November 30, 2020

What is Project Peace?

“Peace... this we choose each day.”

— Anonymous

On the eve of the 5th annual Project Peace, I’m filled with excitement and hope sprinkled with a dash of anxiousness. Planning occurs all year long, contemplating a theme that is fitting, designing the pattern, and identifying 21 days worth of topics. Yet, pulling all this together is also an opportunity to shine a light on peace and how each and every one of us can cultivate more peace in our lives.

Project Peace officially began in December 2016. A year earlier, over coffee I’d mentioned to a friend, “what if I could inspire 1000 knitters all around the world to knit at the same time for 21 days in the name of peace?” I giggled with delight and said “it’d be our own version of world peace.”

So, post-Presidential election in the US, 2016, I posted a pattern “Project Peace” for free on Ravelry… with an overwhelming response of 20,000 downloads in just a months time. I blogged daily for 21 days and we implemented “Worldwide Knit for Peace (WKfP)” Day on December 21.

To honor WKfP day, people organized knitting circles at their local yarns shops, they gathered in homes, some took to the coffee shops and placed a sign on the table declaring “knitting for peace, ask me about it?” It was a grand celebration to honor our work to bring peace into our lives. We had knitters from all continents represented except for Antarctica. It was a month filled with hope and promise during a time many were filled with despair.

An article describing Project Peace was published by Interweave in 2017. The idea of having a theme came to be for the 2nd annual Project Peace (2017)… ripples of peace.

And then there was seeds of peace (2018)…

In 2019, with many life events piling up in my own world, I decided to hit the pause button. With the unexpected passing of my father on 12/24/2017, the on-going struggle to deal with what seemed an unsurmountable amount of grief, and a relentless academic job, it seemed a logical step to hit the pause button on Project Peace. Something needed to give.

Perhaps reflective of my own relationship with peace, I doubted if I could be a champion for peace. Could I do this anymore? How could I shine a light on peace when I was as far from peace as possible. At the last minute, in response to several meaningful emails asking me to please, please, please at least write, I decided to dig deep. So, no theme, no pattern, yet a devoted group of people that still showed up to focus on peace for 21 days in December. This was a pivot moment in my life… Writing those posts for 21 days was probably one of the most important steps on this journey with peace that I’ve ever taken… peace requires one to dig deep. The grief lingers, the intensity of my academic job persists yet the desire to create change for a right, just, and peaceful world has taken center stage.

And here we are, post-Presidential election 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic, and certainly a time we can’t turn our back on peace. It’s time to dig deep and find peace… whether it be noticing the small things or striving for systemic change, the time is now. Peace is here and we will identify it in the most wonderful, unique, and odd places.

This year’s theme is “peace in place.” We are going to spend 21 days exploring what it means to find peace in place… defining place in all sorts of ways. Through my own journey with peace, I’ve finally settled on a definition of peace that seems to capture my heart and soul… cultivating right relationships with self, others, and the Earth. And that’s what we’ll do, connect with self, others, and the land in ways that honors all of those involved. And here we will find peace.

Join me and 100’s of knitters for the next 21 days and we dig deep and find peace in all sorts of places.

Things to know:

you certainly can knit on any project you’d like during the next 21 days. Of course, I’d love your support to offset the costs associated with Project Peace. To show your support, please consider purchasing the pattern; a portion of the proceeds will be donated to a yet-to-be determined non-profit organization focused on peace.
I’m working on posting the pattern to the Healthy Knitter website… this is definitely a new process for me. We’ll have to see how it works.
Might I suggest you find a journal or some place to jot down some thoughts over the next 21 days? This will also be helpful for an activity that occurs at the end of the 21 days. You might consider identifying some colored pens, pencils or even paints. Make this your own adventure with peace in place… document your 21 day journey.
If you are subscribed to the Healthy Knitter blog, you’ll receive a daily email with a link to the blog. The email will not include the full post, you’ll have to click through to access the entire blog post. Subscribe here if you’d like the daily email.
There will be several give-aways during the 21 days… at the very least on day 7, 14, and 21.
To keep you engaged in the 21 days, I’m putting together an additional very special give-away to those who submit a meaningful comment every single day in response to the daily posts. The name of each person who comments each day will be entered into a special drawing. These posts need to occur within 24 hours of the daily entry as a way to keep you showing up each day… the greatest gift to yourself might not actually be the give-away but what you take away as a result of focusing on peace each day.
Mid-December, there will be a Project Peace pop-up market with some very special peace bags, other knitting notions, and some peaceful tea.
Each year, I strive to post the daily message and peace tip by early morning (central time). I’m hopeful to continue to do this as I know that some folks are in Europe and Australia however, I’m also going to give myself some grace and there may be some days when the post occurs a bit later in the morning.

