Be the Change, But Hold Onto Something
"In this life we're all just climbing up the mountain. We can sing as we hike or complain about our sore feet. But, whatever we choose, we still have to do the trek. So I decided a long time ago singing made a lot more sense."
Dear One,
My brain has been coming back to that old quote that reminds us the only true constant in life is change. I guess I'm feeling like things are changing more than normal in my world. You?
Much of this change is positive in nature. I'm working with my fellow Yarnologists to find ways to be on the shop floor less (without completely giving up the joy of being there), I'm figuring out some new ways of getting enough exercise that don't aggravate a cranky left hip, and I get to work with a small team of brilliant craftspeople who are about to re-create the facade of our building in Winona.
Some of us are navigating some less positive changes. I know my hubs is adapting to the realization that his parents now need company on their appointments--even when they don't really want it. And can we all agree that parenting is just a continuous series of adaptive changes (even when your kiddos are long gone from your home)? Some changes that are sold to us as purely positive (retirement, falling in love, buying a home) are secretly a mixed bag of happiness and sheer terror...but it feels somehow inappropriate to acknowledge the scary parts.
When the most notable constant in my life feels like a whole lot of change, I find myself craving something steady and consistent to hold onto: dear friends, my rock of a partner, the fact that the laundry will never quite be all done, and a solid, steady, non-challenging piece of knitting or crochet.
Along those lines, may I introduce to you the Broken Garter Scarf from Purl Soho. It is the golden retriever of projects--loyal, steady, demanding almost nothing of you. And yet, it's quietly gorgeous.
The pattern calls for 554 yards of Sport Weight yarn and a US 5 knitting needle. But make it yours. Use up all of those partial skeins of DK or Fingering left over from...something. If you scroll through the projects on Ravelry, you'll see beautiful examples knit in Bulky and Worsted, too. Just change the needle size to fit the yarn and settle in.
The pattern is free, so my brain leaps to "I can treat myself to a fabulous yarn". Not logical, but true nonetheless. Fabulous doesn't need to mean costly, though. My thoughts are running to lovely Saona by WoolDreamers. It's a blend of merino and cotton which is "supposed" to be a Fingering, but we're finding it knits beautifully as a Sport Weight. Just three skeins...
Yes, change is necessary...and often good in the long run. But everything in moderation. May you find something yarny to hold onto when the winds of change blow a bit too strongly to suit you.
Cheers,
Gaby
