Simple Quiet Wisdom

Design by Autumn

This is the shawl I made during a car trip to Maine. The pattern is really easy to follow. here it is.


dc chain for 100 stitches
dc for 20-30 more rows.

**optional
drop, or decrease 25 stitches on both sides.
coninue dc for as many stitches as you would like!

From time to time I will have a series that will ask the question: 


 Do I Really Need This? 


I'll explore a household item that I use everyday, and muse on whether I can live without in my life, and save a little money or energy along the way.


The Electric Can Opener:  



Growing up this was an ever-present fixture on our kitchen counter.  I never thought twice about just using that little bit of electricity to do what I could have easily have done with a manual opener.  But some of the pleasures of embracing simplicity is looking at the ordinary and re-framing it to see if I couldn't just make one little change to help, in some small way.


I've decided I can definitely live without an electric can opener.  I have strong hands, without arthritis or carpal tunnel, and I'd like to keep them that way.  I don't use that much canned food anyway, so it's not a huge sacrifice.  But, if I'm saving just that one little bit of coal for not using that electric can opener, then I'll do it.  And if someone else does the same thing, that's two little bits of coal.  You know where I'm going with this - it's kind of like a snowstorm.  One or two little snowflakes doesn't mean much, but when they all gang up on you, they can make a serious impact.


Think about the next time you reach for the electric can opener, and decide for yourself if it's something you can do without in your life.

I've been spending most of my online time on Ravelry.com, and ignoring my new blog!  But I've met so many nice people there that it is now my favorite social networking site.

I've signed up for a Holiday Swap, where two people get paired up and you make them a $20 gift box filled with big and little things that you think they would like.  I'm so excited about it and it's been really fun.  The group is called Swap on a Budget for you ravelers out there.

Also they have a buy and sell area ("destashing")  where crafters can sell their excess yarn directly to each other. I found someone selling for $32 three skeins of a hand-dyed wool from Three Irish Girls, which usually sells for about $20 a skein.    So I thought it was a great deal.  The seller emailed and said "Oh sorry I'm a little late getting this out - I found some extra and I threw it in there for you."  I thought "great, maybe an extra half a skein - cool"  After getting lost in the mail (thank goodness for delivery confirmation) it finally arrived in the mail, and this is what I got.


That's a whole lot more than three.  I was floored and delighted!  I've often heard people say that knitters and other fiber people can be the nicest people you'll ever meet, and I'm starting to learn that's true!

I've started working on my first shawl and I'm very excited.

I'll try to keep my posts up, and post about something else besides knitting!

I've been a member on Ravelry now for a couple of years, ever since I first discovered knitting.  But I became frustrated with knitting when I was first trying to learn it a couple of years ago.  But a trip to a beautiful yarn store this past summer got my interested piqued again.  And when I picked up the needles this time, it seemed to go a whole lot smoother.  Something finally clicked and I was able to finish some projects, and really "get" knitting.  So now I'm hooked!  I've even started my own forum group for what has fast become my favorite knitting book,  Wendy Knits Lace by Wendy D. Johnson.  Wendy designs GORGEOUS knits and I am becoming a very big fan of her work.  All I'm waiting for are some needles that I ordered to arrive and I can get started on her Delicate Vines socks.  This will be my first pair of socks so I am also using Wendy's Socks from the Toe Up book to help be get started.


The thing about Ravelry is that it is so inspiring to see everyone else's projects.  You get to meet other people with similar interests, not only just knitting but many other things as well.  I'm part of a group for a podcast called Knitting Pipeline, where Paula talks about knitting, nature, and bagpiping and celtic music.  Another podcast group, Knit 1 Geek 2 combines knitting and geeky popculture like Harry Potter, Star Trek,  other things we geeky people like.  There is a hiking group, groups for favorite designers, and groups for favorite local yarn shops, and just about anything else you can imagine.  And if it's not there, you can start one!  Ravelry is free to join and is a must for anyone who likes knitting and crocheting.


It's so much fun to have a new hobby to get excited about!  I like knitting because I can create something beautiful and useful at the same time.  It's easier for me right now than sewing, because I can do it during my train commute to work.  And you can meet so many nice people who also knit, online and off.


Do you knit?  Are you on ravelry?  Do you get inspired there?

Thanks for stopping by!  I've loved reading blogs, particularly blogs related to the simplicity movement for many years now.  I've finally decided to start one of my own.  I'll be sharing my thoughts, feelings, accomplishments and false starts for my quest toward a life of more simplicity and intentional living. I'll blog about posts on other blogs that I really like, books I've read that help toward this journey, and even a few beautiful pictures.  I'll share my creative projects too, like sewing and knitting.  I hope you'll enjoy it!

May your life be filled with peace, love, comfort, joy, and quiet wisdom.