To honor the name of this blog, “Moon Chronicles”, we thought it fitting to go through the cycles of the moon and use its meanings to help us achieve some of our well-meant plans for the coming year. Last month, we began with a new moon and asked for input from our readers about their intentions for the New Year and your artistic goals. We hope you will send us those, as you see fit. We would love to see them!
This month, we begin to think about the phases of the moon. Here’s a quick overview: Over the course of 29.5 days, there are 8 phases to the moon, and it goes as follows: New Moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter and waning crescent.
Right after the New Moon, comes the “waxing crescent” stage. According to folklore, this is the time to set intentions and also a time to send your hopes and desires into the world. As knitters, we are no strangers to the desire to create. The truth is that there is not enough time for all the things we wish to make. Our hands are constantly itching to get onto the next project. Many of us stockpile our favorite designs in Revelry libraries or on our computers, where some of us have folders filled with waiting patterns. This is a good time to take the opportunity to reconsider these projects.
First, I review what I may need myself. In my case, the truth is I am blessed with many items that I have made and some I never wear and I need to give away. (Giving away those that I don’t use makes me feel a little virtuous, which, truth be told, I’m probably not J).
Next, I consider who I know that may have something upcoming in their lives, like a birthday or a new baby on the horizon. I’m big on hat giving since it is usually a fast and fun project and nothing says “warmly loved” quite like a hat. (Did you know that most of the body heat is lost through the crown of the head?) That’s why they are especially fitting for newborns and kids. Easy to do on a fixed circular needle, they don’t require sewing up and can utilize multiple colors – cutting down on the number of leftover yarns every knitter has on hand.
Speaking of yarn, this is a great time to take a hard look at an important presence in our lives: OUR STASH! I capitalized this since it’s a source of great interest to those of us who, long ago, fell in love with fiber and yarn goods of all kinds. Now is the time, however, to be ruthless in reducing the number of unused yarns that may go unknitted. Honestly evaluate what may still be of use and resolve to give away that which isn’t serving its purpose. If no knitter wants or promises to use what you cannot, then research giving it away to nearby knitting groups or non-profit organizations like the Salvation Army who will happily take full, clean and labeled skeins, as long as they are identifiable and useable. Be sure to be realistic when giving older yarns away.
The same might be applied to those viable knitting needles that you no longer need. Someone out there – like a school – can surely use matched sets of your old ones. Of course, no one in their right mind is expected to give away their sets of interchangeable knitting needles. However, if you’re super-duper fortunate or smart, you have these stored in knitting needle cases that can be elegantly stored on a shelf – perhaps next to your favorite knitting books?
Lastly, you might want to create a reasonable list – in order of priority, perhaps. This is when a knitting journal can really come in handy. Here you will find one in a gift set for knitters. You can also create a simple one in a regular notebook. The whole point is to get yourself geared up and, like the waxing crescent, begin to set intentions.
In the next issue of The Moon Chronicles, we will take an honest look at the next stage to come: The First Quarter – characterized by Creative Action! Needles Up – Let’s knit! Come back in two weeks and we’ll share our thoughts once again.