Blue Moon Blog

depraved dyer

to KnitPeace

posted by tina
January 1, 2009

To think, see, meditate, breathe, sing, pray, walk, talk, project, give, and finally knit Peace.
To consider what Peace means to us as individuals and then as a group, a culture, a people, a planet.
To realize that each and every one of us has the power to hold and then breathe Peace into life.
I have been thinking about Peace on our planet a lot lately, because of this season of giving and love; because of the symmetry in the return of hope, Winter Solstice and the return of light.
I have lately witnessed how nature creates peace and light in simple and extraordinary ways. Such as a snowflake, a seemingly small and inconsequential thing that quietly falls from the sky and gathers one by one and right before your eyes blankets the ground, trees, and roads. Snow has some interesting characteristics that I think we as knitters can relate to. It builds flake by flake (stitch by stitch), it insulates what it covers like a blanket. It is unassuming silent and still in its power. It can bring a city to a grinding halt, flake by flake.
This leaves me imagining what would happen if we knitters as a culture, a very large and growing group of creative people, give this Peace thing our attention stitch by stitch, knitter to knitter, moment by moment, day to day how we could blanket the world in Peace.
Knitting, this seemingly inconsequential practice done by so many people all across the world. Knitters, people who knit, have raised so much money for so many worthy causes; Knitters without Borders, MS, Breast Cancer Research, World Hunger, and on and on this list goes. We know better than most what it is to build something from the beginning in small steps, something that is useful, comforting and intended. We are hopeful, optimistic and we most definitely have vision.
Wouldn’t you say that most of us knit every day even if it is only a row or two? We knit. If while each and every one of us knit our few stitches every single day we held in our minds and hearts Peace.
If we envisioned the end of war and strife, we contemplated nonviolence in small specific personal ways and in larger global circumstances. What if with each wrap of yarn around needle we encircle our world with hope? What then would our planet look like if we knit for her and us in Peace? If we projected all that hope, optimism and vision out. What could and would grow from all of this Peace filled knit intention, stitch by stitch?
I invite you my fellow knitters, to join me in envisioning Peace in our knitting every day for a moment or two or even three.
We can breath Peace into all of our knitting; our socks, welcoming new baby knitting, charity knitting, sweaters, hats and yes, even swatches. hmmm… Peace swatches.
Maybe some of us will choose to have a Peace piece (tempting) to knit on daily that we then give to a friend in need or leave on a bus or a park bench knowing that who needs it will find it.
I am sure some of us will quietly incorporate it into our daily knit lives and it will then just become part of who we are.
You cannot be hopeful and hold Peace in your heart and mind even for one single moment every day and not be affected or effect change.
So… we are then, cast on and joined, a circle.

Maybe we should start a KAL with a Bordhi moebius for Peace.
We are not limited here either. We can spin, crochet, weave, walk… .
If you know of any links to those that are already doing these please share.
How do you envision knit peace?

I would like to take a moment here to say thank you.
Thank you, to all of our knitters (some notorious) for your support and creativity throughout the year. We could not do what we love to do without you and honestly we would not want to. Another lovely circle.

All of here in Blue Moon land wish you Joy and Peace in this New Year.
Happy Birthday Cara!

Comments

Wishing you good health, joy, and peace in 2009!

posted by Lou/happystasher
Jan 1, 2009

Amen.

posted by Barbie O. in Montreal
Jan 2, 2009

Happy New Year! What a lovely post.

I like the moebius for Peace idea. Alot.

I must add, the current picture in your banner is outstanding!

posted by Neuroknitter
Jan 2, 2009

What a wonderful way to think about the New Year. I agree with Neuroknitter. I like the moebius for Peace idea. Jane/Nebraska knitter

posted by Nebraska Knitter
Jan 2, 2009

Tina
Thank you for the beautiful words and blessings for the new year. I have been dreaming about knitting prayer flags and then watching them wave gently in the breeze sending prayers for peace out into our hearts and into the universe.
May we have Peace, Hope and Equality in the New Year, May our families of blood and spirit have Peace, Hope and Equality in the New Year, May all the people of the world have Peace, Hope and Equality in the New Year.
Blessed Be

http://spin-for-peace.com/wordpress/

morgaine

posted by Morgaine
Jan 2, 2009

Thank you so much my friend. For the birthday wishes, of course, but moreso for the post and ultimately for YOU. You bring color to our worlds and with that color comes joy and peace. I love you. Thank you.

posted by Cara
Jan 3, 2009

OK, time for me to finally co that moebius I bought yarn for over a year ago and never quite figured out! I always enjoy your sharing your thoughts and perspective!

