Amble and Knit: 1: Needle Choices & Observing Our Knitting; Responsible Sustainable consumption; Q&A
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- čas přidán 22. 08. 2024
- Amble & Knit: A Supplement to the Wool and the Forest Podcast: Episode 1, where I talk about knitting needle choices, the impact of materials on our hands and bodies, observing our practice of knitting, de-influencing and reversing consumerism, podcast recommendations and some personal Q&A.
↟↟ I do not make any income from this CZcams channel nor will I monetize this channel in the future. If you would like to support the making of these videos please make either
(1) a one-time donation OR
(2) a continuing subscription
to my Patreon.
My family and I are grateful for your support 🙏🏾
↟ There are no affiliate links in this video or description.
↟ There are no paid promotions on this video.
↟↟ Show Notes:
Donate, don't hoard: the majority of my metal needles were donated to our local women's advocacy and shelter organization, and the local church where women knit clothes and accessories for babies and children in the community.
Whenever possible we donate without throwing or hoarding.
Whenever possible we buy second hand, to keep using items that have already gone through the manufacturing process.
Soil degradation: read up on what should be the most urgent issue for our generation; the state of soil on our planet!
www.ipcc.ch/sr...
www.un.org/sus...
news.un.org/en...
www.iisd.org/a...
↟ Find me on
Instagram: @woolandtheforest
/ woolandtheforest
Website: woolandthefore...
Patreon: patreon.com/woolandtheforest
↟ What I’m wearing:
“Afmaeli”, by Vedis Jonsdottir, for Istex
Wooden Needles, Sunstruck Options by Knit Picks
↟ Podcasts Mentioned:
Jenny Rakoto @jennyrakoto
Yarn Chaos @yarnchaos
Knit State of Mind @knitstateofmindpodcast
↟Credits: Camera, editing & colouring by Daki De Alwis.
Music from Epidemic Sound: Ever So Blue.
↟Chapters:
0.00 - 0:33 intro sequence
0:33 - 1:47 intro
1:47 - 4:36 episode outline
4:36 - 11:01 The why
11:01 - 30:27 Needle Choices & Paying Attention
30:27 - 39:52 Knitting "Needs"
39:52 - 45:15 podcast recommendations
45:15 - 52:53 Q&A
I am the 71year young knitter that chatted with you awhile ago. Now, I'm privileged to be listening to this new venture. I made a short comment yesterday, but it was so compelling I had to come back and share this fact and thought with you. I want you to think about what I'm going to tell you as an older Auntie (lol). Since the beginning of time it has been one person's voice that gathered thousands, fed them with fish and words that filled them with love and the willingness to learn. Generations later another voice emerged and tolerance for all gathered thousands until his country gained independence from an intolerant nation. The next generation was born and another voice came from the mist to once again say let my people go. Are you getting what I'm saying? I have seen so much history, so much pain, and yet happiness. You can't save the world, but your voice can come from the mist to be heard in truth. Use your voice because the truth of which you speak will also be heard even standing on top of your little envelopes. They also stood on not even an envelope to speak their truths that could not be denied. I have taught my own daughter to speak up and out regardless of popular opinion.. I'm very proud of her as I am of you. I know when I leave this world the world will go on, but small voices speaking the truths that cannot be denied will be heard. I hope this little note is not long nor boring for you, but maybe you will think of a message that I have left for you.
Dear Joanne, I thank you deeply for being such an exemplary Elder, a woman of wisdom, and for sharing your wise words and realizations gained from a lifetime of experience and observation. What is the ocean but a multitude of drops, am I right? So each drop moves the mighty ocean and has an impact on the unfathomable whole. I am humbled by the truth you speak here and uplifted and heartened to keep going. There's something in human beings that refuses to be silenced, and flattened and forced into prisons, whether of the mind or the outside world. Thank you for reminding me of this 🙏🏾💙
I watch a lot of knitting podcasts in the winter months as I knit--it is a kind of parallel play, if you will. This is the most soul nourishing channel I watch; it feels akin to spiritual practice. This new series in particular is sure to become a staple of my knitting practice since it brings true presence and community care into the equation. Most channels I watch make me want to go buy all the yarn and all the tools and all the knickknacks...and then I come here and I recenter on why I came to knitting, why I love it, in the first place. I don't have any notes--just keep doing and saying what your intuition tells you. I'm a polsci expat as well. I would like to explore the polisci to handcraft, slow living, rural community building pipeline. After I did my masters I realized that all the answers are local--human-to-human, human-to-planet, etc. Thank you for your gracious offerings.
So much incredible resonance, familiarity, and kinship in your words and the feeling that sits so beautifully behind each of them ❤️ I cannot express the feeling of recognition and how much I value it when I read messages like this. You have made my day! That pipeline sounds fascinating and something we should definitely explore, one Polsci expat to another 🤗. Thank you Noelle so much also for your support on Patreon. It means more than the sum itself, way more. It's women like you I'm looking at seeing when i sit in fron of that lifeless lens of the camera, and it makes it all worthwhile. 🙏🏽
Maybe the group of ladies who enjoy this podcast/forum will become your new "gang of Aunties". 🥰
😄 ahhh now that's a lovely thought!
love the podcast recommendations, thank you. I had just subscribed to Yarn Chaos but the other two are new to me. I have been filtering through so many podcasts in order to find there ones that resonate. I watch them while knit for a couple of hours a day. I also really resonated with this Amble and Knit. I look forward to the next. Thank you. PS: I too grew up with my Dad in the Army on the opposite side of the border in Pakistan. I loved the mix of cultures and languages we experienced in Pakistan, pretty true for people in the army or not, but with packing up and moving every 2 years we experience it more often. And now in Canada, I have met so many more people from different parts of the world. I think we are very blessed and lucky people.
I very much agree! I considered it a great blessing to grow up surrounded by all those diverse influences🥰🙏🏾 Thanks so much for making time for this podcast and for leaving me a comment!
Thank you, I thoroughly enjoyed this podcast--the intimacy and honesty that you bring. It is refreshing to have a public voice for giving thought and care to our consumption and choices.
I'm so grateful to hear this, thank you for taking time to leave me a comment and for watching the podcast 🙏🏾💙
Hello Daki. You said something most true: our world is trembling. I am grateful to you for sharing your peaceful heart and serene voice. I must admit to you that my knitting stayed beside me, untouched during your show. This was time that was a gift to myself--soft lighting, warm tea and listening to your uplifting words. You are creating a community that is inspired to be aware of our lives. One by one, we will be kinder and the world will tremble less. Bless you Daki. Hugs from Canada.
Oh what a truly uplifting bit of feedback here Lori! Your words and your intention that are so clear are truly appreciated by me, and I am so grateful to know that something I have shared here has made you feel and resonate in this way 🙏🏾💙.
Thank you for talking about the health of the soul and by extension the health of Gaia. I was working towards a PhD in environmental geochemistry before switching to medicine 40 years ago. Seeing the impact of climate change was sobering and it's only gotten worse. I made the conscious decision then to only have one child and not eat animal products. I share a car and live simply. I craft with thrifted materials and take my time enjoying the making in no rush to produce. This is the kind of influencer i would love to see amplified in social media.
Thank you so much Claire, for finding the podcast and for leaving me your thoughtful response. Crafting with thrifted materials I'd highly underrated and needs to be encouraged for sure! 🙏🏾
Love the fact that you say jumper instead of sweater. You are only the second podcaster I've seen who holds the needle like I do. Love that you talk about the environment, I do everything I can to minimise my footprint, ride my bike,, grow food and think twice before I buy anything but it gets very disheartening when you see so much waste around you.
You are doing good work, as long as you are focused on your own individual self and the conscious choices you are making, that's all it takes! What others are doing in the end is entirely outside of our control, and all we can do is act responsibly bringing as much consciousness to bear as we can. 🙏🏾💙
This was such a breath of fresh air to listen to! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on subjects that are obviously close to your heart, it’s inspiring to hear someone appreciate and uplift the craft in a way that does not revolve around a constant need to consume products, yarns, etc. I am really looking forward to your next episode!
The constant need to consume, so rightly put! is not just normalized but also glorified. And that's where we need to become more responsible I think, in both buying into and encouraging that kind of compulsive consumption. Thank you so much for taking the time to watch and leave a thoughtful comment 🙏🏾☀️
You are speaking to my soul. I have stopped watching so many you tube channels because they keep selling this & that, things that aren't needed. I am making my life simple, not taking more than I can give back to the earth.
Loving this new format and I really care about the topics you’re talking about. I’m a kindred spirit here in Portland, Oregon. Mama of 4 grown kids and a creative since I was little. I started knitting because I cloth diapered my babies and I wanted to make knitted, wool diaper covers for them. there was no way to buy these wool diaper covers, so I had to learn to knit.
…I relate so much to what you’re talking about. I am a person who actually gets much pleasure from each and every stitch.
