This is really happening...

The pattern for Project Peace is now available on Ravelry.  I never imagined that my plan to spread peace around the world to knitters everywhere would actually work! With over 12,000 downloads in 17 days, I'm inspired to no-end to make this bigger and bigger but I need everyone's help.

Please keep telling everyone you know to download the pattern on Ravelry, show it some love ("fav" on Ravelry), share on social media, talk to your LYS about hosting a KAL, join the Healthy Knitter group on Ravelry and post on the active discussion boards.

The peace-along begins on 12/1. Peaceful tips will be posted here daily by 8 am central US time beginning 12/1. The culmination of the peace-along is on solstice, in the northern hemisphere, the darkest day of the year with the promise of light balanced by the southern hemisphere's brightest day of the year. We'll celebrate with what we are now calling "World-wide Knit-in for Peace" day. Knitters around the world will knit intentionally on this day for PEACE. See, that's world peace right there and they said it couldn't be done. Just a bunch of knitters creating peace everywhere. We've created a map on Ravelry for everyone to pin their location. Please document your participation in Project Peace. Gather your friends on 12/21 for a special day of knitting. Ask you LYS to host a gathering...get creative.

Peace be with you!

Thank you for being part of this extraordinary gathering of knitters (and other fiber artists) as we work together for the common good of all. 

May each step and stitch bring you peace and joy,

Christina

Peace is spreading...

I never dreamed that Project Peace would spread as it has. Project Peace has now been downloaded on Ravelry by over 10,000 people. That's right, 10,000 individuals from around the world. I am delighted, amazed, humbled and wee bit overwhelmed with how this simple message of peace has spread around the world in just over a week's time. My original goal was to reach 1000 people. Just think what could happen if each one of those 10K individuals spread the message of peace to at least one person and then that person told another person and so on...we'd be unstoppable. Based on my experience this week I'm filled with hope and promise that there is still some good in the world. 

Anyone for a slice of peace?

As a recap, in case you aren't familiar with Project Peace it's what I call a "peace-along." I've written a pattern that uses a simple stitch pattern resulting in a cozy, comfy cowl. This pattern is free on Ravelry (currently it's just the cover page of the pattern; full pattern is available on 11/28). Additionally, there will be daily tips to infuse more peace into your life posted on this blog from December 1st through the 21st including a few guest posts. All the information can be found on the Ravelry pattern page or my previous post on this blog.

If you are on Ravelry there are two active threads in the Healthy Knitter group, one about Project Peace and the other titled "World-wide Knit-in for Peace." That's right, as a result of Project Peace we've now declared December 21 as a day to knit for peace. Under the thread titled "World-wide Kint-in for Peace" you'll find a link to a map (read posts #133 and 135) that marks the location of all the people that are knitting for peace on 12/21. Please add yourself to the map!

Please consider being a messenger of peace...spread the word to everyone you know. Tell someone about the project whether they are a knitter or not...have them read the peaceful tips in December. The tips are entirely focused on cultivating peace in your life; they are not focused on religion, race, gender, or politics...just good ol' fashion peace.

We need peace in this world now more than ever and it's up to us to make this happen. 

May each stitch and step bring you peace...

Christina

Project Peace...

Last year I conducted the first-ever Peace-along. What’s a Peace-along? For each person that purchased my pattern, “Knit Your Peace”, I sent them a thank-you gift full of peace. For 21 days in December, culminating on solstice, I sent a daily tip as a Ravelry update on how to infuse more peace into that specific day. Examples included a quote, poem, perhaps a link to a meaningful piece of music, instructions on how to create “peace” gift-tags, the list goes on and on. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

 “It’s like receiving a personalized gift each day.”

 “I’ll be so sad when this ends.”

“Thank you for helping me take just a few minutes each day during this busy, hectic, stressful, crazy time of the year.”

Following the 2015 Peace-along in conversation with a friend over a cup of coffee, I jokingly said “just think…if I could get hundreds, maybe 1000’s of knitters around the world to participate in Peace-along 2016, we could create world peace.” I know it sounds a bit silly but I firmly believe that peace begins with each one of us.

““Peace…this we choose each day.””

— Anonymous

And we need peace…with turmoil, and acts of violence, hatred and anger occurring daily in our country and throughout the world it’s time to take action. Often I think "but I’m just one person" but maybe, just maybe with Project Peace we can spread ideas on how to choose peace. Perhaps then, we can slowly make some changes. We’ll never overcome evil but we must find ways to cope with it.