posted by Leslie
Jan 3, 2009

Very well said Tina! I have been thinking along these lines myself. I joined Miss Violet’s “Intentions” yarn club (http://intentionyarns.com/intentionclub.html) which will start in February with the idea of donating each of the club projects. but I love the idea of randomly gifting projects which will find the right person. I would love to be part of the moebius KAL and I am going to link this post to talk further on my blog.

posted by Deb
Jan 3, 2009

Thank you.

posted by AlisonH
Jan 3, 2009

I really love the idea of a peace piece with a daily mindful few rows to it…

posted by melissaknits
Jan 3, 2009

We started the One World Moebius KAL over on my rav group just before the US election, and I would loving accept all peaceful knitters over there if they would like to join in. On Ravelry here: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/sivia-harding

Cat Bordhi has suggested that knitting a Moebius while watching the inauguration would be an especially fitting way to usher in the “new era” with peace, oneness and unity. Cat issued a beautiful healing message which I posted here: http://siviaharding.blogspot.com/2008/11/as-moebius-turns.html

I also released a free Moebius pattern called Elegant Arrows when we started the KAL that some people have enjoyed making, and Harmonia’s Rings is a Moebius too. These reflect my obsession with knitting Moebii, which I hope will never end.

Thank you so much for your beautiful post and letter… Blessings to all, Sivia

posted by sivia
Jan 4, 2009

I started my solstice shawl as a piece for mediation on time and light. I’ll add peace, it fits right in. Thanks for a beautiful post.

posted by Meg
Jan 4, 2009

thank you tina. usually i spend a lot of my knitting time listening to audiobooks, but i like to spend a little time in each knitting session just quietly thinking as i knit the stitches. that way, a bit of peaceful meditation goes into each project a few rows at a time and travels outward from me in all different directions.

posted by anne
Jan 4, 2009

I have very similar beliefs. Thoughts and intentions are very powerful! Thank you for your post. I’m here right along with you.

posted by Naomi
Jan 5, 2009

I’ll be joining in. I still have my Moody Blues LSS & Cat’s book I got at Sock Camp specifically to knit a moebius.

I like Cat’s idea of casting on during the inaugural ceremonies.

posted by Celia/Nartian
Jan 5, 2009

Thanks to all my knitting sisters for their meditations on peace and suggested ways to promote peace!

posted by Nancy Jean
Jan 5, 2009

Peace, hope, optimism...all wishes I have for the new year. It is so true that you cannot hope for peace, or take a few moments to think positively, without being effected.

Wishing you and your family and everyone at BMFA a very happy new year filled with joy and peace and love, and color too! And thank you Tina for all that you do for us!

posted by Irishgirlieknits
Jan 6, 2009

I’ve been lighting even more candles than usual...when I sit and knit and breathe more consciously than usual. The news these days is disturbing (again). So I try to do my small part.

I wish you could come to a workshop/meditation weekend I am co-teaching at the end of the month, in the MYS Catskill mountains, called Knitting as a Peaceful Act. You’d be perfectly at home.

I don’t know you in person, but I’m sending you a hug of gratefulness.

posted by Karin Maag -Tanchak
Jan 7, 2009

I’ll join in with you - mostly because I love you and your wonderful (and sometimes crazy) ideas… but also because my son needs to be in a peaceful world. I will knit the mobious while sitting home with him on maternity leave, and knit into each stitch thoughts of peace and love (in the small windows of time when he isn’t crying or freaking out about getting his next bottle. When I say we are looking for peace for him, I’m not only talking about a break from world violence, lol)

posted by Cece
Jan 7, 2009

A wonderful, thought provoking post.

posted by Rebecca
Jan 7, 2009

amen. if we think of peace as building stitch by stitch, soon, we’d cover the earth and beyond with it!

posted by lauragayle
Jan 7, 2009

You are a beautiful person, Tina. This was just lovely. Thank you.

posted by SallyA
Jan 7, 2009

As each small stitch joins others to create a fabric, let us join as peaceful knitters to spread our ripples outward until they all meet.

posted by Angie
Jan 9, 2009

I am adding my energy to this work! (while both knitting and spinning) Thank you for putting the intention into words (really beautiful ones) and putting them here for others to read and share and add to. May it be so!

posted by Karen P. in Ohio
Jan 12, 2009

Tina, once again you rock my world. I have everything ready to cast on my Elegant Arrows Moebius as I pray for peace. I hope to wear it to Sock Camp. Peace & Love

posted by CaroleNJ/SloKnitR
Jan 18, 2009

casting on - hope you join me - think peace

posted by CaroleNJ/SloKnitR
Jan 20, 2009