Stuff is hard right now, as I’ve mentioned. However, it seems like whenever I’m getting too down on myself, something happens to help me change my focus. Sometimes it’s a blog post that really strikes a chord for me, or a knitting group meetup, or getting a really cool free pattern or something. It often comes from my fiber community, local or virtual.
Today, it was this:
Envelope is facedown to protect the innocent
I was just sitting down to have a cup of half cocoa, half coffee, thinking about whatever random negative noise was in my head, and thought I would check the mail. I found an envelope and recognized the name on the return address right away. Here, you can open it with me:
In case you can’t tell, that’s yarn in there! To be specific, handspun yarn made of merino, silk and cashmere. It’s 168 yards of soft, squooshy, subtly sparkly yarn that I “won” from the Passport Mitts KAL. I’m putting won in quotes because it’s a random number situation, not one where I actually did anything above and beyond. Just got lucky! The colors are tonal and muted and remind me very much of the beach near my family at the Gulf of Mexico–soft pinks and purples like the coquinas and beautiful blue of the sky, all tied together with the color of pale sand. It makes me warm just looking at it.
To boot, Carol included a lovely thank you card. Honestly, I didn’t do anything–I just showed up and knit! She organized the KAL and came up with the lovely prizes (and wrote the pattern). I’ve done nothing but benefit.
This is why knitting is my saving grace right now. I’m not just sitting alone in a vacuum making pointless motions. I’m creating things in the context of many, many others, and we’re all intertwined if only just a little bit. The fiber world just keeps giving me things–yarn and patterns, but also love and support. I’m trying to revel in it as much as I can so that I can turn around and do the same for others. Thank you!
Stop by Carol’s ravelry group and/or her blog, knit = joy to learn of upcoming patterns and events. There might be a really cool hat in the pipelines 🙂
Very, very happy knitting!
alexand knits 
Wow, that yarn looks DELICIOUS. Knitting (and fellow knitters) help with the dark days.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That yarn is absolutely fabulous!! May it bring you happiness the entire time you are knitting it. (May I suggest mitts…)
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a lovely treat! Enjoy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love, love, love that beautiful yarn 🙂 Big hugs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congrats! Are you participating in the mini Christmas swap? I totally missed the sign up since I took a week off the laptop. It’s all good though since I have much to do. Sorry you’ve been surrounded with gray clouds. Glad you have support to help you get some sunshine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am! I have a ton to do, as well, but I’m going to squeeze it in somehow.
LikeLike
I ❤ this post! So well-written! Do you mind if I repost it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
WordPress is acting weird and I can’t see your comment here–but I saw it on my email. Thank you and yes of course!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very nice!
LikeLike
Winning yarn drawings is still definitely a win. I have to admit I’ve gotten kind of addicted to blog giveaways for that reason. I’ve actually started keeping a spreadsheet, and I’ve won about 4% of those I’ve entered in the past year. MUCH better than a lottery. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is the nerdiest thing I’ve heard all day. I love it! 4% is definitely a great return!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on knit equals joy and commented:
This is a lovely post…about how sometimes something happens that changes our focus – whether it is something uplifting we have read, meeting up with friends, or taking delight in a little boon, surprise, or gift. Alex won one of the finished object prizes in our recent knitalong. It was a joy to send this yarn to her because she understands about beautiful yarn. Please enjoy this post as well as Alex’s blog, alexand knits.
LikeLike