It’s hard to believe I haven’t posted anything since February. As I reflect on the last 6 months, there’s so much that has occurred and most of this I’ll save for a later date as to not overwhelm you with too much information. It’s still a lengthy post but I have so much to share… important updates on patterns and changes to Project Peace 2019.
First, if you happened to purchase the Project Peace 2018 ebook, my sincerest apologies for the length of time it is taking me to publish these patterns. The good news is that the publishing has begun. Today I released the “Heartsease Cowl,” a word that means “peace of mind.” It’s a simple to knit slipped stitch cowl that results in a textured fabric that looks like seeds. I am so grateful to all of you for your patience. I’ve carried a lot of guilt over this delay so it feels extra joyful to begin releasing this collection of peace-themed accessories. This cowl is available as a single pattern however ebook purchasers will receive a bonus pattern not available elsewhere.
And today, is an extremely special day. It’s the International Day of Peace. To honor this day, I’m releasing a very special pattern created with my friend, Sharyn from the YarnScout. It’s called Sandhill County and is a tribute to the Sandhill cranes. Here’s a bit about it:
This shawl began during a time of loss, when knitting was my solace and garter stitch was all I could manage. The simplicity of garter stitch provided a soothing knitting experience. As I moved through those initial days, I found myself ready to tackle more; a simple lace stitch was just the inspiration I needed! Once the shawl was completed, I noticed how the colors I’d selected and the movement of the lace pattern captured the image and spirit of the Sandhill crane. Even though the shawl satisfied my need for simplicity, I wanted it to have a more sophisticated shape before I released it to you. My friend Sharyn, from the YarnScout, added the bias shaping while maintaining the original spirit.
Sandhill cranes are majestic birds that are a treat to view in their natural habitat, with their beautiful color, funky dances, and bubbly call. Each year these birds migrate up to 6000 miles (each way) to their nesting grounds. This tribute to the cranes and commitment to migration despite challenges seemed only fitting, as the theme for the 2019 International Day of Peace is climate action. I hope you enjoy this garter stitch shawl with lace insets and a fancy little edging to capture the beauty of these very special cranes.
You may recall that over the past 1.5 years I’ve mentioned a shawl I designed following the passing of my father. This is the shawl and the connection to the Sandhill Cranes is of great significance as he lived in Albuquerque, one of the migratory fly-ways for the cranes. In the months before his passing, we had visited the fields several times and watched the birds eat and dance, and listen to them sing their silly songs. The fact that Sharyn helped bring this shawl to existence demonstrates the profound importance of friendship and community during times of loss. Thank you Sharyn!
You can purchase the Sandhill County shawl pattern here. Sharyn has put together some wonderful yarn kits, available from YarnScout. And through September 25th, if you add both the Sandhill County shawl and the 2017 International Day of Peace pattern, “International Peace Park” to your Ravelry cart, you’ll automatically receive 50% off International Peace Park, no coupon needed.
Upcoming fall plans…
This year has been filled with so many changes that I’ve had to re-evaluate how to manage my commitments. Just this fall, I’ve been to a conference at the Nobel Peace Center on climate change and peace, this October I’ll be spending a week in Shetland with my mum, speaking at a peace conference in Indiana about building peaceful communities through food, plus my day-job and family. My work with peace has continued to grow and I must find a way to balance all of it. So, with great reflection, many walks and chats with dear friends, I’ve realized I need a new approach to Project Peace. This year, the pattern, Sandhill County will be the Project Peace pattern. I intend to blog weekly from today through 12/21, World wide knit for peace day with a few extra posts in the month of December. The theme will be climate action… I’ll promote a knit-along in December but I won’t be blogging daily. It honestly takes me months to recover from the intensity of December and it hasn’t been healthy for me or my personal relationships. So, I’m not going away, not at all, just redefining how I can promote peace in this space.
From the bottom of my heart… thank you for all your continued support. May we work collectively to bring peace to this world. And as I heard a friend say recently “climate reform through peace.”
And on that note, I set free Sandhill County to all of you… as a tribute to my late father, the incredible birds, and peace.
