i am so grateful to karen templer for conceiving of and organizing slow fashion october. it has been an incredible month of inspiration and conversation. it motivated me to set a few goals for the month based around mindful crafting. i chose to focus on taking three items of clothing already in my minimal october wardrobe and making them more "cherishable". i was able to dye my cream dress indigo, embroider my olive button-down, and alter my see-sun top slightly.
i also wanted to knit hats and/or cowls for people who would appreciate them. i hoped to make 10 of them. with this goal "out there", i was able to stay motivated and accomplish it! i actually have 11 hats finished and ready to go! i really am thankful for the accountability all of you provided me. :)
crafting gives me so much…creative exercise, sense of purpose, something to do with my hands, mental space to think, and a sense of accomplishment. what i did not need it to give me this month was more stuff. i am grateful to have found a way to receive all the benefits of crafting while simply making the clothing i already own better and making for others.
i love making hats. i had yarn. i had time…time waiting at cello lessons, time between teaching school lessons, time to sit in the afternoons listening to podcasts, time in the evenings chatting or watching a show, and plenty of time riding in the car to and from a special wedding three states away. it was fun trying out two new patterns, putting colors together, and figuring out a simple pattern that i really like.
these hats were made with the intention of being given away, and here they all are…ready to go to the christmas bureau in our community. low-income neighbors will be able to shop for christmas clothing, toys, food and other gifts at the bureau. i hope that someone picks up each one of these hats and feels like it was made especially for them. it was. :)
love,
jane
love,
jane