I found it very interesting when you talked about how we follow the knitting culture to rush through and make as many projects as possible. I was never like that, until about 2 years ago when I started following all the knitters on IG and knitting podcasts. I love following knitters on Instagram. I love all the ideas and inspo I get from IG knitters.
Recently I became aware that I had changed my mindset about knitting and I turned into more of a product-knitter rather than process-knitter. Now that I am aware of this, I’m going to try to go back to being a process knitter. Knitting is LIFE.
Also, I care that sheep are treated kindly so I am working buying wool that comes from sheep that have not been mulesed. Why does the knitting community not talk about this more??
Well, I’m only halfway through your video, so I’ll probably be back to leave my comments about the second half. I really adore your energy and your gentle, beautiful spirit.
Thank you so much Heidi for this beautiful, heartfelt message! I do resonate with all you are expressing here and feel that kinship as well. And of course the four babies, they do leave a special kind of mark 😄. And yes there are many issues pertaining to treatment of our fellow non-human inhabitants of this planet and things like plastic-coated wool (aka Superwash) which are glossed over in the most bizarre way in a community that is apparently all about this 'natural' material we call wool. Much to talk about and engage with in future episodes 🙏🏾💙
Just finished the second half of your podcast and loved it! I sooo resonate with your message. Sometimes I feel like no one I know (in person) seems to truly care our earth, the animals, and respect and justice for ALL humans.
Thank you so much for talking about our responsibility to our earth-as knitters and humans to proactively care for it with ALL the choices we make-including our knitting purchases.
Also agree with you about the superwash wool…😟
Please do more of these types of podcasts-if you have time. I know you are a busy mama!
I’d love for you to talk about mulesing and encouraging awareness and support wool producers that do not practice it.
I look forward to your next podcast🥰
@@heidimasanga892 thank you so much for this Heidi! And I will certainly take your feedback into account when I plan future episodes. The treatment of our non-human inhabitants is something that needs to be addressed, especially when it comes to consuming the precious fiber these animals provide us.🙏🏾💙
I am very excited about this new series! I love that you are putting yourself out here to tell us your true thoughts instead of trying to please the masses. It's one of the things that bothers me the most about social media and youtube and platforms like that - so many people think that the way they need to be to be "successful" is to never garner any criticism from anyone. I feel so bad for all the young women making the knitting podcasts who are constantly apologizing and being self-critical just to fend off any negative feedback. I always think of the quote, attributed to several different people so I'm not sure who actually said it first - "to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, be nothing." If you want to please all the people all the time, you end up becoming very one-dimensional and flattened. You end up saying nothing.
All that is to say, even if I disagreed with what you said (which I don't) I'd rather hear it than not hear it. I'd rather hear lots of diverse voices all talking unapologetically in their own voices about what they truly care about than trying to hide their real thoughts in fear of offending someone. Of course part of it is very noble- wanting to please everyone and never hurt anyone. But it goes too far if it means you hide yourself from the world because you are afraid of how someone might take it. Even if you try to please everyone, someone will be critical of you. That's just the nature of people, and especially how they behave online. So you may as well be yourself. We need more real people.
I guess another thing about it is that some people have made a career out of being followed, and their livelihood now depends on pleasing as many people as possible. As someone from an older generation than most of the social media influencers, it's very odd to see how "selling out" has become a goal. When I was a young person, it was the worst thing you could do. We wanted to stay true to ourselves and never be bought by "the man" (haha!)
Well that was a lot of words about that! On the topic of knitting needles, I suppose I am lucky that I am a relatively new knitter so I don't really have preconceived ideas about what I like. I'm willing to try a lot of different things. I certainly prefer wooden needles for most things, I realized that right away. I also just like looking at them and touching them. Metal is so cold and clinky. And I'm not in a hurry. I only knit for my own pleasure and not to please anyone else, so I have no real need of speed. I try to enjoy all of the process. I love making swatches and considering various fabric attributes, which most online knitters seem to hate doing. I think they are in such a big hurry to finish something to share, they are missing out on the slow and relaxing pleasure of the craft.
I look forward to your next video on any topic! Tell us all your spicy opinions please!
😄 Yes yes! I was nodding along so much while reading your message Kate and as usual you are so thoughtful and encouraging and respectful in the way you are sharing your opinion. It looks perhaps like I have been born in the wrong generation 😂 but I suppose many people feel that way. The way I was raised and the culture in which I was raised selling out to appease was also seen as the worst possible thing. But now it's almost expected that you toe a certain kind of line so that you can remain sterile and acceptable to whatever dominant narrative or doctrine is ruling the online spaces these days. I love that you focus on the knitted fabric itself and the pleasure of seeing the various qualities that wool fabric can take depending on gauge and the type of fiber itself. It's the kind of dedication that really leads to a lot of pleasure in the process I feel. 🙏🏾💙
Hi Kate, I don't know if we are from the same generation but some of the things you said reminded me of things I heard growing up, and made me giggle a little. Like "selling out" or don't let "the man win" 😄 I think it stems from my parents generation always just having to do what had to be done and any sort of individualism had to be put away because there wasn't time or money. They wanted their kids to be able to enjoy themselves and express themselves. I love thinking about what makes people (and me) tick.
Dear Daki, it is a privilege to see and hear you speak.
That is very humbling to hear Mia, thank you!
Thank you so much for bringing consiousness in our knitting .. i really like this poscast ... its a next level ❤ ❤
That's such a kind thing to say Christel, thank you so much 🙏🏾
WONDERFUL, DAKI!! Love your emphasis on sustainability, reuse and especially our governorship and stewardship of our land and soil. It is so interesting to hear about your experiences with different needles and how they work with your knitting style. I use both and knit differently and will pay more attention to how it affects me. I am loving your intimate invitation to pay more attention, I agree that is important. Thanks for your time sans thoughtfulness.
Thank you dear Nanette! 🙏🏾 Your comments are always so thoughtful and I truly appreciate your support ❤️
I agree that we all need to practice more sustainable living. You express your view so aptly. I do try to move away from consumerism, which is difficult like you say when you are inundated with all the things you think you "need". I wish there was a clear cut solution to moving forward in a positive way. Thank you so much Ducky!
I think there are many ways to gain clarity and that's more of what I will speak of going forwards. Thank you so much for your kind words!
Oh my dear ! I'm so grateful for you to also be my online friend ! Thank you so much for recommending my channel. My heart is full 💕
I am definitely into this new content that you bring to us. We can go deeper into our craft and have some reflexion about it, which I love. Plus, we get to know more about you 🥰 Thank you for sharing !
I very much enjoyed your recent podcast. I am a knitter in my late 60's and just this past year have discovered the CZcams world. While I love listening & watching other knitters because I have few knitting friends in real life, I do find that watching these podcast has increased my "need" for new gadgets, yarns, knitting bags etc. I originally learned to knit in a school playground with 2 sharpened pencils & some string so I know that only simple tools are really needed to enjoy this craft. Your podcast I think will help temper the other voices that are tempting me to consume things I don't really need. Thank You!
Two pencils and some string. What a beautiful way to capture the essence of what I was talking of. We need so little, and our ancestors needed so much less than us. Simplifying is the way forward 🙏🏾
What a lovely episode.
I love hearing your philosophy, very much in line with where I am at.
Looking forward to the next episode
Thanks so much for your podcast. I welcome looking at our practice with the intention of avoiding consumerism. I have a little podcast where I talk about my goal to make clothes from sustainable fibers that will decompose after they are no longer useful. Another focus is to keep a smaller wool pantry with only a small amount of yarn that can feed my creativity, rather than "stocking up" with more yarn than I can ever knit. These goals are a work in progress, but something I'm striving for and your words create a framework and inspiration for moving in that direction. To use what I have, support small farmers, and use yarns that are made of natural fibers. I'm 70, so I hope more of the younger podcasters will join you in making this more of a focus of their episodes.
How wonderful and all things that resonate deeply with how I approach life and knitting! I will certainly find your podcast as much of what you're saying here is close to my heart 🙏🏾
So much you said resonates with me. I am 80, starting to really knit, very concerned about the climate and even had two Icelandic horses. Wish we could talk in person…and the town my grandmother born in, Papa has an indigo dye history……so much I am thinking.
Oh how lovely to hear from you! Do connect with me either here or Instagram and id love to hear more. Icelandic horses are absolutely stunning and I know a lovely lady, a very talented textile artist spinner and knitter from iceland, who has worked with Icelandic horses very closely.
Aw thank you Daki - I love this new format - now I have two podcasts listienng to you while I knit! I agree with all you said - we need to be true to ourselves - never let anyway dull your sparkle! Thank you for your wise words - you always speak so eloquently and always in tune with my own thoughts xxx
You are so kind nicola, thank you for this sweet sweet message! 💙💙🙏🏾
Dear Daki, I recently discovered your show and I am amazed about your talents and skills, as well as your lovely communication ability.
