50 Before 50 #6 - Knitting is my new zen

I had a wake up call about 2 months ago that has prompted me to examine how I manage stress in my life. Spoiler alert: this historically has not been a strength for me. Enter my 50 Before 50 wish list- was there anything on that list that could help?

My grandma taught me how to crochet and knit years ago- she was always working on a blanket for someone when she watched her "stories" in the afternoons. We still have a blanket that grandma crocheted in our family room, and I think of her every time I use it. (It is on my lao right now as I type.) I have wanted to pick up crochet or knitting again, but it had been too long and I lost the muscle memory.

Turns out that taking a knitting class at Cream City Yarn in Elm Grove was just what I needed to get me back on track- and then some! I found a beginner class that was offered the first three Saturdays in March. The class was an intimate group of 6 women sitting around a table in the back of the store, sharing our mistakes and our successes as we learned how to cast on, knit, purl, bind off and many other fundamentals about knitting. Our instructor, Lisa (in center photo below), was so patient and able to find the best way to coach each of us along. The photo to the right is my first learning swatch- look at all those holes!

The best news is that I really love knitting! There is something about the repetitive nature of it that helps me let go and get out of my head. I can take my knitting project anywhere- it went to California on Spring Break earlier this month and really made the plane rides go by fast. The picture at the top of the blog is my first completed project-a cowl. It is so cozy! I wore it to the movies on Friday night, and I'm still amazed that I made something that I can actually wear in public!

I went in to Cream City Yarn over the weekend - Lisa was there and helped me pick out a really great next project that I can't wait to cast on and get started. Joey has a baseball tournament next weekend- I see this new project making the trip with us. Another thing about knitting that I did not expect was to develop an appreciation for the different fiber (yarns) that are available. Cream City has me spoiled on gorgeous hand-dyed natural fibers!

So- back to the stress management. I am woking on Meditation for my next 50 Before 50 skill. Please let me know if you have any suggestions for skills that help you manage your stress- I am eager to build up my options!

Have a great week!