Mountain Or Beach?

I am making Summer Plans.

It’s the most fun stage of planning for me, as I’m gathering up all the possibilities of what I might want to do and accomplish this Summer and I’m not at all concerned yet with practicalities. The shoulds and have tos have been banished for the moment and only the maybes and want tos have been invited to play.

I can get a little ambitious sometimes when planning edges over into dreaming. Maybe you’re the same way? Don’t we often look ahead at the beginning of a season or a long break or trip and say things like:

• This will be the perfect time for me to finally get that home renovation project done.
• I’m going to finish reading that series I started but didn’t keep up with.
• Now I’ll have time to take that class I’ve been meaning to take.
• I can finally organize all my digital photos and videos.
• I’ll get all my yarn stash and supplies organized.

I realized some of these are far more realistic than others. Wouldn’t it be fascinating to take a poll and see how individual knitters and crocheters would rank those in order of “most likely to actually complete on a Summer break”? I digress.

I’m going to do something I don’t do very often here and invite you to challenge yourself a bit. If you’re not on the cusp of a seasonal break like I am in the U.S., you could save this for when you are. The challenge? Mountain or Beach.

(The background for this is that when I was little, I learned that one of my parents preferred the beach and the other the mountains. It wasn’t until years later that I learned which preferred which, and I’d assumed wrong the whole time! The pairing of the two has stuck in my head ever since and has always stood for a sort of yin and yang balancing principle. It’s good to have both, each at the right time.)

Mountain

Find something this break that challenges your socks off. Pick a mountain and figure out what it will take to climb it. Then give it your best shot.

Here’s the key point: You don’t have to conquer the mountain before the break is over. You only need to start up the trail.

The idea is to commit to trying something that is going to be hard. It could be any of a bazillion things, but let’s focus on knitting since I happen to live on the Front Range of the Great Yarn Mountains. Here are a few ideas:

Mountain 1: You’re Entering Your Knitting Era

You could decide that the time has finally come for you to pick up the needles and learn to knit. If you’re like a great many, you’ve tried before and walked away frustrated. Knitting looks like an impenetrable mystery to some people, and yet they’re still drawn to it, wishing they could figure it out. I’m convinced that anyone who can write with a pen or pencil can learn to knit, given enough time and practice.

Maybe this is your season. Sign up for a class, grab a knitting pal, or find some videos. Start up that mountain and see how far you can get.

Mountain 2: Broadening Your Horizons

Maybe you’re itching to challenge yourself with something way outside your comfort zone. I’m a big fan of nurturing this attitude into an intentional method of learning new skills and techniques. I used to love getting inquiries for commissions that included phrases like “Are you willing to knit a pattern that’s this complicated?” They always made me a better knitter.

What if you’ve previously limited yourself to “just knits and purls“? What would really stretch your knitting muscles? A new technique, like knitting in the round, colorwork, or cabling? Or maybe a new finished item, like a sweater, shawl, or pair of socks?

I’ve got new sock knitters on the brain lately, having just released the free Boxing Day Socks pattern, written especially for low- or no-confidence sock knitters. I’ve also got a free Christmas Sock pattern available, which teaches sock techniques using bigger yarn and bigger needles than is typical when making socks. If learning to knit a sock is your mountain, those are two possible paths to reach the summit.

Mountain 3: Trailblazing

Is this the season when you finally write and share your own pattern?

It’s amazingly rewarding to hear a fellow knitter say something like, “Thank you for making your pattern available. I can’t wait to make it.”

Experienced knitters often alter and modify patterns they knit. Many knitters have patterns they’ve personalized and tweaked to the point that their origins are unidentifiable. It’s just a short hop from there to creating your own.

Have you thought about trying it but been intimidated? Maybe pattern design is your mountain this season. You may like to check out this free guide for stitch pattern incorporation for suggestions.

Beach

While the Mountain is all about challenging yourself to try something hard, the Beach is about challenging yourself to not do.

This view of the Beach focuses less on scuba diving and body surfing, and more on the therapeutic nature of the cool breeze off the sea, the warmth of the sun on your skin, and the soothing sounds of the waves rolling in. This challenge is about intentionally seeking the mental and physical benefits of knitting and prioritizing time for them.

There are seasons of life when even the thought of looking at another mountain to climb is enough to start cold sweats and hyperventilation. This is not the time to take on something new, but rather, time to find space to breathe.

If this is where you find yourself, friend, then I encourage you to consider this challenge. Carve out some regular time during this break to give yourself the gifts creative therapies bring. Studies repeatedly show they reduce stress, pain, anxiety, and depression. They increase our sense of well-being, productivity, and even safety. What knitters do with our hands affects our brain chemistry. It makes us feel better.

What is that kind of therapy worth?

Could you be a Beach Bum this Summer and spend some time every day with the needles and yarn? Bring the knitting bag to all the kids’ games, tournaments, practices, and car rides to and from? Knit a simple project sitting in the sun on the porch, in the park, or on a bench?

Could you just knit 15 minutes a day? Once a week for an hour? Once a month with a friend? Is it possible to reserve space in your schedule for this?

What would be a new, intentional, health-seeking step for you? That could be your Beach.

Whether or not these challenges inspire you, I wish you the best as you make your own Summer Plans. May your want tos outnumber your have tos, and your sunshine be plentiful.

Happy knitting!

Kiersten J