On the topic of needles, I adore my Lykke copper needles and also my bamboo needles.
I find that the project and yarn makes a difference as to what type of needles I should use.
I have lately felt that my elbow joints ache after knitting for long periods of time, so I have adopted a routine of stretching and doing Qigong first thing in the morning. It’s easy to want to jump in and get going with our knitting without being ‘mindful’ of our health. We need to take breaks and relax our eyes and muscles, tension can build up in our joints and this can put us out of commission if we aren’t careful.
I am happy you are out there for us, I enjoy your conversations and knitting tips, the music and gorgeous composition of your photography, etc. All the best!
Thank you Xiomara for this wonderful, encouraging feedback! I truly appreciate all you've said about this video and I feel like the message is finding the hearts and ears it's meant to. 🙏🏾
My deepest thanks for bringing these issues to the forefront on "your stack of envelopes". I was a regenerative farmer for many years and constantly fought this battle in the public sphere where I could. You are absolutely right that tremendous growth is on the other side of discomfort if one chooses to traverse that path. Unforturnately, it is choosing us regardless of how we feel about it. Making choices that are healthy in the long run is something I try hard to model for my children and they by and large do make planet healthy choices. I have accused of being a "snob" in many respects because I choose local whole foods, fibres that are natural and compostable, purchase second hand where I can and shop local for as many goods when they are needed in our local community. I can live with that, but also understand that for others, these may be more difficult choices to make for a number of reasons. In my experience, the way forward is through the sharing of knowledge, coming alongside and encouragement.
On the knitting front, I recently switched back to birch dpns from small circumference metal needles for sock knitting. What a difference and I didn't realize how much tension I was creating in my hands with the small needles. The wood just feels so much better and I can relate to the cold issue. I will still use my small metal needles to knit fingering weight socks but it is good to change it up for our bodies.
Thank you so much Silvia for your thoughtful and honest words! I think there is a tendency these days for people to attack or demean anyone who is perceived as a threat to their comfort bubble. Anyone who dares to speak or change their behaviours in a way that would make others reflect on their own choices is usually maligned I feel. I think the important part is to keep being true to your own clarity of vision and to seek individual transformation at all times, and having an impact on those who are open and receptive to change and self reflection. 🙏🏾
Thank you for this refreshing episode of knitting “content”.. I appreciate that the thing you offered here is not just FOs and WIPS, but the wisdom of your own lived experiences.
I especially appreciated your perspective on the word “mindfulness”- so powerful and insightful. I hear you, and respectfully agree. Because words are so powerful, I wonder now if using the word “observance” would be better suited the practice you described and so many of us try to infuse our daily lives with (busy as they are!)
Finally, I thought to say that your story of growing up among a very diverse group of “aunties” resonated so deeply with me. Through very different circumstances, I also found myself being raised and learning from such a surprising mix of aunties as well.
For me, this was wonderful. I look forward to the next episode. Thank you Daki 🙏🏽
Thank you so much Cassandra for this lovely message! I think I've been blessed my whole life really by having groups of strong, eccentric, opinionated and very diverse women around me. And yes I do think observance, observing, becoming the observer, paying attention...all these phrases are far less murky and far more straightforward when it comes to conveying what I'm speaking of. 🙏🏾💙
Dear Daki, I’m a new viewer and subscriber to your channel. I’m grateful to have found you because all of what you’re voicing here resonates with me. You are source of reason and calm for me. Thank you.
That is so very uplifting to hear Heather, thank you so much for taking the time to let me know!
I so enjoyed this first, of hopefully many, episode of you sharing your deeper thoughts on things related to our knitting/crafting. I watched it yesterday but have really been processing much of what you said. Over time, particularly since covid and being in isolation much of the time, my time on social media increased and, along with that, came this desire to “have”. The pattern, the yarn, the fiber, the kit… whatever it was. Not so much tools or gadgets, but the desire for the object became the drive. The consumption of information on CZcams also grew. These things have become more and more uncomfortable. My desire to be more intentional has grown. You articulated my feelings in such a beautiful way. After finishing your episode, I began the process of unfollowing and unsubscribing to things that were really clutter. Things that no longer speak to me. Honestly, it became a chore keeping up with all the channels and platforms. Thank you for putting these thoughts to words that brought about action. My soul feels lighter already. Have a blessed day.
This is the kind of feedback that just uplifts me so much Gail, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to write so thoughtfully and to tell me about how your own thought processes are changing and nudging you towards awareness and conscious consumption. The discomfort you identify is so crucial! Just being able to see the discomfort is the first signs that change is already happening in your mental and emotional spaces. I am so grateful to be able to contribute in a small way towards your finding ease and peace within yourself 🙏🏾💙
Love the message. I always feel grounded and a part of a larger community, both past and present, when I pick up my needles.
That's so true Jeannette, knitting and all fiber arts seems to really connect people with their heritage and their ancestors. 🙏🏾
Those who leaves are the ones that needed to hear what you have to say 😔
I´m all in. Use your platform and say what has to be said.
💗
🙏🏾🙏🏾
So thankful for your words❤ mindful an mindless…..paying attention to knitting. Observing my knitting. Thank you for bringing this to me. ❤
And thank you once again feel kind support of my videos! 🙏🏾💙
Wow, finally someone addressing the over consumption in this community! Seriously how many project bags ,or stitch markers can you actually use? Or how many people can afford $40 a skein yarn? I fell in myself, but caught myself and opened my eyes. So easy to get pulled in…
I do think in the end that's it's each individual's responsibility to manage their own consumption behaviours and to manage how we take in all the 'influencing' forces around us. There's so much information and so much digital content being brought to us, but it is up to each of us to decide how we respond to what we see. 🙏🏾
Physical, offline community of knitting, yes! As physical and material as knitting is, actual meet ups really help and give fun! I have an online chat group in my language, but I try to meet up if I get a chance near me (within 1 hour of traveling!). Really helped me during covid and also with my knitting questions 😉
I see you and I think alike, and I'm so happy to see your enthusiastic comment here! Physical connection and community building is I believe one of the most essential human needs 🙏🏾🌷
Thank you and koti pranams for your remarks about yogic knitting. Everything you said about mindfulness and mindlessness was 100000% correct. Thank you! 🙏🕉
Ahhh thanks so much Joshey! I'm very happy to hear that you heard what I was trying to say. Namaskaram and thank you so much for making time to watch the broadcast 🙏🏾🕉️.
I have unsubscribed to many podcasters for the very reasons you express. I don't need to collect yarn for the sake of owning it or to gather gadgets that are pretty but no different from the ones I already have. Six decades of knitting have taught me many things about needles, too. Metal is faster but wood is much more comfortable for my elder hands. I have also recently abandoned the magic loop in favour of dpns. A trip to my local yarn shop today revealed to me that there was precious little in the way of what I call down to earth, rustic, minimally processed wool yarn. It's all I will use now. Call it crone wisdom? I do know I will continue to seek out that kind of yarn for myself. It doesn't surprise me that I wasn't chased away with your radical ideas! We seem to be of one mind about a lot of things.
Crone wisdom is something I will humbly and with great gratitude seek out and kneel before. I consider the wise ladies and elders of my acquaintance and community the greatest blessing and I thank you for bringing these understandings to share here Ann. Thank you so much again for your thoughtful and astute observations🙏🏾❤️
I hope you don’t mind me sharing this kernel of an idea I have beefing kicking around I’m tentatively calling’The Zen of Knitting’.
What I’ve realized from my 65 years of knitting (I’m 70) is this: I spent years learning various techniques and skills and now consider myself an ‘expert’. I’ve done the requisite 10,000 hours of practice if that is what it takes. As I knit now, more and more I realize that the way to produce work that is most satisfying is to pay attention to the row you are on. Have the faith to believe that what you have knitted in the past is supporting and informing your practice. If you attend to the row you are on the finished product will be everything you wish it to be.
It seems to me this is something to live by. Do your best to be well informed about what you are doing and then pay attention to how you are doing it in this moment.
Jeannie Mills, The Knitting Crone
I agree with many of the sentiments you have expressed here, concerning paying attention to each stitch in each row, knowing that the process is the outcome and that the outcome is inherently defined by the level of attention you pay to the process itself, etc. 🙏🏾 However what I do not agree with is this Western obsession with conflating paradigms, philosophies, and spiritual traditions of East Asian and South Asian cultures with any activity performed. So while I am happy to hear that you consider yourself a knitting expert does that also make you an expert on Zen techniques and Zen Buddhist traditions? If you were a Zen Master who was looking to exploit the knitting tendencies of one of his disciples in order to bring that disciple more clarity about a particular Zen technique, then I would consider it appropriate usage to talk of Zen and knitting in the same breath. Knitting is not yoga; Yoga IS Yoga. Knitting is not zen; Zen is Zen.
