and still not in a hurry. :) p.s.s. I generally spin on my wheel 30 mins a day year around.
Agree with Inclinations being a very repetitive (relaxing) knit. I did the shawl in sport weight (Spincycle mill ends and leftovers) but almost any weight would work, just keep going until you are happy with the size 😊
I just finished a Harlow worsted hat for my mom. It was my first time making the hat but won't certainly be my last. It was such a joy to knit and super quick to make.
West Knits Boneyard shawl is real joy knitting, super simple and really lovely outcome. Other one would be PetiteKnit Sophie scarf which is also great for gift knitting. ❤
I just did the DRK Everday sock pattern on a car trip - I will forever grab that pattern when I am unsure what to work on or need something easy or portable. It’s so easy to follow, very satisfying and a family member or I can ALWAYS use more wool socks! Thank you for making sock knitting so accessible!
Honestly I loved knitting the cinnabar shawl, colour changing simple brioche and garter made for and easily memorisable pattern that was still interesting to work on
Oh my goodness! Thank you so much for your tutorial on using life lines for heels! Been knitting for years (and some pretty complicated patterns at that!) but always afraid to try socks. Your DRK Everyday Socks will be my first project after the holidays. You are absolutely inspirational!
I love your sweater and thank you for the afterthought heel video. I am about to make my first ever after thought heels, so this is so timely for me. Yay. ❤❤❤
I remember taking sweaters to the dry cleaners decades ago, but I have had too many garments ruined at the dry cleaners to ever trust them with something handknit. Everything seems to get very dry and “crunchy,” if not shrunk or stretched. Not worth the risk for me.
