knitting for relaxation ...

As mentioned last week, it's been very hot in my neck of the woods lately.

So hot in fact, that knitting, like most other actions requiring movement, has become more of a challenge than a pleasure in some ways. Yes, I really said that! I realise that I live in an area where we are usually relatively comfortable all year round, compared to some places on the globe. Our climate in New Zealand could be described as moderate, on the whole. However, like a lot of other countries we have been experiencing some extremes of late. I count myself fortunate in that our area has certainly not been the hottest part of the country. And I was surprised to learn that Invercargill, a city at the bottom of New Zealand, where I was born and lived until the commencement of my teenage years, very recently reached it's hottest ever recorded temperature. Other centres have also been experiencing extreme temperatures, with drought being declared in some particularly hard hit areas. And yesterday, a severe storm hit NZ, causing widespread damage.

In spite of all this - some things have been achieved in my small corner of the world! Despite everything I have not actually been unproductive. I have rather, been adjusting to the conditions around me, both weather wise and personally. This month has also been rather eventful and stressful in other ways, so knitting when I could has remained an important part of my relaxation process, except for the days when out of necessity due to the heat, it became cross stitch for relaxation.

Something else that has been a real nuisance in this period, has been the increased presence of flies inside - some of which decided to invade my space as I typed earlier in the day. Not usually a problem! Another topic I should not get started on! Our efforts to 'get rid' of the flies are not proving to be that successful - and believe me, we have tried new 'remedies'! And today ... they even attempted to thwart my efforts to write a blog post! Picture me flicking them off various body parts and understand the sacrifice I have made in order to keep going on this post! Where there's a will ... and all that!

Back to knitting ...

When I knit for relaxation now, it is generally when I am working on a design that is not my own. Unless of course, I happen to come across a pattern that 'requires translation' even though it is (supposedly) in English! Some of you will know what I mean by that, and like me will concur that those designers are to be avoided at all costs thereafter. Because I am now on my own design adventure though, there are times when I really need to be able to sit back and work on something that I don't have to think about too much. My brain needs a rest, in other words, and that is how I give it one.

The Cloud Kisses Shawl is a design by Libby of Truly Myrtle that I look forward to getting back into working on very soon. My latest knitting design is actually hot off the needles as of last night, so it is time for me to start writing that up in order to have it ready for publication soon. So this will continue to be my 'go to' knitting during the evenings until that is sorted. I will work on it until it is either finished, or I start another design of my own. I don't like to start a new design without finalising the previous one, because I like to think I have given of my best to one design before the process starts all over again.

I find it is also a really good idea to have a project on the needles that can be picked up anywhere, in any situation where concentrating on your surroundings is important, but where relaxation is equally so.

Case in point - when we visited friends in the Manawatu District recently.

Knitting something mindless enables me to participate in conversation and relax at the same time. And not surprisingly I guess, now that I am designing, it has become rather important to me that I have another project/s as a fallback. Gone are the days when I was a 'one project until I finish' knitter ... I think it is fair to say now, that things have changed ever so slightly!

So to anyone who is wondering how they may better use their downtime to relax, please consider knitting if you haven't already done so.

Remembering, that ...

... and you end up with something to show for it!