Did you know, for instance, that the word zen is actually the Sanskrit word Dhyan? That Dhyana Yoga, just one of the main arms of the yogic sciences, was exported to China by the Indian Pallava prince Bodhidharma? And over time in China, and by the time it reached Japan Dhyan had turned into Zen?
These are well articulated, refined techniques for spiritual advancement that have been developed over 1000s of years in India, China and Japan. They should not be distorted, diluted, and flattened by westerners, or anyone for that matter, who thinks that a basic understanding of either Yoga or Zen gives them the capability to propound these ideas on public platforms. These traditions have lineages, what we call 'parampara', and they should be taught and brought to the world by those who have made it their life's work to perfect and practice these techniques, those who have a deep and full understanding of the heritage these ideas come from, the cultural context they come from, the history, and therefore those who have the best capability to teach it in a way that is relevant and applicable in the world we live in today. If an understanding of Zen ideas has given you some form of personal well-being in your life activities, which includes knitting, I say kudos to you and keep going. But leave spiritual traditions and techniques of the ancient world to those who actually have the lived experience, true expertise, lineage and capabilities to teach them.
Thanks a lot for the opportunity to clarify 🙏🏾.
Thank you for these very helpful comments. I actually have been thinking the entire time I have been formulating my ideas that perhaps I should not be using term Zen and you have clearly articulated why.
Years ago there was a popular novel entitled’Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance’ and I my memory of that book surely did influence my use of the term.
So I am going to find a term that arises from areas where I do have deeper experience.
Thanks again for the clarity of your response, you’ve helped me work through a previously rather nebulous idea and allowed me to have a lot more clarity.
Sometimes my neuro divergent brain fails to comprehend what to neuro typical people might find quite simple and self evident.
Music to my ears! As we have been told in the past, "An inconvenient truth"! Thank you for taking the risk. Steph UK
Oh yes, those inconvenient truths can definitely get the messenger into trouble 😂 thank you so much Stephanie for taking time to watch this episode 🙏🏾
Thank you, Daki, for this wonderful new show! I agree wholeheartedly with your ideas about the misunderstanding in western popular culture of the concepts of simple awareness and observation. I also loved your comments about consumption, and the importance of using a platform like this wisely and responsibly. I look forward to more episodes of the show, as well as your podcast.
Marilyn
So happy to hear you enjoyed it Marilyn and thank you for taking the time to leave me a comment 🙏🏾💛
Thank you Daki, so so enjoyed this first episode. Very wise words indeed. I already love your regular podcasts, and look eagerly forward to the next amble and ramble 💜 I often feel quite uncomfortable about yarn in general, I love yarn and I love knitting, particularly in wool. I do worry though about yarn influencers on social media, the production of it and if the ‘grass roots’ people get a fair deal. Some yarn is exorbitantly priced and I don’t know if this is justifiable. I haven’t used much expensive yarn, but from reading feedback from people who have it’s not often what it is cracked up to be. I love using local yarns if I can and ones that have minimal processing and I am always so pleased with what I make and wear. I will often recycle jumpers into new projects, sometimes multiple times, and the yarn looks just as good as the first time I knit it. I would love to hear your thoughts about this, maybe in a future amble and knit?
Thank you so much Debra for bringing up so many interesting points and yes definitely would love to deal with many of these issues in future episodes. Relocalizing, and recycling, two of the things you have mentioned you are already bringing into your practice, I absolutely essential for us all to do when it comes to how we use materials and how we consume. It truly is one of the best solutions to the excesses of the capitalist economy that we see around us today 🙏🏾
Episode #1. Amble Ramble Knit . How well your discussion and discourse of the craft has ignited a grounded yet elevated approach . Having full immersion culturally , I can so relate to your remark of how the west grabs hold of trending verbiage. When Kristnamurti and Yogananda came to the west the teachings were told then sold . As much in the west is based upon accumulation of materiality , the online communities quickly become fodder to appease the platform . What is the gain? These conversations are vital to our very existence and avoidant some may be. Thank you kindly for creating a new approach for this community . We, yes, we , you are correct! Gathering together to observe the process at hand. Very pleased to know your needles fit your body . And I knew you were a dancer as well! This is so nourishing on many levels and I have received all you have expressed.Many blessings for your home and deep gratitude for your space and time to carry these messages for us. Love, k from the sea
Oh yes! And thank you kindly for all the links . I shall tune in as well to the audio pod !☀️
The teachings were told then sold! How well you put that! Krishnamurti especially was used and abused in the most awful ways. I'm so happy always to read your words and responses, I sense such resonance there every time. Thank you so much once again for your thoughtful reflections and for your support and encouragement🙏🏾💙
Blessings and best wishes for your well-being as well 💙!
@@woolandtheforest 🙏🏾☀️💙☀️
As always dear Daki, you come onto the screen like a breath of fresh air. I resonate with so much of what you are saying and I'm very grateful to have found your channel. Thank you so much. I agree with so much of what you are saying about the impact of commercialism on our world and the importance of resisting that current that we are swimming in. I fell very touched and almost emotional listening to your thoughts and pondering.
Thank you so much and I urge you to keep this up
Hello over there in magical Iceland! I'm always so touched when viewers from Iceland find the podcast and you're starting to become a welcome and familiar face. I'm so happy to hear that this new series too has been an enjoyable experience for you🙏🏾 💙
I'm one of those that want to make multiple comments! 😅 Your discussion about soil struck me as so important. I just listened to the book "The Worst Hard Time" about the dust bowl that happened in the U.S. in the 1930s. The book made me physically and psychologically sick- from the brutal force to take land from the Native Americans, to the throw away attitude of the government of the land and soil, to the almost extermination of the bison, and the way human beings took advantage of fellow human beings! It was awful & so educational. Truth be told I often don't know where to start when there are problems that need fixed and the best I can do is take good care of what I have right now.
And with those final words you have absolutely hit the nail on the head Michelle! So much horrible abuse, to the land and to each other, have been done by human beings in the past 300 years, but the only thing we can do right now is to change our behaviors now and to write a new story starting right now. Thank you so much as always for so thoughtfully engaging with my videos, I really appreciate your continuing support 🙏🏾💙💙
Your sweater is as beautiful as you, enjoying this podcast and I gotta find Wool and The Forest to watch, I will probably be binge watching!!
Ahhh that's so sweet Debbie, thank you so much!
I very much appreciate hearing your views. Thank you for investing your time in making the wonderful videos.
Thank you for coming back to the channel!
I think you are right about consumerism. All that we do has an impact. I've always been quite poor and for me making a trip into town has always been for a reason, not just driving for a lark. We do need to think about our impact on the earth. When I told my dad I drove 26 miles to work, he was appalled. I asked how far he drove to work in his working days. It was 5 or 6 miles. But at least I worked only 3 days a week instead of 5. I worked at a large hospital and so, the longer commute.
That is an incredibly long way to have to drive for work Marie that's for sure. Thank you so much for your comment and for taking time to watch the podcast🙏🏾
I am getting to know you and your channel through this episode. I loved it and I see myself so much in what you say, especially on the awareness of what we buy for our hobby and on the responsibility of understanding what we really love and what we tend to buy just because we are influenced. I will continue to watch your videos, it's a privilege!
Oh nicoletta, thank you so much for these kind words, I'm so glad that my words resonate with you and I hope they will continue to do so 🙏🏾💙
Very interesting to hear your thoughts about the english word "mindfulness" 😀 In Sweden the concept is usually called "att vara i nuet" which directly translated is "to be present in the now". Not thinking about the future nor the past, only being in the current moment. It is also often called "medveten närvaro" which directly translated would be "to be conciously present", so to be aware about what is going on in your mind, your body and your surroundings at this very moment, just observing everything without judging or even interpreting things. I would love to hear how you think that these swedish translations represent the original idea as you know it 😇
Thanks for your question and for giving me the chance to answer this confusion more fully. I think whether it's in English or Swedish or any other Western language, phrases like mindfulness and 'being in the present moment' are all a result of misunderstandings, non understandings, of techniques and teachings that have their origin in the Indian subcontinent. If you simply look at that phrase 'being in the present moment' , can you actually be anywhere else but in the present itself? I think it would be an interesting experiment to try and actually Be in the future or in the past. It's simply not possible. So if it is, in reality, a practical impossibility to be anywhere else but in the Present, then what is the purpose of the so-called teachings that encourage you to be in the Now? since that is the only place you can be anyway?
These phrases come out of a few decades of marketing and packaging of South Asian spirituality for commercial purposes in the West, and I do feel that they cause more harm and confusion than providing useful teachings towards personal liberation. The ability to Remember the past and to Imagine the future is a uniquely human ability that has been achieved over tens of thousands of years of evolution of our species. To forsake and surrender such an incredible ability of the human intellect has never been the aim of South Asian spiritual traditions. It is not imagination and memory that are seen as the problem, it is our inability to manage our imagination and memory and our tendency to allow these two tools to cause more misery and suffering, that is considered the problem. In fact I would argue that all of Yoga and the majority of Mahayana, Theravada & Tantric Buddhist techniques are designed to put the driver back in the driving seat, so the tools don't use us and we use them instead. Essentially all these teachings and techniques were designed to enhance our faculties of Observation, of paying Attention, of perceiving Reality as it is, to an individual's fullest capability.
