9
Nov
2016

How to knit a sweater. This post is not about knitting. (Except in all the ways that it is).

Each Wednesday, I post a snapshot of the projects I’m working on, and where my brain is at.

Well-Traveled-Sweater-Neckline-DeathV

What do you write on a knitting/sewing/style blog the morning after a US election?

What do you write on a knitting/sewing/style blog the morning after this US election?

Part of me says “say nothing, put this post off till tomorrow. No one will notice you missed this Wednesday.”

But I highly doubt I’ll figure out what to say by waiting till tomorrow.

And today is Wednesday. And each Wednesday, for longer than this election cycle has been going on, I have posted “a snapshot of the projects I’m working on, and where my brain is at.”

I’ve posted on weeks when it was easy, and I had a lot to say. On weeks I had nothing to say. On weeks when I forget that I always have something to say. On weeks I was traveling. And on weeks when I pulled a post together on my phone, in a cafe, hoping the person I was meeting would be just a little bit late. I’ve been here every Wednesday for over two years.

So here we are today.

If there is one thing I know to be true, it’s that you can’t knit a sweater without knitting a sweater.

How to knit a sweater
Step 1: decide. prep. gather.
Step 2: start.
Step 3: continue.
Step 4: get interrupted.
Step 5: pick it back up.
Step 6: finish.

There is tremendous value in showing up.

Even when you’re not sure what to say. Even when you feel like you’ve been hit by a truck.

Show up. Be present. Invoke grace. Engage.
(It’s the only way to knit a sweater.)

A vital part of showing up is taking care of yourself.

Leaning into connection, support, trust, community.

No matter where that support comes from – friends, family, neighbors, your school, place of faith, community center, facebook, twitter, a 24/7 lifeline – you are never alone.

Call a lifeline if you need to.

 

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5 Responses

  1. Amy N.

    Thank you for posting today. And thank you for posting THIS today. Sending love and light, and prayers for peace and grace. To all of us.

  2. Laura

    Thank you. I will share your words (crediting you and your blog) with the knitters I know who are shocked and dismayed by this election.

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