Are you ready? Day 1 will arrive in your inbox tomorrow morning.

I can’t wait to be on this journey with you… one filled with awe and wonder…

peace,

with each breath, stitch, and step,

Christina

November 19, 2020

A note from the prairie...

by Christina

So many thoughts, feelings, emotions… I write to you from the prairie in Northwest Minnesota, a very special place it is. A place of peace… the people, the land, the animals, and the much needed time to step away from many of my day-to-day responsibilities.

I write this on my last evening of an 11 day respite for mind, soul, and body. A place where I feel at home perhaps like I’ve never known before…

I’ve laughed out loud with no one around,

cried just because,

yelled with joy with no one but the cows and steers to hear me,

listened to the coyotes party all night long,

felt safe in an old farmhouse while the wind ripped from one corner of the prairie to the next,

engaged in the most inspiring conversations with those that live on and with this land,

watched the clouds shift in form and color…

my heart is filled with hope and promise.

I came here to “get work done” and also to brainstorm with a new friend about the intersection of food and peace. And what an adventure it’s been. A journey of two sojourners whose paths now merge to focus on what it means to cultivate peace through food and place.

I’ll share more about this magical place during Project Peace.

Speaking of Project Peace, I wanted to provide an update. I’ve now posted yarn requirements on Ravelry and the Yarn Scout has put together kits with the yarn that I’ve used for the project. My vision for this project was one of cozy and comfort; the alpaca/wool blend yarn is exactly what I dreamed of creating. I finished knitting my sample during my stay in the farmhouse on the prairie and as the shawl continued to grow, it was the perfect project to keep my lap warm and toasty.

If you aren’t able to access Ravelry, please take a look at the Yarn Scout page to view the yarn I used for the project. For those of you not wanting to purchase the pattern from Ravelry, I’m working on a way to buy the pattern through my website. If you are wanting to stash dive or use a different yarn, here are the requirements:

A total of 200 g fingering weight yarn (~800 yards) is needed. I used 150 g (~600 yds) of color A for the body and 50 g (~200 yds) of color B for the border. For the main color I choose a solid color and for the border I used a hand-dyed contrasting yet complimentary color.

Photos of the project are forthcoming… I am headed home tomorrow, to block the shawl and then persuade my daughter to yet again, engage in the photo-taking process.

I am so looking forward to spending December with all of you… whether you are knitting, writing, drawing, stitching, reading, or taking some time just to be, it’s a time to slow down and focus on peace… seeking, making, building, keeping, sharing. It’s 21 days of saying yes to peace.

peace,

Christina

November 4, 2020

Here comes Project Peace 2020...

by Christina

“It is not given to us to know which acts or by whom, will cause the critical mass to tip toward an enduring good. What is needed for dramatic change is an accumulation of acts - adding, adding to, adding more, continuing. We know that it does not take “everyone on Earth” to bring justice and peace, but only a small, determined group who will not give up during the first, second, or hundredth gale. ”

— Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Here we are, a few weeks away from our 5th annual Project Peace. The first occurred in 2016 on the heels of the US Presidential election. And now, 4 years later, here we are… in the midst of a pandemic and the on-going need to cultivate peace in our world. Somehow, I stumbled upon this quote early this morning… it was exactly what my soul needed… keep going, one small, simple act at a time.

“Peace is a journey of a 1000 miles and it must be taken one step at a time”

— Lyndon B. Johnson

This quote remains one of my all-time favorites as it reminds me that peace is a process, a journey. While it would be comforting to believe that peace is a destination and once you arrive, the work is over, this mindset can lead us to easily become discouraged. So, please join me for another peace-filled December where we can come together with a common goal of fostering peace in our world, one simple act at a time.

Project Peace is a knit-along and peace-along. For the knit-along, I will have a pattern available for purchase via Ravelry (let me know if that doesn’t work for you) and I’ll be posting daily musings on The Healthy Knitter website from 12/1-21. My mum and I have been designing some very special, limited edition bags to celebrate the occasion and I have several give-aways provided by generous friends. Keep in mind, you don’t have to be a knitter to participate. Raise your knitting needles, paintbrush, pen, spatula or maybe even just your tea cup during the month of December… all are welcome. The goal is to foster peace…

Each year, I spend a lot of time pondering an appropriate theme for Project Peace. This year the idea, “peace in place” came to me early on so I’ve had a lot of time to think about how to connect this with the daily December posts.