I’m launching Project Peace 2016 and for this to work, I NEED YOU! I’ve designed a new cowl pattern for this year’s peace-along that takes approximately 450-550 yards of fingering weight yarn and approximately 21 days to knit. The pattern will be FREE through 12/21. Each day, December 1-21, a peaceful tip created by guests in addition to my ideas will be posted right here on my blog.

You can read more about this on Ravelry under Project Peace.

I launched this via Instagram and on Ravelry about 6 pm on 11/9.  Project Peace is well underway...it's NUMBER ONE on What's Hot Now and there are over 2000 downloads. How many knitters can we gather to work on one project focused on peace in December.

Here's how you join in:

• Download the cover page of the pattern on Ravelry
• This is only the cover page; the pattern will come to you as an update on 11/28.
• Read the information about the project requirements
• Please click on "fav" on Ravelry, begin a project page for the cowl, and join the Healthy Knitter group.
• Beginning December 1, read the blog daily for 21 days to receive the tip of the day on how to infuse more peace into your life.

Will you help me promote this?

Here are some ideas on how you could spread the word:

• Spotlight Project Peace on a blog post
• Post on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or other forms of social media
• Include in your electronic or print newsletter
• Provide a give-away to those that help spread the word
• Tell all your knitting friends, clients, customers, readers, family.

Please join me in this endeavor to bring our global knitting community together with a focus on peace. All of this is free...it's my gift to you because I'm going to root for the underdog and strive for peace.

May every stitch and step be filled with peace...

Christina

Where have I been?

Oh my, time seems to have slipped right through my fingers. The thought of reaching out to all of you crosses my mind almost daily but life intervenes with all sorts of busy-ness. 

But I'm back. Knowing that I'm finally sitting down to write this long overdue post fills me with hope that I'm over the hurdle and ready to share all of the activities that I've been creating over the past few months. 

The unveiling...ta-da! So many things, let's start with the most time-sensitive items and move our way down the list. 

ANNOUNCING the November mystery knit-along and walk-along beginning Tuesday the 1st.

The pre-order for the pattern is available on Ravelry. Followers of the blog can receive 20% off the pattern through November 3rd using the coupon code "WALK2017." This time around we are making a narrow cowl using color work OR stripes, your choice. This accessory is perfect for walking in brisk weather and as the weather begins to get a little nastier, we'll have the ideal thing to wear to keep the chill away.

I included a new twist for the walk-along. This time around it's a 30-day challenge. Yes, walk everyday. Now before you can even react with "I don't have time for that" try thinking "I can do this...it doesn't have to be a huge walk every day just something." So, whether it's a 5 minute walk or 50, it doesn't matter. Just make a commitment to get something done every day.

And, if you are thinking you don't have time for any other knitting projects, guess again. I designed this project so that it doesn't take all your knitting time. I'll be honest, I've been completely overwhelmed with knitting this fall. It began on September 1st. It seems that every designer started publishing fall patterns, lots of them and a plethora of sweaters that I wanted to knit. In reality, I can't knit that many sweaters, not this fall nor ever. My new approach to knitting is to make sure that what I design and choose to knit of others must be functional. That means it either is something I really need in my wardrobe or I can learn a new skill. For me, Stravaigin does just that. Walking wardrobe, check. Skill builder, check.

Let's get walking and knitting. Join us for Stravaigin. Get the pattern on Ravelry here.

I realize this is getting to be a long post. So, I'll provide you with a list of upcoming activities and I'll expand on them in the next few blog posts.

Stay tuned for this years Peace-along. A free pattern is coming for a new Peace cowl supplemented with 21 days (12/1-12/21) of tips for peaceful living. 

Inspiration for this year's Peace cowl..."Project Peace"

Since my return from Scotland, I've been writing about my experience. Over the next few months, I'll be posting my essays.

Burrastow House on Shetland near Walls, summer 2016

If you haven't been following Karen Templar's blog including all her posts on Slow Fashion October (SFO), I highly recommend it. The focus of SFO is to raise awareness of where our clothes come from, how they are made, what are the sources of the "fibers" used, how were the people treated that made the clothes, etc. Think "sustainability" applied to clothing. There's an emphasis on making everything by hand...or at least bringing that to mind as we make decisions as consumers. I've pondered this topic during my daily walk and I'll be providing you with my thoughts...after I finish knitting one more unfinished object that's been hanging out in my project box for far too long :)

In September I wrote a guest post on The Tolt Yarn store's blog, you can read about it here.  It is actually a nice summary of my experience in Idaho and then in Scotland. I'll leave that as a bit of teaser until next time.

Happy knitting and stepping and please consider joining us for the November mKAL and walk-along.