I think it's wonderful that people seek personal liberation and seek ways in which to manage the dysfunctional tendencies of the mind. The spiritual traditions and teachings of the Indian subcontinent, which has since ancient times been a center of wisdom and profound learning, have always been available to humanity, to guide human beings in managing the mind and managing the body. However if you do not honor the origins of these teachings, if you do not go to the source, what you end up getting is a whole lot of nonsense that simply entraps and confuses. 🙏🏾
@@woolandtheforest Thank you for clarifying! I totally agree with your point of going to the source to learn about any concept, and I love that we live in a world where it's becoming increasingly easy to do so 😊 I actually usually don't use the word mindfulness that much myself, in part because it is difficult for people (including myself) to grasp the meaning of it. I usually like to speak more in terms of "attention" and the different neurological states that our brains can be in, as I find this to be a bit more concrete, since you can never really know how different people will interpret the word " mindfulness". Also because I already use those kinds of words and terms when talking about and understanding the ADHD brain, which is my area of specialization. But because I study to become a therapist this is a very interesting topic to me, as I want to be a socially aware therapist and your perspective is one I hadn't seen before. In my education I do see the concept of mindfulness used a lot by psychologists and therapists, as a tool to help people suffering from different kinds of conditions such as anxiety, adhd, brain burnout, etc. Mostly as it is presented by Jon Kabat-Zinn in his MSBR program, where it to me at least does seem to be about what you are speaking about - really paying attention to what we are doing, noticing what we observe and percieve - but again, I haven't thought about this before. These are my thoughts, based on what I've learnt about the human brain: Yes, we cannot really be in the past or the present, but we can certaintly be so wrapped in our own thoughts that we hardly notice anything about anything going on around us or in our bodies or in how we are doing the things we do. Perhaps by over-analyzing the past, trying to figure out how to interpret something or trying to problem-solve for the future. These are important functions in the human brain but we are not really built to be in that kind of "heavy analytics mode" all the time and they use up a lot of energy, brain substances and other resources of the body. And if we get caught in those kinds of mind processes, never exiting those modes to switch over to our other brain networks (such as being concious about our surroundings or what we are doing or the daydreaming resting mode) our mental health can become suffering as a result. So I guess I have mostly seen it from the health care perspective, where it is said to be an important tool for getting back to a more balanced mind. Also, I do think there might be something to be said about health privilige here. A person with mental health issues / attention / learning difficulties could benefit greatly of learning these concepts but perhaps are not able (because of their condition, at that moment in time at least. I have certaintly been in that situation myself in the past) to go back to the source, as it for example can be hard to learn things in other languages or to find their way in the information jungle. Which is of course another reason why commercial appropriation is bad, since it risk becomming all about selling books to suffering people, using a concept you don't really understand and thus spreading misunderstandings about the concept. So this was my very long way of saying that I think I understand what you mean (hopefully) and it sounds very reasonable. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my question! 🥰❤️
Love the soap box - so important to be thoughtful and responsible.
Thank you so much Smita and thanks for tuning in! 🙏🏾💙
Thank you for this beautiful episode. And indeed, as you say, it was not all `nice` to hear. It did switch on my own thinking about some of things you say. A podcast that feeds the brain is just the best :). While watching your podcast I was knitting socks with magic loop. One sock on wooden needles, the other on metal ones (not on purpose, just because I didn't have any other needles free, it turned out this way). While hearing you speak, I realised all of a sudden the difference between the two... Of course I noticed the difference between wood and metal before on the knitting, but now I realised the impact on the body too... in my hands, arms, shoulders... How can I have not noticed that before?! Wow... I cannot wait to watch your next episodes!!
Oh this is just the most fabulous feedback and I thank you for taking the time to leave it! A podcast that feeds the brain! I'm so gratified to hear that and so happy to hear that the conversation here is helping you with your own self reflection 🙏🏾💙
I loved hearing your thoughts about sustainability and knitting tools. I only got into knitting a few months ago, and seeing these huge collections of tools I knew I wanted to be very intentional about growing my collection. I think that's why interchangeable needles are so appealing to me. I'd rather get one set that I can use and reuse endlessly than get a fixed set of needles that is perfect for this project but probably not the next one.
Thank you so much, and I'm glad to hear that the message resonates with you!
Very interesting to go beyond the WIPs and finished objects - enjoyable as that format is. From podcasts I have viewed recently, 2023 seems to be the year of destashing because cupboards full of yarn are unmanageable and stress inducing. I would be interested in your thoughts on this.
Thank you Alison for you feedback! I will definitely be dealing with stash in the next episode, or the lack of a 'stash' in my case 😄. I think I've noticed a trend at the beginning of each year where I will see words like 'destashing' and phrases like 'knitting from your stash' become very popular, but the whole idea seems to burn-bright-and-die as the year goes by. Trendify-ing is of course an unfortunate side effect of social media and even such good intentions for reducing consumption can be parceled and marketed as a hot trend to ride on. Change that's based on such a fragile thing as a internet trend is obviously ot going to be sustained. Thats why I believe genuine change at the level of individuals, change coming from actually observing the compulsive patterns of thought that lead to the kind of consumption normalized today, is the only sustainable way to ensure long term change in our behaviours. 🙏🏾
So inspiring, so refreshing. Your podcasts are something I keep aside to watch when I need a visual hug. Thank you for your special content
A sisterhood of knitting, how wonderful. One of the reasons I started making videos on CZcams was because I was so alone in this world of knitting and the communication through the comments really help me feel part of something.
Oh wow Beth! I'm so so touched and uplifted to read your words. Truly. My heart is warned and I thank you for this kind encouragement to keep going and sharing these videos🥰🥰🙏🏾
So so agreed! While physical community does play an essential and primal part of our well being and human beings, these platforms can certainly be used to bridge the enormous divides weve created in this industrialized and capitalist world.
I am so happy to find your pod!!!
I love how you articulate your thoughts on our creative emotions as we navigate through our this journey!!! I do feel very much at home here❤
That is the most wonderful thing I can hear from any viewer, that you feel at home here with what I'm doing 🙏🏾💙
I really appreciate your podcast and your sharing your views on different topics, which really resonate with my own thoughts about knitting, what it is and what it isn't, the more harmful ways of the influencing part of the knitting community etc. Personally, what I really am looking for in podcasts are these topics, but further than that: to really see the progress in people's thoughts regarding those things. There are many podcasts out there that have a teaching kind of voice and to an extent, I am drawn to them. But what really speaks to me is podcasts who dare to share their thought processes (while they are being processed) more than their thought products, the end result of their thinking. You really strike me as very intelligent, highly spiritual person and I am so very interested to also hear vulnerable aspects of your making. I don't know if I found the words to describe what I mean. Thank you so much for your contribution to the knitting community.
That is such a kind thing to say, and I feel like you really resonated with what I'm doing here; sharing not just ideas but the processes and real life experiences and events in my life that are causing these ideas to come up. For me facing ideas in lift experience is so important and I thank you for seeing that 🙏🏾
I very much enjoyed this video. I agree with your point of view regarding consumerism and the land. I watched a documentary not too long ago called Kiss the Ground and have been trying to support farms that use regenerative agriculture as much as I can. I love to explore ways I can make a difference as an individual and put to practice what I am able to.
Your experience growing up with your "gang of Aunties" sounds wonderful. I have made my desire known amongst my family and friends to have a community that helps each other in all things. I have always wanted to have a gang like that. Where kids and parents could gather at any time or come and go and anyone helped a child (theirs or not) with a need. And meals could be prepared together and enjoyed together without formal plans. Where we could be an extended family of our own creation. Sadly, I feel that most people think I'm crazy or that my idea is an unattainable dream.
.....I am slowly creating a good community of neighbors that feel comfortable with our kids going around to each others houses often, and I take comfort in the progress that I have made.
Kudos to you Chelsea for taking such a courageous initiative and choosing to actually craft the life vision you'd like to see in the world. I can imagine very well how difficult it must be, especially in a culture that, as you rightly say, simply does not know the meaning of true Community any more. The lack of formal arrangements is the very core of that, and something that was so effortlessly achieved when I was growing up because the women and mothers were always in charge of the home domains and their powerful protective presence was always there. 🙏🏾
@@woolandtheforest Are you still in the military life? You mentioned being very near a naval base. If so, do you still have a community like what your mother had?