The year 2020 was a year that was to be filled with travel. With 3 planned trips to Shetland, 2 with my mum and 1 with the University, it seemed my dream of being able to spend time in a place I feel so connected to was now on the verge of being a reality. Many of you know of my love for Shetland, an unexpected love affair with place. As a mountain gal, I never anticipated feeling so at home in Shetland, a place without trees.

I’ve lived in the Mid-west for 11+ years now and while I find many aspects of the prairie quite beautiful, I’ve never felt truly connected. Last March, with lock-downs looming, I remember thinking “well, it’s time to connect with this land” and the idea for “peace in place” began to take hold.

Identifying with “place” provides the opportunity to create peace with self, others and the Earth… This year’s Project Peace blog posts from December 1-21 will focus on possible ways to cultivate “peace in place.” I think you’ll really like what I’ve come up with!

While the pattern link is now active on Ravelry, the actual pattern instructions won’t be published until November 30. Details on yarn supplies will be ready on November 15. A portion of the pattern sales will be donated to a yet-to-be-determined peace-oriented organization; remaining funds will be used to offset the costs of operating Project Peace.

This year’s pattern is an elongated shawl with a textured stitch pattern and a ripple border… in many ways it represents the land and sea. Cozy was my vision when designing this shawl with thoughts of wrapping oneself in a big hug in a place you find peaceful. I’ve worked hard to keep the design relatively simple to make it accessible to many knitters.

Please join me this December as we focus on peace, collectively…

one breath,

one stitch,

one word,

one step,

at a time.

September 21, 2020

International Day of Peace 2020...

by Christina

Today, the last day of summer on the cusp of the autumnal equinox, we celebrate, honor, reflect on the meaning of today, the International Day of Peace. Yes, on 9/21, around the world, today is a day of peace.

Hello, my friends. I think of you often… I’ve written so many times… in my mind, thoughts placed on paper, talked to you on walks, and taken so many photos to share. Yet, finding my way back to this space always seems to be the missing next step. Hopefully, you’ll understand my need for solitude of late, and despite the months with no communication, you’re ready to welcome me back into your life.

The past 6 months has provided a sincere opportunity for reflection… to grieve, to dream, to dig deep, to let go, to embrace new opportunities, and recommit to my core values. At the beginning of each year, I choose a word for the year. This year, my word is “SHIFT.” Never did I have any idea what this word might come to mean. And a shift it has been that is leading to new doors opening and old ones closing.

The global health crisis has brought many issues to center-stage compounded by on-going wars, crimes against humanity, civil unrest in the US, climate extremes… the list goes on. The loss of life in the past 6 months is crushing… with all of this there is a need to find a path forward; a way to actively engage in building a peaceful and just world.

We must find a way forward…

“I would like to be remembered as someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability. And to help repair tears in her society, to make things a little better through the use of whatever ability she has. ”

— Ruth Bader Ginsburg

It’s time. It’s time for me to move from grieving to action. It’s time to do whatever I can to repair the tears in society… to make things a little better.

I must…

I commit.

I’m here and all the work I’ve been doing over the past 6 months… learning, growing, letting go, finding my way, digging deeper to find more solitude, creating, dreaming, and cultivating new friendships and work partners. It’s time to get to work.

What you can expect from me…

I’ll be more present in this space. I’ve a lot to share related to upcoming Healthy Knitter events and so much more.

I never got around to mentioning this, however, I published a free pattern in April. The title is Metanoia. I’ll tell you more about the meaning of this pattern in a coming post however, you can find it here if you’re interested. It’s all about “change.”

The Metanoia Wrap available for free on Ravelry

There will be a pattern in honor of the International Day of Peace. It was my intent that it would be ready to celebrate the day however, work is super overwhelming and has been since March. So, I decided to be kind to myself and not stress over the fact I didn’t quite get it done in time. It’s worth the wait and we can certainly honor peace on any day of the year. The pattern is called “Sun-broch” which is a Scots word for a sunbeam. So, yes, it has a connection to the sun.

And finally, Project Peace 2020 will be happening, December 1-21. There will be a new pattern. This year’s theme is “peace in place.” More details to come.

I’d love to hear from you via the comments or even an email. How are you?

Peace to all,

Christina