The forest beckons. A call to venture deep into the heart of nature. Is it to escape from troubled times? To find peace? Connect with all that is good. Maybe it's all of these reasons.
There is a stillness that can be found in the forest, yet, ironically there's no silence to be found. The rustling of the leaves, the lull of the wind as it moves through the needles on the tall pines. The trees standing firmly grounded yet swaying with whatever storms come their way. There's a comfort to be found in the melody of the forest. It's as if the trees are whispering.... sssshhhhhh, pay close attention and listen very closely, "be strong and supple" says the mighty forest.
Unfortunately not all of us have easy access to the forest so finding solace in the woods isn't a daily or even weekly option. Here's a way to create your own peaceful forest to wear any day you may need to find peace. I've reworked Project Peace using a worsted weight yarn ("Ringmaster") with the colorway "Tree Beard" from KnitCircus Yarns.
Modifications to Project Peace:
Yarn: KnitCircus Ringmaster (worsted weight) in "Tree Beard," 100 grams
Needles: size 7, 24" in length (or size to get gauge)
Gauge: approximately 20 stitches per 4 inches in waffle-stitch pattern
I cast on 120 stitches, knit 16 repeats of the pattern and then did Rounds 1-3. I used the i-cord bind-off method and did not put an i-cord on the bottom of the cowl. You can knit however many repeats you choose. Ultimately I knit this many repeats to maximize how much yarn I had. My pre-blocked measurements were 8.5 inches (high) by 25 inches (circumference). I wet-blocked my cowl and laid it out so that it would be a little narrower and taller post-blocking. My post (wet)-blocking measurements were 9.5 inches (high) by 23 inches (circumference).
A note about Knit Circus Yarns. This small-business is truly amazing. Jaala and her crew have the most incredible colorways that really speak to my creative spirit. She's able to translate life events, feelings, and locations into yarn. She always has yarn in the shop (referred to as ASAP) but many more colorways are available as "dye-to-order." I just looked and there was only 1 skein of Tree Beard in-stock but this is usually a dye-to-order colorway. Jaala provided 2 skeins of yarn as give-aways during Project Peace and was inspired to host a kindness knit-along (find details here) as a result of Project Peace.
Mindful Monday Tip #5
Taking care of "self" is always important. During stressful times it becomes even more important yet self-care is often the first thing we lose. Many people are finding themselves very stressed with these global tumultuous times and rightly so. The desire to choose peace during your day may seem like a distant memory.
Before we get too far into the week, take a moment today and write down one way you will keep peace at the forefront of your day. The forest represents peace. How will you bring that peace into your day, every day this week?
Commit to it and leave a comment here.