Hi Martyn, we do tend to pick up our phone and scroll. My screen time has increased 110% since retiring. Once upon a time, I only had time to check emails whilst in full time nursing. Now its hard to find time to do all my alpacca/wool fleece scouring, (spinning which went out the door with lack of confidence). Im doing a test knit "full-on" lace jumper called "Spring" for Ngo Quynh, a Vietnamese designer.
I'm working on two projects at the moment, Stephen West's Loxley hooded scarf which I started last fall, and a shawl, Dot by Casapinka. This shawl is an inspiration to me. I am using Miss Babs Katahdin 437 colorway Land of the Sky. This colorway was created as a fund raiser for Ashville NC which was devastated last year by Hurricane Helene. It is a dark and moody color and I sat on it waiting for the perfect project. I wanted something that countered balanced the dark of destruction with a light of recovery. I bought a skein of Miss Babs Estrellita in colorway Simplicity, a pale yellow with a metallic thread spun through it. I see the small dots as the sun breaking through the storm and the border as the pool of light signifying the end of the storm. Symbolism in my knitting means a lot to me, a completed project that is more than just a shawl or hat or whatever.
I'm right with you there on the scrolling problem. Have you read The Phone Fix by Dr Faye Begeti? It really helped me understand the psychology behind it all.
Judith from Toronto. Your message today gives me hope. I too have been doomscroolling way too much. I'm all 6s and 7s this month! I selected my 12 cast ons with Ange and already I'm off piste. I've knitted two things NOT on the list of 12. It's so hard to give oneself grace, but with practice we can start to give ourselves grace and enjoy our days.
I have started a new project last week. It is Stephen West’s Awesomer Gossamer shawl (lots of bubble stitches). Dropping off and undoing 3 rows of stitches with 2 strands of mohair is a bit of a pain, but so far so good. The weather has been lower than -30 C here at night, warming up to about -20 to -22C during the day this weekend, so after picking up my friend who arrived from Indonesia (talk about temperature shock) on Saturday afternoon and doing a major grocery shop on Sunday afternoon & running an errand this afternoon, it has been and will be a time to hunker down and knit and do laundry. At least the sun is shining! Happy crafting from western Canada! 🇨🇦🥶
My goal for this month is to make time to show up for the knit together at my LYS. It’s always worth the drive and the time! And yes, less doom scrolling!
I need the app. It is amazing to discover I have looked at NOTHING for 30 mins. I did download the Kindle App so I’m trying to read instead of hitting social media. Good intentions but I still know way too much about baby animals and Taylor Swift.
My interest in knitting has been rekindled after many years and I’m blown away by the variety of yarns available. Completed my first pair of socks (Stephen West Popportunity), a few niggles with joining top to bottom gusset but the sense of achievement it has given me. I’m attempting my first shawl Rib Vault in yak silk and just casted on a textured cardigan in Manx Loaghatan blend. My husband not wanting to feel left out wants a Cardigan too so just ordered worsted wool. Going to be a busy year☺️
I've come to the realisation that right now one project at a time suits me at this point. I've got 2 blanket clubs from last year so ive decided to make my blocks in each month so I don't get overwhelmed so next feb I get to assemble 2 blankets and knit the borders, sucks to be you future me 😂😂😂 but today I'm hooking on my 2024 q4 eds bird club from toft. Even with only 4 kits per year I've fallen behind. Oh well, ONWARDS!
Unravel was fab, we always go first thing on Friday when it's a little quiet and get to chat to quite a few vendors. We spoke to Kitey about tattoos, and about Gogo dynamo and my dodgy edge, I couldn't get those eyelets to line up. I had just finished a Ranunculus and a pair of socks before Unravel, my first jumper in years. So new to my needles this week socks and a Love note with Bird Street yarn (an investment). Happy crafting x
I’m trying to finish many things 😂 but I am rotating them so I will work on them 1-2 nights then swap to another. I do scroll but I have the do not disturb on at 9pm. You seem to be very productive to say you are a doomscroller though Martyn! I love reading your blog and also look forward to your vlogs. Let’s see what goodies you bought this weekend ☺️
Love love reading this blog!!! Doomscrolling yep guilty of that. Looking forward to the video of unravel. I’m trying to finish everything…. Those wedges if the Go Go dynamo….. omg taking forever and that just brings me to feeling I never want to knit again!!!