I watched this a couple days ago and it was such an intelligent, thoughtful and insightful experience I've taken a few days to let my own thoughts settle around what you've discussed and presented. I really enjoyed the video and applaud your intent and purpose here, it's spoiled a lot of the other knitting podcast content here on CZcams for me but only in a good way!
I don't have any crafty friends with whom I can have these deep and meaningful discussions so I'm really looking forward to seeing more in this series.
I'm so happy to read your comment! Thank you for taking the time to leave me such wonderful feedback!
I taught myself to knit a pair of socks for my Dad on used wooden DPNs, and like you, I use baskets to store my knitting/crocheting/craft projects. These are baskets that have been gifted to me over the years that had something in them originally. I also don't have a ball winder; I use the backs of my kitchen chairs. :) I haven't paid any attention to influencers etc.
I love me various baskets and random project holders too Janice!
I really, really love to ear what you have to say. It makes me stop knitting and think, and sometimes, what you say really goes deep in my thoughts.... and I realise that I am so ignorant and stupid. You don't make me feel ignorant and stupid. It's me...why don't I thought about it before? Thank you, i loved this, and please keep talking about Sri Lanka and your culture, and people and your experience around the world and how it all relates, and mixes....lots of love from Lisbon 😘☺️☺️☺️☺️
Such sweet kind words of support, thank you so much! 🙏🏾💙
Wonderful wonderful video…thank you.
It’s so funny…I have just watched your podcast, while spinning and then, at the end I went to comment and completely forgot all I wanted to say! So when you encouraged us to pause and comment multiple times, I was delighted! 😂
Also, the whole thing about wooden needles…I, too, discovered I love wooden DPNs for socks…they are wonderful and my hands are less painful. I do think we have to be careful of repetitive/tension problems, as crafters. Two days ago I had to wind a skein of fingering handspun into my Niddy Noddy and my wrist began to hurt, but I ignored it to get the job done! Oh my, do I regret that now. I have had such a painful wrist, which has made even mundane tasks difficult. It is getting better but I feel that we all need to take care to listen to our bodies and have more awareness of our tools and the tension that we can experience. 4 years ago I knitted all day, gas we had builders in our house) and I injured my wrist/hand and when I had some chiropractic treatment, I was told it was from my posture whilst knitting - my neck and shoulders and had manifested in my hand.
Thank you so much Beverly for this kind message and for sharing your own struggles with hand pain while knitting. I absolutely agree with you that your posture overall has an enormous impact on your hands and wrist as you need, and it's something we need to pay constant attention to and look after our body as a whole. 🙏🏾
Megha sent me to you, and I love the convo. I am a new knitter, relearning after amost 40 yrs. I can crochet anything but knitting is a tension issue for me. I thought I liked the metal needles but I think I am going to try the wood after listening to your podcast here. Thank you for giving your honest opinions, I appreciate you!
Thank you Bobbi for finding the channel and for taking time to leave a comment for me here today. I encourage you to pay close attention to your knitting practice so that you get a clear idea of exactly what or what combination of things might be causing the tension while you knit. The materials we knit with are of course a large part of this, but other elements, like posture, fiber, even psychological state and unexamined anxieties, can also play a role. I hope deeper reflection and observation will lead to a more pleasurable knitting experience for you🙏🏾
I'm a bit late for this episode but anyway...! I agree so much with what you say about always wanting to show more and more of what we've made. Personally, I don't post all my FOs on IG because I wanna share something when I feel like it and not feel obligated to run to IG and post pictures as soon as I'm done with a project. To enjoy what we're doing is a very important part of a hobby because that's what it is: a hobby and not an obligation.
I really liked this 1st episode. We watch so many knitting podcasts where we see a lot of WIPs, FOs and acquisitions but I really enjoy that kind of talk too. It's more relaxing and doesn't make me feel like I need to knit all the things ASAP. Also we do have to talk about those things. It's one thing to enjoy a hobby but I think we do have to reflect on its impact on our lives and more broadly on our world. It's good to hear about which points are important to other people regarding topics like that. It can open our eyes about some things we hadn't thought about before and make us more conscious. (I hope this makes sense. English isn't my main language and I'm trying to explain myself the best I can!)
Oh and I will not be one of the lost followers. I think I'll love the new content!
Thank you so very much for this thoughtful comment! I truly appreciate the time you have taken with it and I do very much agree with you that we all need to start seeing the impact of all we do on the rest of the world. I think the problem for most people is that they don't even know that consumption choices they make have an impact on the wider world around them and it's more about becoming aware of those impacts and seeing where behaviors need to be changed, if at all. 🙏🏾 Thank you so much for your support!
Thank you so much for this video!! After watching so many 'what I made in 2023" videos, I was starting to feel a little insecure about my own capacity to quickly pump out knitwear (and to afford all that yarn!). I was really starting to lose sight of what brought me to the craft in the first place - slow making that stands proudly against consumerism and extractive production. I also really appreciate your advice to observe the act of knitting. As someone with chronic pain, I often use knitting as a way to 'escape' my body. Lately, I have tried to be more conscious of this and your video really helped me to articulate what I have been experiencing. (For anyone else out there w a similar experience - wearing compression gloves has really helped my joint pain and burgeoning carpal tunnel). Thank you so much again and I am looking forward to more amble & knit episodes!
*2022 hahaha
Thank you so much Emily for such supportive and encouraging feedback! I agree with you completely about slow making and traditional crafting as having the potential to stand radically against consumerist behavior, if it's not co-opted by consumerist behavior as it has been done in these past few years. I'm so glad that speaking of paying attention and observing your practice can be of help to you, and I really hope your pain management is successful in the future 🙏🏾💙
Loved it! Loved it! Loved it! Thank you so much for the comfort in being you
You are so welcome! 🥰🙏🏾
Dear Daki, I'm so uncredibly happy to find your podcast and video's! That's so wonderful to see and hear about your work and thoughts, about your life and the world. In this environment, where even crafting is become sooo commercialized! I'm born and grown up in Latvia under the Russian occupation, we made everything with our hands, we learned whatever we decided to know because nothing was available and the boarders were closed. I didn't know that knitting patterns even exist until I moved away.. I'm still knitting socks and mittens with 5 needles, never understood the need of magic loop. Today I'm living in Belgium, I'm musician playing 14-17th century music (keyboard instruments), not really making a stage career because I don't believe in that. Stage didn't exist in ancient times, and music was part of the food of soul for people. I still offer it in the same way, as much as I can, as a healing to our busy minds. I do the same with textile, not my professional occupation although I studied a bit of weaving, and making all I can for me and my family, and to offer with love of doing that. So many thanks for sho you are and what you do! (I hope I'm not too familiar, that feels I'm writing to a friend while we don't really know each other..) Have a wonderful time, best greetings, Ilze Bertrand
Great show, very nice and relaxing and your voice is so calm.
Thank you. I enjoyed your discussion on mindful/mindless knitting and the encouragement to observe your knitting. Also a fan of knit State of mind.
Welcome here Julia and thank you for your kind words about the podcast!
I’m enthralled. It’s been so long since I’ve run into such an eloquent (even with your empowerment oops) young woman who shares many of the same thought processes as myself. It’s refreshing to hear echos of conversations I’ve had with my husband reflected in your rambles. I would love to hear your thoughts on super wash wool. Oh, and while you may lose some subscribers, know that this pilot episode has gained you at least one new subscriber. Perhaps those who are left and those who are drawn in will create that feeling you were hoping for. ❤
That's so kind and so good of you to leave me such encouraging feedback, thank you Mary Ann! And the fact that what I'm saying is resonating with you in just the way I'd hoped, it's quite heartening to hear🙏🏾
I think I "need" more of your thoughtful insight ☺️
I really enjoyed this new format.... Such a genuine amble...
More to come! Thank you so much for leaving me a comment Suzanne 🙏🏾
I don’t know how I haven’t stumbled across you, so glad I have now. Absolutely loved this… so different and thoughtful. Looking forward to more 😊
Welcome to the channel Ruth and I'm so glad you have discovered my videos! I hope you continue to enjoy the offerings here 🙏🏾☀️
A very interesting and refreshing "knitting" podcast. Thank you for doing something different and talking about knitting on a deeper, more meaningful level. I also feel we should think more about everything we are consuming - from material goods, to food, to media, etc. There IS a ripple effect to it all!! I enjoyed your story about the needles and how not to become a slave to one type of material or brand. I am a believer of listening to your body although my practice of that is a work in progress (pun intended)!
😄 I always enjoy a good pun! Thank you so much for watching and leaving me a comment 🙏🏾
I really enjoy the approach of this podcast and the connections you make to health and sustainability. I especially liked your critique of consumerism. I will stick with you! Maybe the word you were looking for when you talked about the negative affect of influencers is "authority".
Absolutely loved listening to this!
Just watching some more of your video, after a break…. It is heartening to hear you talk of de-influencing…I have long felt uncomfortable with this push to get us to buy the latest pointless gadget! Mind you, I do also see quite a number of people doing ‘stash busting’ and committing to buying no more new yarn for the next year, so they can use what they have. This is also heartening.
