Another week in the bag and this one brought our first 90+ degree days. If this is a taste of what is to come…sigh. Honoré commented yesterday on my “summer sweater” and it not being very wearable in 90+ degree weather. And that would be true if it were wool, but it is linen and yes, I can and will wear it all summer long. Sorry I did not get a photo of it yesterday, but it was exactly what I hoped it would be! Light, airy, and so comfortable! I finally added my modifications to the project page if you are interested.
It was a week with lots of reflection and inward looking… and listening. So much listening. And that is where I am going to start this post.
Tune in —
- This list of Books, Films And Podcasts About Racism Is A Start, Not A Panacea
- Reflections on the Color of My Skin
And this is a fantastic 8 minutes and 33 seconds. Thanks, Casey Neistat!
Get Going —
Katie gave me the inspiration to cast on my Mystery Shawl. I did start. I am on Clue One. Clue Three is out. I am not stressing about being “behind” (okay, maybe a little especially when I have this list of things I want to knit and wear yet this summer!) what yarn? I am using Jill Draper’s Ansel in Forget Me Not 1 and 3. And this yarn… oh my. It is scrumptious. I just love woolen spun yarns… and this one is perfectly done.
And then Julia Farwell-Clay had this temptation this week! Oh boy. WANT!! I am planning on this to be the perfect August Knit, you know for those days when the constantly running AC makes the house feel like a deep freeze and a nice lap full of wool is just the thing you want!
Inspiration —
This year I have been spending time reading poetry. Each month I try and find a “new to me” poet and settle in with their words. It has been inspiring in ways that I never imagined. And these days poetry becomes more and more vital to my day. I am in awe of poetry writers and their ability to put their words and feelings on paper. I think it would be so much fun to take a poetry class… and perhaps a socially distanced poetry class!
Finally, open your eyes —
Yesterday’s episode on The Slowdown was brilliant, go listen… it will be the best 5 minutes of your day! (and it was the perfect thing to have listened to before seeing this:
“I can’t breathe.”
“I don’t care.”Six words that say so much. Because of cameras, the world is finally seeing in vivid detail the brutality that Black communities have known for generations. Derrick Scott’s family deserves justice. https://t.co/cetEZUWQTd
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) June 11, 2020
Yes, I see you. Yes, I care.
That’s it for the week, I hope I shared some things that will make you stop and think, some resources to help us all be better, and a little knitting… because sometimes it is the only think keeping me (somewhat) sane.
See you all back here next week!
Love the yarn for your mystery shawl – very soothing. Happy weekend Kat – hope you have a great one.
lovely blue yarn for a mystery project. Today the humidity is GONE! I’m not one for sweltering at all.
All things in their own time, even Mystery Shawls! I do love your colors, and have no doubts you will have a successful summer of making.
Poetry has become a lifeline and I immediately clicked on the Poetry Field School link. It’s a bit over my budget currently and the classes are full now, but I’m going to be keeping my eye out for an intro. course. A socially distanced poetry class would be awesome; thanks, Kat!
A memoir writing friend of mine just pushed herself outside of her box and did a virtual poetry writing class through Lighthouse in Denver. Classes are $60 for a 2-hr session throughout June. (They fill fast!) She loved it–especially writing the “How To” poems.
Thanks for those links Kat, much appreciated. Have a nice weekend, I’ve got 20 rows to go on clue 2!
That new sweater of Julia’s? Oh SWOON. (And who says you have to keep up with clues in a mystery knit???? Your knitting, your rules.) Have a great weekend, Kat.
(PS – Thanks for those mods. I have that yarn. I’m tempted to try one myself. Maybe someday. I have ENOUGH flirty-knititng going on this summer already. . . ) XO
Thank you for those links, they did make me stop and think, you are right, we all need to do that to better ourselves and our understanding.
That sweater is amazing, I want to knit it now!
I love your mystery shawl start. Don’t worry about “being behind” — there’s actually only two released clues so far. Monday will be clue #3. And even I finished the second clue in just one day, so you’re going to have no problem when you’re ready to get “caught up.” (And I agree with others – it’s all on your own schedule)
I know how overwhelming it is when you want to knit all the things and read all the books and sew everything. AND NOW – we all want to spend so much time thinking and writing and reading even more. I’m feeling the same way. When this happens to me, I have the tendency to withdraw. So I’m trying to just notice that I’m feeling overwhelmed, take a deep breath, remind myself that I’m human, and just keep going.
I hope your weekend treats you well.
Thank you for the Casey Neistat video. It was powerful.
Your mystery shawl is looking great! I am also working on it but wishing I bought the recommended yarn because the ones that are made with it are looking so lovely!
That mystery shawl is looking gorgeous. Such pretty colors of blue. Lots of food for thought here Kat. Thanks.