I’ve been thinking a lot about this concept floating around: making intentionally. Aren’t we always intentional when it comes time to choose a pattern, buy some yarn, and knit or crochet for hours at a time? I’m not entirely sure I have been!
A few months back, there was a lovely shawl pattern going around that everyone I knew was talking about. I thought it’d be a fun thing to do with all the knitters on social media. I bought my gorgeous colours, downloaded the pattern, and set to work … until about two days in. I just wasn’t feeling it. It was a super nice design, but something about it wasn’t “me.” Maybe it was the stitch patterning … or maybe the colour arrangement … or maybe it was the shape? I tried to push myself to keep knitting, hoping it would all work out in the end.
And it didn’t. The problem, I discovered, is that I jumped in feet-first on the trend wave without really considering my intentions … I was ignoring myself and my needs. What do *I* really like? What do I need right now? What do I feel good in? What new skills do I want to learn to stretch outside my comfort zone? What makes me feel excited and engaged? These questions led me down a big rabbit hole of brainstorming, planning, and considering what I specifically want to make this year. In fact, that prompted me into putting all my new baby steps into the new Make Your Own Nine course for the School of SweetGeorgia (maybe you saw that come out last week?).
So, I’m looking into the dawn of 2020 with intention – making in ways that serve me or my needs so that I can really step out of my comfort zones and grow as a creator and crafter. Maybe you’re in the same boat?
Maybe one of those intentions is to learn new stitches and ways to play with colour? Whether you’d like to learn Mosaic stitch, discover an i-cord selvedge edge, experiment with a larger project, or try your hand at some colour combinations, our new Aras shawl pattern by Heidi Reszies is a fun way to break into 2020. It looks complex, but it’s actually quite simple! With plenty of room for size modification and some tutorials to back you up (such as our Mosaic Stitch tutorial), you’ll have a ton of fun learning as you knit this gorgeous shawl.
Aras uses a total of four skeins of Superwash DK in Trinket, Illusion, and Birch for the ultimate in squish. You can find the pattern on our website and Ravelry.
So, dear friends, what are your crafting intentions for 2020? How are you going to step outside the comfort zone to grow in your skills? I’d love to hear!
