So the months drag on. It has taken quite some time to settle into the rhythm of the weeks. As more time passes, I won’t say it gets easier, but the time seems to be passing. Somehow, everything seems busier now. There is more cooking, more cleaning, more hands-on parenting, and way more family time than ever before. One thing I thought there would be more of is knitting. It has’t worked out that way. Perhaps because we have a young child at home. On one hand, I envy those who post that they have nothing to do and are having trouble filling the days. On the other hand, I am grateful to be busy.
On the knitting front, a lot has been happening. I have released two knitting patterns since we started Social Distancing. Both had been in the works for a long time, but I finally managed to put the finishing touches on the final drafts and get them out the door.
The 2e Awareness Hat is a colorwork beanie, knit in the round from the bottom up. It includes words that are essential to understanding the complex characteristics present in 2e students. twice-exceptional students are more often than not profoundly misunderstood. It is not widely known that a student who is identified as gifted can also have a special need or disability. In the best of circumstances, the gift will mask the disability, and twice-exceptional students can “skate by” by compensating with their area of strength. Too often, the opposite is true, and the disability or learning difference masks the gift. The student may be labeled as a “behavior problem” or the focus will be placed on helping with the disability, but no attention will be paid to the advanced academic needs of the 2e student. Boredom can lead to anxiety and a long list of other issues.
According to NAGC, the National Association for Gifted children, 2e students “can be highly creative, verbal, imaginative, curious, with strong problem-solving ability, and a wide range of interests or a single, all-consuming expertise. However, at school, they may have difficulty keeping up with course rigor, volume, and demands--resulting in inconsistent academic performance, frustration, difficulties with written expression, and labels such as lazy, unmotivated, and underachiever. All this may hinder their excitement for school and be detrimental to their self-efficacy, self-confidence, and motivation.
2e students are bright, quirky, asynchronous, and often neurodiverse. They may have ASD, ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, or one or more of several other disabilities. They often require an IEP. They benefit from classes which are grouped by ability, and they do best with meaningful, rather than rote work.
I designed this beanie to build awareness of the 2e community. My hope is that as more people understand what it means to be 2e, that there will be greater acceptance of these wonderful, bright, quirky, unique students and an understanding of how much creativity they bring to the table.
50% of gross sales for this hat pattern will be donated to the Javits-Frasier Teacher Training Scholarship Fund through the NAGC (National Association for Gifted Children). This fund provides professional development training for Title I teachers and counselors that serve gifted and talented students from diverse backgrounds.
This Pattern comes in one size: 21”/53.5 cm circumference to fit up to 23”/58.5 cm
I am so excited to announce the release of Ringer Tee. Ringer Tee was a collaboration with indie dyer Jill Leary of Jilly and Kiddles Yarn. Jill provided yarn support and the yarn for this design could not be more perfect. It was a joy to work with, and I am thrilled with the result. You can see more of Jill's yarn here.
Ringer Tee is a classic tee shirt pattern with contrasting ribbing at the collar and cuffs. It is inspired by the tee shirts of my childhood: soft, easy to wear, with the comfort of an old friend.
The sweater is designed to have 2” (5 cm) of positive ease. The size range is from 28” (71 cm) to 72” (183 cm). Choose the size closest to your preferred amount of ease.
Sizes Included: (28, 32, 36) 40, 44, 48 {52, 56, 60, 64, 68, 72} inches (71, 81.5, 91.5) 101.5, 112, 122 {132, 142, 152.5, 162.5, 172.5, 183} cm
The other project that received a lot of love this week was my crochet Granny Square Blanket. It is a giant granny square that I am crocheting in scraps of fingering-weight yarn from projects past. It is a 2 year old WIP, and I am looking forward to putting it to good use. It will make a wonderful lightweight through. I am not, however, looking forward to weaving in all of those ends.
More about WIPs next week. I am working on forgiveness this week, and am allowing myself to take the week off from knit design. I am going to revel in just being a maker.
I have even managed to make and stick to a workout routine. A fellow WW member suggested that I try the Hasfit app. It’s great! I have really been enjoying the short, intense workouts. The coaches mix up the routines, so it is never the same workout 2 days in a row. I can feel myself getting stronger, and I love that.
I have started listening to audiobooks again. I have been checking them out of the library. I had realized a few weeks ago that I really miss reading. I am not, however, willing to sacrifice valuable knitting time in exchange for reading. I have been playing audiobooks in the evenings while I knit, instead of watching Netflix or knitting podcasts. A delightful side effect? Not looking up at the tv screen every few minutes is helping me to knit faster.
So What have I been reading?
The Stand, by Stephen King. This is a re-read for me. You might think it an odd choice during a global pandemic, but I have always loved Stephen King's rich characters and long narratives. If you haven't read or seen it, the excerpt Mr. King released that described how quickly the virus in The Stand got out of control is a must-read.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. This book was eerie, beautiful and delightful. It was everything I hoped for and I am looking forward to reading the next books in the series. If you are not fond of the supernatural, you may not enjoy this book.
Cappuccinos, Cupcakes and a Corpse by Harper Lin. This was a lovely bit of fluff. A very lightweight mystery, but kind of entertaining. It kept me company in the kitchen.
Until next time, be safe. #Washyourhands. It's good for your body and for your knits.