Make America Knit Again
Before you get mad or triggered or wary or happy, please know that this is not a political ad, statement, rehashing, postmortem, etc.
The US elections took place this week. If you are an American, I would expect that about half of you voted one way, and the other half voted the other. I respect that we all have our spectrum of reasons for our choices.
But I think we have an opportunity here—an opportunity to take a political slogan (of “your guy” OR “that other guy”) and apply it in a way that would genuinely make the world a nicer, calmer, and certainly softer place.
Make America Knit Again
Perhaps “Make” isn’t the best word choice.
Encourage? Teach? Suggest?
Whatever syntax you settle on, I support teaching others Analog Arts.
Knitting as Therapy Through Mindfulness
Historically, knitting was necessary. Before knitting machines mass-produced a plethora of relatively-disposable knit fashion, people had to spin or acquire yarn, grab those needles, and produce any wearable or useful items that they needed in life.
Before Technology made the creation process easier, faster, and often automated, people had to stop everything else they were doing and produce the items that they desired. The action of Stopping & Making inherently leads to an opportunity to be mindful. How many of us are so accustomed to staring at an electronic device that we’re now rather scared of being left alone with our thoughts? Yet, how much better do we feel once we are forced to sit in that semi-void?
Knitting is one of those glorious activities that offers the maker both the opportunity to zone out and think all their lovely thoughts, or to focus intently on a complicated pattern. Whatever your mental space needs might be, knitting fills exactly what you require.
Not to mention the design creation aspect. One part of knitting that I will never NOT pursue on some level is the Art of Design. That creative (and scientific!) outlet is crucial for my brain’s happiness. [I won’t delve into the Engineering aspect of knitting now, but I often consider it. While knitting.]
If we knitters could encourage and promote others to take up yarn and needles—teach them to Make—we can promote renewable wellness.
That’s a powerful skill.
The Next Generation
I have had the wonderful opportunity this fall to share the art of knitting with a handful of middle school aged girls. Our family homeschools, and we take part in a homeschool co-op in our area. This semester I have shared two of the great loves of my life—music (with some fantastic high schoolers) and knitting.
Teaching others—even if they are youth, and not your peers—can be daunting. Will I be good at teaching? Will they care? Will I be successful in teaching them? Will they think I’m a nerd?
Nerd worry aside, I have found that teaching others a skill or knowledge base might take some time to fall into a happy groove, but it is possible. The best part is that you will probably be successful!
And even if it all falls apart for whatever reason, I see the Attempt as the most important thing. Most likely you will succeed, but even if you fail, it’s better to try to share your knowledge with others. You never know who you will teach and where it will take them along the path of their Life’s Journey.
Spread the Knitting Love
So my final challenge to you, dear Knitter, is to think of just one person to whom you could teach the Art of Knitting. You have a skill that you can share, and I will bet my Stash that someone in your life has silently wished they could learn to knit too.
Who do you choose?
All the Patterns, All Month Long
Fun fact: I have THREE patterns hitting my shops this month!
We’ll kick off the pattern extravaganza next week with the Knitting Bee Quilt.
The following week, my Docs Socks pattern lands, followed a few days later by my newest sock pattern, Fade Into Neverland DK Socks! I will probably condense these last two into a (US) Thanksgiving week newsletter. If you want the Docs Socks asap, be sure to follow Mountain Song Designs on Instagram.
Keep an eye out for the pattern release newsletters, because (as you know) this is the place for the best discounts. I so appreciate your joining me here.💖
PLUS! There will be Thanksgifting discounts coming to my shops as well!
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I love all that you said about knitting. I took a knitting hiatus for about two and a half years, but I got back on track this fall because I wanted to knit your Echo Lodge socks, and, in order to do that, I had to finish the socks that had been languishing on my needles since March 2022. I finished those and the Echo Lodge socks, and now I am working on Friendship Socks (using the Echo Lodge pattern) for my granddaughter and her friend. It’s so enjoyable to zone out or to listen to an audiobook or watch a baseball game and at the same time keep my hands busy and be creative. I have seven granddaughters, and I’ve taught five of them to knit. Soon, #6 will be old enough to learn, and I am excited to teach her. It’s a joy to teach someone to knit.