Hang With The Best

I was recently reminded of the theory that we become the average of the five people we spend the most time with. I've been bouncing that thought around in my head for a a few now. What's bothering me is that we don't always have complete control over who those five people are: coworkers are sort of handed to us, the people in our household are sometimes inherited, and we have no control over who our neighbors are.

But in most other situations, we do choose who we spend time with. I occasionally forget that! I'll get an invitation and think I really "should" accept it. Or I'll stay too long in a group that used to be positive for me, but no longer is. I'm trying to do better on that front.

I think the easiest place for me to do better in this regard is to decide to knit (or crochet or...) only with people who inspire me. It's probably easiest because makers are more likely to be great company...and it may help that the act of working with our hands calms us down and helps us be our best selves. 

So, I'm choosing the low-hanging fruit first! I'll jump to something trickier soon (volunteer boards and committees? 😬. 

Spending time with my inspirational makers' group is a whole lot more fun if I'm not working on a sweater with three simultaneous cable patterns or counting my way through a colorwork chart. In fact, I keep a simple project in the works for exactly those times when my brain is not fully focused: watching the next season of Shrinking with my sweetheart, having a chatty coffee with a friend, attending a Zoom meeting where I am doing more listening than speaking, and certainly a regularly scheduled gathering of makers!

You, of course, get to pick what's calming and easy for you. It might be the above-the-ankle part of a sock. It might be the below-the-armpit part of a top-down sweater. For me, it is often a lowly (but practical) dishcloth.

In the photo, you'll see my favorite dishcloth yarns. On the left is Berroco's lovely Pima Soft---a DK weight that can be knit single stranded on US5/6 or double stranded on US9/10 needles. On the right is Blue Sky Fibers' Organic Cotton Worsted, which is heavenly on the hands (maybe better suited to spa cloths than dishcloths) and knits well on US8/9.

A classic pattern is this one, which starts at one corner and proceeds to a crescendo of stitches in the middle, then decreases to the opposite corner. It's free and your grandmother probably had a drawerful just like it.

Each skein will make at least two cloths, if you work with a single strand. The DK cloths will turn out a bit smaller, which suits me just fine!

I challenge you to be fairly picky about who you let into your inner circle. Their energy is affecting your energy. Their mindset is influencing your mindset. Do they make you laugh? When you're together, do you talk about ideas and dreams and adventures and memories or about other people? Can you ask their opinion and trust that the response will be thoughtful? 

When you curate your people---your besties in the truest sense of the word---enjoy every minute with them. And look for chances to spend increasing amounts your time together---whether in person or virtually. Because you're actually good for one another.

Warmly,

Gaby

P.S. I am surprised to see that we have a spot or two still available in this Saturday morning's knitting class:  Grafting and Picking Up Stitches. It's a popular one, so grab your spot quickly, if you're interested.

On-Going Opportunities:

Makers Mornings -- typically the 3rd Saturday of each month

Beginning Crochet Class -- usually once per month on a Thursday afternoon

Beginning Knit Class -- usually once per month on a Thursday afternoon