Take Time to Breathe

It’s interesting where life leads you. When I came on board as the new editor of Knit ‘N Style, I was focused on the flow of the production of the magazine, from concepts and designer contracts to completion. Recently, we have shifted gears and, as I write, are putting the finishing touches on our first knitting book. I had to get my head wrapped around a different way of presenting information. It’s been exciting, exhausting, and a great learning experience.

We’ve often said here that each issue is like having a baby. The issue starts easy and with the hope that maybe this time everything will go smoothly, with no glitches, problems, or shift of plans. Then comes the time to tech edit the patterns and our email in-box is full of questions out to designers and answers in return. With a week to go until the magazine ships off to the printer, we think we’re done, but we’re not. The color is a tad off on the sweater. Is that chart correct? Where’s your editorial, Penelope? We are waiting on the artwork for the last ad. What day is this? Time goes by so fast.

Since there is always something on the needles tossed on my coffee table at home, when I have five spare minutes, or need time to re-sort the never-ending to-do list in my head, I pick up the project and knit a row or two. I wistfully think how nice it would be to allow myself the luxury of even 30 minutes of knitting. But in the small amount of time that it takes to knit those 64 stitches in the round on the socks, or another row on Caitlin’s sweater, that is all I need to bring me to a place of calm, focus, and breathing. I find sometimes I forget to take deep, full breaths. It’s been said that knitting is the new yoga. How is your breathing?

Until next time, enjoy your knitting and wishing you an awesome summer—