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WAYWO: draped in shawls [knitting as distraction] [1]

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Date: 2025-06-29

Welcome to What Are You Working On? where we talk about (and often display) our handiwork, whether yarn and fabric crafts, woodwork, metalwork, art, or anything else “crafty.”

It was 100 degrees here in central Maine a few days ago ~ but today it’s 63 degrees and rainy. Perfect for knitting to a relaxing video.

I melt in weather like we had earlier this week, which is why I moved to Maine, as that weather is traditionally rare-ish. Although it’s getting to be normal enough that I’ve been triple checking for librarian jobs in Newfoundland and Shetland [since my dream job got DOGEd ~ see my GoFundMe].

Since I’m always warm, it’s funny that one of my obsessions is knitting ~ and that I tend to work with wool and other ‘warm’ fibers. Shawls tend to be my favorite projects, as they are easier to take off when I get too warm ~ plus I don’t have to fuss as much about gauge or setting in sweater sleeves.

I’ve maintained since I was a teen that I listen better when I’m knitting. Recent research has supported that doing something repetitive like knitting/crocheting really does help ~ especially for those who have ADHD, like I was diagnosed with in my mid 50s [that diagnosis explains so much about my life…..].

I sometimes get start-itis ~ or even simultaneous start-itis:

These two are the same pattern ~ Aestlight by Gudrun Johnston. The purple one is the medium size, made with a wool sock yarn. The green version is large, with a very halo-y mohair yarn. The starting point is the bottom of the inner triangle, with lots of good meeting/ADHD fidget knitting, then the border is picked up and knit (less good for meetings).

This pattern was written by a friend ~ it’s become a favorite of mine. The body is excellent meeting/ADHD fidget knitting, then the border is a quick finish. I’ve made this 6 or 8 times, with several of those given as gifts.

Experimenting with other patterns. Both of these were fun and easy to knit but look great in person.

Current project: a top-down shawl. This is a fairly standard “pattern” (or non-pattern) for me. I start with a garter tab (which will be at the back of the neck when finished), and add stitches every right side. Some I just knit in stockinette until I do the bottom edge in a pattern, while others I do garter ridges, occasional lace rows, or whatever I think will look good with the yarn color and texture.

Note: the Highland cow is a stitch stopper ~ the company that makes them has lots of fun designs and they stay on the needles better than most.

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