PURL Dispatch #2

Welcome to my PURL dispatch — where I round up and share my current Projects, Updates, Reads and Lessons.

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One of the biggest reasons why I don’t do WIP wednesday’s that often is because I’d just be talking about the same projects week after week and I don’t think people would be interested in that. As a process knitter, I savor the slow work of creating and WIP wednesday feels like it can quickly slide into capitalistic, over production territory. That being said, not participating often means I feel no pressure to finish my projects so they just end up waiting around. Currently I have 6 projects on the needles, but I’ve only really been working on one (see what I mean?). Here are the top three that I’m feeling most excited about!

I’ve been working slowly but surely on this slipover. It’s actually been on my mind to do for about a year and a half now but I just never got around to it until now. The yarn I’m using I actually bought for the Zakkurri cardigan but it wasn’t giving me the right drape so I decided to use it for the slipover. It’s a fairly easy construction — back panel flat, pick up stitches for both shoulders, knit them down, join, knit, join in the round and now I’m just doing mindless stockintte for (what feels like) a thousand rounds. It’s my perfect project to take to knit night because I don’t have to pay attention to it!

Pattern: Highland Slipover
Yarn: BC Garn Loch Lomand in Sand

I found the right stitch pattern and have almost completed the back panel! It’s flying off the needles due to the large gauge and I’m hoping to have it ready by May

Pattern: mine
Yarn: Lion Brand Fisherman wool in Natural

My first ever true colorwork project and it’s going surprisingly well! I’m using Life in the Long Grass high twist sock (forget the colorway but it’s the blue) and then Cascade heritage in cedar green for the quilt stars. So far so good although I’m 90% sure I’ll need to rip back and restart because I don’t think my early floats are loose enough. Oh well!

Pattern: Under the Quilt Socks by Stone Knits
Yarn: Life in the Long Grass High Twist Sock + Cascade Heritage

I am attempting my first quilt and therefore I chose a simple St. Louis 16 patch pattern as it is easy to cut (there are no triangles) and easy to assemble. This pattern by Joz Makes Quilts is SO beginner friendly and she has tons of resources on her website and blog to help you out every step of the way.

• Pattern: St Louis 16 Patch Quilt by Joz Makes Quilts

• Fabric: precut bundle “Cool Grandma” (no longer available) by Cottoneer Fabrics

I’m coping with everything by getting outside and getting into birds. You heard that right, first you turn 36 and then you find yourself out every weekend looking for eagles nests and blue herons. I live right by a protected wetlands (this is usually where I go run) and I’ve seen people of all ages out and about birding in the years I’ve been going there. Both times I’ve been out other people have stopped and asked about what birds we are seeing or to tell us something they found up ahead. It’s a really fun way to get outside and interact safely and mindfully with nature.

I’m currently reading multiple books, per usual. I’ve found a solid rhythm for myself - an audiobook (for driving and knitting), a digital book (to unwind before bed), and a physical book (to read while drinking coffee). This rotation works really well for me and helps me read a lot of books per month if I stay consistent.

I usually listen to my audiobooks through Libro.fm which is an audiobook provider that partners with indie bookstores! This means that when you purchase a book or sign up for their subscription you are able to select an indie bookstore that part of the proceeds will go to. Unlike other audiobook providers you actually own the books you buy, they can’t take them back or restrict your access to them! If you sign up for a monthly subscription ($17 for a book a month) using my Libro.fm link you get two extra credits (aka books) and so do I!

Of all the books I am reading, Vigil by George Saunders is my favorite. I loved his debut novel Lincoln In The Bardo even though it was chaotic as hell and I was hoping his second book, Vigil, would be just as good. I think Vigil is even better, especially if you tried and hated Lincoln due to the format. Vigil has the distinct Saunders cadence and dry wit but is much more digestible and easier to follow, in my opinion. Vigil follows Jill, a long deceased woman, who falls back to earth to usher an oil magnate into the afterlife. Unfortunately, he does not want to go as this would mean leaving the power and prestige he has worked so hard to build. But death comes for us all, rich or poor, powerful or not, and Jill is tasked with staying with the man until the very end. One part commentary on corporate greed and capitalism, one part commentary on the way we are all just human at the end of the day, Vigil is a delightful romp into the unknown.

I am also reading:

So Old, So Young 🎧 by Grant Ginder (it’s ok, still waiting to be wow’ed)
Witch Season 📚 by Julia Bianco (ARC!)
Come Closer 🎧 by Sara Gran
The Road to Tender Hearts 📚 by Annie Hartnett (so good but on pause as I wait for my libby hold to come back)
The Correspondent 📚 by Virginia Evans (I just started but it’s giving Vigil as run for it’s money already!)

I could write a whole series of substacks on the lessons I’ve learned about the nervous system, surgery and recovery and the expectations we hold our bodies too since my surgery last year but I’m not sure anyone is interested in that. I will say that the impacts to my nervous system from my ovarian surgery last August are still with me today and it has been a journey to learn to work with my body where it is at, let go of my expectations of it, while also not letting myself wiggle out of asking my body to feel a bit of discomfort as we rebuild strength. It’s so easy to do a few mental back-flips to get where I can use the excuse of “listening to my body” as a way to actually placate and hand power over to my anxiety. Adaptive nervous systems are systems that can be activated (in fact they SHOULD be activated at times) and then can regulate and come back down. A nervous system that is stuck ON is just as damaging as one that is stuck OFF.

I’m working daily to expose my anxious brain to real data that says we are ok, even when I am convinced I am not and that I need a perfect environment or complete homeostasis within my body to signal safety. That’s not real, and to be honest I’ve never had a body that didn’t have some type of ache or pain or whatever going on, I just usually had an adaptive and flexible nervous system that didn’t see any sensation as a threat.

All that to say, if this feels familiar here are some resources + learning opportunities that have helped me and might also help you.

The Vagus Nerve Deck by Melissa Romano — a 75 card deck with various exercises that help you create a more flexible vagus nerve to help regulate your nervous system, reduce anxiety, and increase feelings of safety. I bought it for my clients but I use it all the time! Sometimes I’ll pick a card for the week and just keep it on my desk as a reminder to do that exercise.

Electrolytes — obviously take with caution as taking too much can cause kidney issues, but I’ve found having some electrolytes on hand, especially as my body was healing from major surgery really helped with my heart palpitations and anxiety as it felt like a grounding, centering ritual. I like two brands: LMNT electrolytes and Ultima electrolytes.

Cold washcloth over eyes — I have a really hard time falling asleep now (this is new) and the only thing that seems to work is a cold washcloth over my eyes for 10-15 minutes before bed. This works because cold, wet sensations on your eyes or forehead stimulate the dive reflex through the trigeminal and vagus nerves which also occurs when we (you guessed it) dive underwater. It immediately slows heart rate (which in turns slows breathing) and activates the parasympathetic nervous system (aka “i’m so safe I could fall asleep after a big meal” system). I’m out in about three minutes after I take that cold wash cloth off. You can also use this during the day if you find yourself particularly anxious, panic-y or stressed.

Thanks for being here with me today, I am hopefully going to be getting these out more regularly this year!

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