The best thing I ever did was turn off notifications for everything. It stopped me responding to the ‘ping’ and then doing the scrolling x
I'm always amazed when I spend time with my mum - her phone is constantly pinging and it would drive me nuts 🤣🤣
Hi Martyn, we do tend to pick up our phone and scroll. My screen time has increased 110% since retiring. Once upon a time, I only had time to check emails whilst in full time nursing. Now its hard to find time to do all my alpacca/wool fleece scouring, (spinning which went out the door with lack of confidence). Im doing a test knit "full-on" lace jumper called "Spring" for Ngo Quynh, a Vietnamese designer.
I'm working on two projects at the moment, Stephen West's Loxley hooded scarf which I started last fall, and a shawl, Dot by Casapinka. This shawl is an inspiration to me. I am using Miss Babs Katahdin 437 colorway Land of the Sky. This colorway was created as a fund raiser for Ashville NC which was devastated last year by Hurricane Helene. It is a dark and moody color and I sat on it waiting for the perfect project. I wanted something that countered balanced the dark of destruction with a light of recovery. I bought a skein of Miss Babs Estrellita in colorway Simplicity, a pale yellow with a metallic thread spun through it. I see the small dots as the sun breaking through the storm and the border as the pool of light signifying the end of the storm. Symbolism in my knitting means a lot to me, a completed project that is more than just a shawl or hat or whatever.
I'm right with you there on the scrolling problem. Have you read The Phone Fix by Dr Faye Begeti? It really helped me understand the psychology behind it all.
Hi Martyn
Judith from Toronto. Your message today gives me hope. I too have been doomscroolling way too much. I'm all 6s and 7s this month! I selected my 12 cast ons with Ange and already I'm off piste. I've knitted two things NOT on the list of 12. It's so hard to give oneself grace, but with practice we can start to give ourselves grace and enjoy our days.
I have started a new project last week. It is Stephen West’s Awesomer Gossamer shawl (lots of bubble stitches). Dropping off and undoing 3 rows of stitches with 2 strands of mohair is a bit of a pain, but so far so good. The weather has been lower than -30 C here at night, warming up to about -20 to -22C during the day this weekend, so after picking up my friend who arrived from Indonesia (talk about temperature shock) on Saturday afternoon and doing a major grocery shop on Sunday afternoon & running an errand this afternoon, it has been and will be a time to hunker down and knit and do laundry. At least the sun is shining! Happy crafting from western Canada! 🇨🇦🥶
My goal for this month is to make time to show up for the knit together at my LYS. It’s always worth the drive and the time! And yes, less doom scrolling!
I need the app. It is amazing to discover I have looked at NOTHING for 30 mins. I did download the Kindle App so I’m trying to read instead of hitting social media. Good intentions but I still know way too much about baby animals and Taylor Swift.
Martin
What a breeze to read your blog. And yes so we'll translated to my mother tongue
Love the pic with the 3 beautiful shawls
Regards out a very very hot 🥵 South Africa
My interest in knitting has been rekindled after many years and I’m blown away by the variety of yarns available. Completed my first pair of socks (Stephen West Popportunity), a few niggles with joining top to bottom gusset but the sense of achievement it has given me. I’m attempting my first shawl Rib Vault in yak silk and just casted on a textured cardigan in Manx Loaghatan blend. My husband not wanting to feel left out wants a Cardigan too so just ordered worsted wool. Going to be a busy year☺️
I've come to the realisation that right now one project at a time suits me at this point. I've got 2 blanket clubs from last year so ive decided to make my blocks in each month so I don't get overwhelmed so next feb I get to assemble 2 blankets and knit the borders, sucks to be you future me 😂😂😂 but today I'm hooking on my 2024 q4 eds bird club from toft. Even with only 4 kits per year I've fallen behind. Oh well, ONWARDS!
Unravel was fab, we always go first thing on Friday when it's a little quiet and get to chat to quite a few vendors. We spoke to Kitey about tattoos, and about Gogo dynamo and my dodgy edge, I couldn't get those eyelets to line up. I had just finished a Ranunculus and a pair of socks before Unravel, my first jumper in years. So new to my needles this week socks and a Love note with Bird Street yarn (an investment). Happy crafting x
I’m trying to finish many things 😂 but I am rotating them so I will work on them 1-2 nights then swap to another. I do scroll but I have the do not disturb on at 9pm. You seem to be very productive to say you are a doomscroller though Martyn! I love reading your blog and also look forward to your vlogs. Let’s see what goodies you bought this weekend ☺️
Love love reading this blog!!! Doomscrolling yep guilty of that. Looking forward to the video of unravel. I’m trying to finish everything…. Those wedges if the Go Go dynamo….. omg taking forever and that just brings me to feeling I never want to knit again!!!