I've seen them, I've been intrigued by them, but I just couldn't bring myself to make one. People would proudly bring their temperature blankets into the yarn shop and while I loved the dance of color and the makers dedication to the project, I could never bring myself to throw one on my needles. I pulled color options off the shelf at least 3 times, agonizing over what color combo to use, only to tuck them back in their nook and walk away.
The thing that intrigued me about the temperature blanket was the fact that after a year you could stand back and look at a journal of your daily life, but a life based on temperature (no matter how cool that is) wasn't enough for me to commit.
Fast forward 3 years. My friend, Babette, sent me an email about Journal Knitting. It sat in my email for about a month. Finally, I made some time to pull it up and read it. I am glad I did. The yarn company, Barker Wool, had a concept that I could dig into. Here it is in a nutshell.
You can start any time and you pick any intention (in my case, I am picking two. I need a lot of therapy) and that is your focus for the year. It can be anything! Here are some of their suggestions.
Intentions
Grief
Anger
Anxiety
Sobriety
Medical concerns
Travel
Gestation
Kindness
Spiritual Growth
Gratitude & Joy
Emotions
Seasons
Curiosity (my personal favorite!)
At the end of each day, you give yourself some space and some time, just a few minutes. You pull out your journal (mine is a thin, handcrafted journal made by a local maker) and you write a few lines about how you did with your intention that day. Big paragraphs are not required but if you are in the mood, have at it. Remember, this is to be a project that does require daily dedication but not so much work that you start skipping days because you don't have time.
You write a few lines about how you did that day, then you pick the yarn color that matches how your day went, then you knit 2 or so rounds. Simple.
I have chosen 3 colors (that are glorious). Great day? Use the lighter hue. Okay day? Use the medium hue. Not so good? Use the dark hue. It's that easy. The pattern is a no-brainer tube scarf, so, during these few moments of quiet, you can really focus on what went right and pat yourself on the back, or what went wrong and what you are going to do differently tomorrow. Now that is something I can sink my teeth into.
Picking the yarn.
I actually picked my colors and then emailed Barker Wool to make sure it was a good blend (the computer screen can be a liar when it comes to color authenticity). I got a lovely email back from Dawn, cheering me on and affirming that I picked a great color combo.
My color choices. So yummy! I think I am going to do some marling in my Journal Knitting project. Colors are L to R: Serenade, Naiad, and Boro.
My yarn arrived and I have stared at it, all twirled into a skein like a soft-serve ice cream cone, for 3 weeks. I plan on starting my journal knitting on Monday of next week. I am hoping you'll join me, you can jump in any time!
Pattern
If you decide to join me in this journey, I have a gift. Dawn, from Barker Wool, has graciously offered us 10% off the pattern for your journal knitting. The pattern is, Archive Loop, a lovely little knit designed just for Journal Knitting. Use JOURNAL10 on their website at Barker Wool. Go to the patterns area and scroll to Archive Loop- If you can get past the other amazing projects…
Remember, Journal Knitting is more about the process than the end product. With that said, I cannot wait until the scarf reaches a length that pleases me and I bind off. I am excited to lay it out and look at the swirl of color that is my journey, with all of its highs and lows. I want to wrap myself in it and let it warm me and remind me that my journey, every part of it, is a beautiful thing.
To all of my amazing crochet buddies, join in! There are lots of simple crochet patterns to pick from that adapt easily to this method!
If you decided to Journal Knit (or crochet) with us, please let us know by emailing us, commenting on this post or send us a Facebook or Instagram message. We want to encourage you, see your yarn choice, and be a part of your journey.
Kim Weitkamp-Gum is the founder of The Secret Stitching Society and an avid gardener.
She is a creative soul and the guardian of a glorious thread and yarn stash that she likes to look at while drinking wine. Kim is also a writer and performer with 8 audio collections and an armload of awards. Her true passion is empowering others to find their creative self. Find out more about Kim at www.kimweitkamp.com or on instagram @kimusic @kim_broidery