As regards getting together physically - I yearn for that. I’ve never had any spinning/knitting in- person gatherings and can’t see a time when I will be able to…. I am immunocompromised, so my husband and I have been ‘shielding’ for 3 years now. We don’t see anyone except our son and daughter occasionally… I can’t mix with anyone right now so I am grateful to have these virtual communities, to feel a part of. This is what I use Instagram for, to be a part of some group, where we can inspire and share our knowledge and experience, as well as feel a sense of belonging. It is so appreciated. Of course, it comes with knowing that it is ‘virtual’ and strange things can sometimes occur!
The other day my daughter and her partner came over and they asked me to teach them how to spin! We had the most wonderful afternoon, sharing our passion and enthusiasm! I felt so connected and grounded …they were amazing and seem, now, to have found something they are keen to do again! It was such a delight for me - you are totally right about the fact that we are designed to be physically present in communities and to share🥰
So pleased and so touched to read how this little episode of human connection unfolded Beverly! It is such a wonderful little story and I am so grateful to you for sharing it. I agree that the wild virtual connections play an important role in attempting to fill the enormous Gap left by the amount of disconnection human beings are suffering from each other, that is simply no substitute, no alternative to true physical connection 🙏🏾
thoughtful and inspiring, thank you for this new style of knitting podcast
With much knowledge comes the sense of much responsibility and, in this podcast, you are choosing to share both knowing that some individuals may not be ready for the message because of where they are in their journey. I have been preparing myself for exactly this for using CZcams and other platforms to share my own experience and knowledge to educate people but I am not ready yet as I still need to learn a few skills.
I very much hope that you are able to work on these skills and bring your perspective and presence out to share with the rest of us 💙🙏🏾
Amen. I am glad I am not the only one who comments and responds as I go along. LOL.
OMG so true. I taught myself to knit by books prior to CZcams and all the rage was TAAT socks on ML so started with that. Without rambling on and making a long story short, dpns are better! Faster, make a tidier sock. I fly with dpns unencumbered by a cord and needing to slide stitches. Also I started as a Continental knitter (also all the rage then) and I ended up losing my knitting mojo after a few years; I always felt my fabric was too loose and I just didn’t love it anymore. I pretty much gave up knitting and became a weaver. Then one day I watched Felicia Lo from Sweet Georgia doing her Irish Lever knitting and I reinvented my knitting style. I Knit exactly like you. Irish Lever Right handed. My knitting became pretty much perfect and I love my fabric. Then I spruced up my Continental by keeping my finger down and my tension matches. So I exclusively knit Irish Lever except with colour work where I knit with both hands. I also agree that though podcasts are enjoyable I feel getting caught up in the flow has caused me to feel inadequate for my low productivity and also has caused me to spend too much money unnecessarily on everything from patterns piling in the queue to gadgets. I don’t have “podcast income” to justify it either. I am just a viewer. LOL. I sometimes think I should stick to movies LOL. Anyways I am not going to pattern hoard or yarn stash anymore. I allow myself 2 small projects and 2 big projects and that’s it. I don’t have enough living years to knit everything and since hobbies are supposed to be fun and not a source of stress or guilt I will be as inefficient, unproductive, and disinterested as the moment decides, or as obsessed and addicted as the moment decides. 😊
I loved this podcast. So refreshing and so timely. I was thinking the other day I am going to unsubscribe from a couple of popular podcasts that are too consumer oriented. Acquisitions…they have a thousand stitch markers, they have dozens of project bags, etc… it is getting ridiculous. Influencers is correct. Influence me to buy more yarn, covet more bags, basically to acquire more than I ever need. My love of crafting came from my last life somewhere because it wasn’t learned from my family for sure. Crafting in simplicity, with just what I have and no more, with just what I need and no more. The silence and simplicity that brings knitting zen has been polluted and drowned out by all the white noise, actually the cacophony of “buy more” “get more” “produce more” “replenish more”…getting back to basics is such bliss.
Yay!! It's a good tactic!
Thank you for this passionate and strong response! Crafting definitely should not be about productivity and consumerism at the expense of the pleasure and joy of the activity. I'm very happy to read your thoughts here and I thank you so much for sharing them. I think many will resonate with them and be heartened by the journey you have yourself taken towards reclaiming the pleasure of your knitting practice 🙏🏾
Thank you for bringing up sustainability as a topic! One thing I have avoided purchasing is a yarn winder/swift gadget that turns skeins into knitable balls. I only knit one ball at a time and can wind each skein as needed by hand over the back of a chair as part of the knitting process.
I love hand winding all my wool as well! 🙏🏾
So excited for this format so far! 7:53
I honestly think that I would watch whatever creative video goodness you make but I am here for this 😁
Ahhh, thanks Birgitta! ❤️
52:21 Oh Daki I got goosebumps when you talked about the past life experience being the only way to explain your connection to Iceland. That’s a very powerful feeling I can imagine.
I too was brought up in the military from age 7 as my stepdad was in the United States Airforce. Hearing you talk about being surrounded by different cultures and beliefs and having that be you norm or lived experience, that really resonated with me. I am just not able to explain it as well as you ❤
The metal needle topic is something that I have been battling for some time. I recently switched to DPNs for sock knitting and feel like that was a good move to relieve my hands of pain from tight tension using magic loop. I would love to switch completely over to wood needles but that will need to happen gradually. I love my metal Chiaogoos but I think they are taking a tole on my hands. I have been looking into the Knit Picks Lykke needles. I owned a couple of the symphony.
Thanks for an insightful episode even though some parts were heavy, those topics need space and we need to keep talking about them and sharing our knowledge so we can do better.
Thank you for the podcast mention. I adore your podcast and what you stand for ❤
Oh wow! So you definitely know what I mean by a military life. Thanks so much for engaging so respectfully and for taking the time to join in the chatter. I'm hundred percent behind you and your move towards wooden knitting needles. I used to have issues with chiaogoo needles as well. For sock knitting I was surprised to find that using Dpns with some texture, like the bamboo ones, really helped and was actually enjoyable which I wasn't expecting. ❤️
Thank you for capturing these thoughts, I really enjoyed this format. I was excited to hear you talk about needles and how they affect overall health. This is something that I've been really aware of lately as my hands and wrists started experiencing a lot of tightness and pain. I am a graphic designer by day, so they get a lot of repetitive use. I have almost always used wood/bamboo needles and unfortunately still experience pain. But learning how to pause and stretch my arms and wrists has helped. I also ordered a book on ergonomic knitting from author Carson Demers, a physical therapist and knitter that I'm hoping will give me more insight into how I hold my body while knitting. This is a topic that should be discussed more often, so I really appreciate that you are doing just that!
Thank you so much Kristen for your wonderful feedback and feeling encouragement to keep talking about these issues related to knitting. I do think that what the rest of our body is doing, our posture, while we need really has the biggest impact on wrist and and even elbow pain. Learning to use the entire body and taking breaks to move and stretch the body as a whole is I think very important to prevent stress injuries 🙏🏾
Wow, Daki, this was a profound video. I never connected the metal with my knitting avoidance. My hands have not "worked" lately. I only have been able to knit in increments. Like a knitting/hand exhaustion, lol. I had prefered wood long ago but changed to metal for the speed!?!? No wonder I lost pleasure. Thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤️ I am going to pay more attention to my work and hopefully will find that pleasure again.
And YES!!!! to the "needs" and "influencers." Please continue this new series! It's so important in this knitting community and beyond 🥰
What a wonderful thing to read here this morning, thank you so much! It's comments like these that make me realize that I'm on the right path with sharing these messages and if it can be helpful to at least one other person I should keep doing it 🙏🏾💙
I really appreciate your information on our tools and paying attention to how the are making you feel physically. Also, lol, those metal dpns! I can't use them because they are always falling out. Couldn't understand how anyone could use them. I have the bamboo shorts and longs very inexpensive from Amazon, they work great. Got a set of each for my daughter too. Oh, and the tip about commenting, totally agree! I always try to remember, did it again😂, but love the idea of commenting under my comment. Really enjoyed the podcast and learning more about you. I hope you and your family have a wonderful week😊
Thank you so much Teresa for your kind words about this episode! And yes I'm very happy to hear that you found the little tip about commenting helpful. I am so happy to have discovered bamboo Dpns myself that I finally feel brave enough to knit more socks in the future ☀️🙏🏾
What a lovely podcast - as soothing as the oatstraw blend in your tea. Xx
I really enjoyed that format. There is so much more to knitting than how many projects you complete. Thank you xx
Oh thank you! Thats such a lovely thing to say🥰
Indeed there is! X
Thank you so much for a very thought-provoking, friendly podcast! I would absolutely love more podcasts like this.
Thanks so much for watching Helen, I really appreciate you taking the time to let me know 🙏🏾!
@@woolandtheforest Since watching your podcast, I have been properly noticing the feelings in my hands whilst knitting and I am finding it quite revealing! I have a few small projects on the go at the moment and it is very interesting to notice how different each one feels as I knit. I also appreciated your thoughts about mindful/mindless knitting and agree that these terms do not really equate to this thoughtful observation of one’s actions and feelings. Thank you for really making me think!
Thank you for putting your thoughts, feelings and time into sharing such powerful messages. I adore the discussion on observation, caring for our environment/planet, & conscientious living. I LOVE that you don't want to "toe the line"
Ahh that's wonderful to hear! Thank you!🙏🏾 And yes, as my mother will attest, I've always been absolutely terrible at toeing the line 😂
I Duckie, not sure if I spelled your name right. Sorry if I didn't. I really enjoyed this podcast, thank you so much for putting it together. I think that we can all be guilty of, trying to zoom through as many things as possible. TV, books, projects, meals. I think that we all need to take some time, to just be. Enjoy what we are making, enjoy what we are eating etc. I really love knitting, it has brought me peace and contentment.
Thank you so much Meg for your kind comments, and I absolutely agree that paying attention, taking time, and allowing pleasure is something that we need to bring into all areas of our life and activity, not just knitting. 🙏🏾💙
@@woolandtheforest I am so sorry that I misspelled your name. I am following you on Instagram now and see that it's Daki, why didn't you correct me?
I love your podcast and your ethos. I am trying not to fall into the consumer trap, of buying all of the things that I really like. I have a small collection of yarn that I want to use and make into beautiful things to keep me and my loved ones warm and cosy. But there is just so much beautiful wool out there, I want to support the makers, but I can't do both. Oh the choices! 😊
Hello Daki. What a beautiful spirit you have. Present, and calm but I think also quite.. mischievous. Can I guess that from a few little laughs I've seen.
Thank you for sharing your art and your hands and your thoughts.
I recommend Marina Skua podcast as well. An inspiring maker doing things a little differently.
Thank you so much Maria for such a kind comment, and yes quite a large sprinkling of facetiousness and a big arm load of mischief is what I bring to most things I do in life 😄🙏🏾🌷
Please tell us what you are reading next time. Thank you for your podcast! Love it!
Girl, I just love those silly puns of yours 🤣🤣 (Laughing at "preamble" now 😆)
LOL so yeah I find them funny too
I can't help but enjoy a good pun from time to time!
Looking forward to more videos!
What a wonderful way to start my day. Thank you!
Thanks for watching!
THANK YOU.
I love my metal needles, but have found that some fibers feel much better on wood/bamboo needles. Sometimes in the way a body speaks to you a fiber will too. Certain fibers slip on metal making them more difficult to manage and they seem to be yelling out to switch to something with more grip.
I loved your messages on de-influencing and being observant during the practice of knitting. I agree with the things you are saying (I have recently deleted instagram and I am trying to limit my podcast viewing to those that have fewer ads/gifts/'needs"), but would like to bring up an alternate side to this topic. Many "influencers" and "podcasters" have used their platform/popularity as a source of income or as a platform to advertise/promote their pattern making, fiber dying, etc. This type of content has also brought the craft to more people and increased its popularity recently. I wonder how you feel about this commercialism/ promotion of consumerism in the craft from the side of those making a living through it. I think it can be very empowering for women in particular to turn a craft that they love into a source of income. Its wonderful for people to find joy in their work. However, it is disheartening to feel like every podcast is becoming an advertisement/ stash tour/promotion. How do you think the knitting community can best balance this? I personally struggle with this as I want to support those I admire, those who offer me knowledge, and those who share themselves and their crafts (patterns, hand sewn project bag, hand dyed yarn, stitch markers etc). Consumption in moderation and with real purpose is an important choice. How do we promote this better as a community? Resources on the planet are limited (so are the funds in my wallet haha). How does the knitting /fiber community do a better job, while also providing a space for those who want to make a living (or partial living) from their craft if they so choose?
Looking forward to any comment you may have on this ! Thanks again for your video and sharing your ideas.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful responses and for raising some pertinent questions and issues. I will actually be tackling the gist of what you're asking here in my next standard podcast and the next episode of this new series. But ultimately it is each individual's responsibility to manage how we respond to the dominant narratives that are we are constantly exposed to, and to manage the empowerment these platforms provide. Everyone has to work from within the economic circumstances that we find ourselves in. However, economic considerations, 'just making an income ', 'doing what we love', all these things will cease to be relevant if we no longer have healthy soil to grow food to put on our tables. The science is thorough, irrefutable, and conclusive; the unprecedented consumption levels of humans beings, especially in the global north, have degraded the soil and changed the climate conditions of this planet to such a degree it is likely that by 2050 90% of the Earth's usable soil will be degraded. That equals severe food scarcity for the entire planet. But the trend is actually reversible if action is taken now, which is why it is so so important that the right messages are empowered so that everyone can do their bit to contribute. 🙏🏾
It was really interesting to hear your discussion about needles and the full body impact. One of my motivations for starting to knit was for a sensory, hand-using pursuit. I chose to try Lykke’s driftwood needles (and fell in love with them) because they are so wonderful to hold and make a beautiful, almost ceramic sound when search through the pouch of them to find the right size. They are a joy as a beautifully designed, beautifully made tool. I had to get their copper ones to have a 3.25mm and this was also a pleasure to use as a beautifully crafted tool (and develops a lovely patina in use).
I do keep hearing about these Driftwood needles and I am more and more intrigued! The way you describe them, like ceramic clinking about as you look for them, is a very beautiful image! 🙏🏾
I just subscribed here with this video, not only you bring up interesting and engaging topics on knitting, I find your voice calm and so lovely to listen to. I will also go back to your original podcasts but I welcome these opinions, eye opening and mind engaging thoughts 💭!
Thank you so much!
I came across your first episode by chance as it were and am glad I did. How exciting to come across a yarn program with a difference. Your topic of conversation was refreshing and thought provoking. I have not finished listening as it yet as it is way past my bedtime. I look forward to returning to it and to your next episode!
Thank you so much Stephanie for finding the podcast and for finding my channel here. I hope you enjoy all the offerings!
Hi there, I have finally listened to all of your podcast and I did enjoy it. It was so different and gave me food for thought, particularly with reference to consumerism in the yarn community!
I look forward to your next podcast. Till then, stay blessed.
Very much enjoyed your thoughts. I had a knitting hiatus for several years, but am back to it with a vengeance now. Despite the stressful nature of my life at present knitting has helped to soothe me and I am loving finding all the podcasts and the wider community of like-minded souls out there.
I look forward to hearing more of your thoughts
You’ve inspired me to add wooden tips to my chai goo sets
I enjoyed this. I knew where you were going when you started talking about metal needles. I haven't used them for years because they always felt too cold. As I was watching though, I started to realize that the coated wood needles that I was using was straing my hands. I have to overgrip the yarn so the stitches don't slip off. I will be changing to unpolished bamboo soon.
That's very interesting point that you make and one I have noticed myself! I do find that unvarnished, uncoated bamboo has the most pleasant feel when it comes to the effect on my hands.
Thank you for bringing forward these important, and sometimes uncomfortable, points. Discussion should never be shunned.
Thank you for engaging with the discussion 🙏🏾
Hello! I really enjoyed this new episode and feel like I have a lot to reflect upon, especially when it comes to being attentive to my craft and any other activities in which I’m engaging. I also agree that I have been feeling overwhelmed by consumer culture as it relates to podcasts and social media and that knitting, can/should be the opposite of this. Thank you for a thought provoking episode!
Thanks so much for this wonderful feedback and for taking the time to leave me the comment. I do believe that consumer culture has taken a lot of the depth out of many experiences in the modern world not just knitting. And for me at least simplifying and simplifying and simplifying is the return to reclaiming the pleasure and joy in so many activities. 🙏🏾
Thank you so much for this pilot episode. I look forward to more!! I so appreciate the way you articulate your thoughts. :)
Glad you enjoyed it! And thank you for watching 🙏🏾
Oh,this was awesome! I so agree with your many opinions on influence, conscientious consumerism, and observations in our knitting life! This year, I have taken a long look and contemplation on all my yarns in my stash, tools, etc...and have decided to make it a year ( in my wooly life) to restrain from buying new "stuff" and rather use what I have! And I am blessed with a lot. Thank you for this new format! I really enjoyed listening and considering your thoughts. And so glad you listened to your hands and not your mind on trying wooden needles! It's so good to get outta the box and try something new. Glad this brought you relief and desire to knit again in comfort 😌 xo
I'm very happy to hear that the message on the format of this new series has resonated with you Rosemary! Thank you so much for your kind words and your feedback. Taking a closer look and realizing that we really do have more than enough...it's such a moment of liberation. 🙏🏾