Hello, hello! Here we are, a few weeks into 2026. How’s it going for you? I’m nursing a slight cold, the weather is predictably grey and rainy in Seattle, the global news is afire.
When the state of the world threatens to crater my inner realm, I turn to moderate making. The moderate part is important. Just-enough-creating of not too much, not too little. Steady, meditative progress and quiet enjoyment along the way. It’s so grounding, And I can’t be of any use if I’m not grounded first. Moderate making is about form, function, freedom from fear-mongering.
Knitting has been my mode of creating as of late and I’ve been hugely into making these funny cowls. I’ve shown you a few others I’ve made in the past here. I love these types of cowls for their compactness and the much needed warmth on my daily walks in this season.
They look like “haramaki” to me, which are Japanese tummy warmers worn in the winter for extra coziness. Haramaki also serve the purpose of boosting the circulation and immune system — it supposedly helps alleviate hormonal pain in the abdomen as well. Hmmm…I don’t have the hormonal issues anymore, but maybe I should consider wearing these around my belly? In their current dimensions, they might cut off my circulation though.
Anyway, perhaps you’d like to do some moderate making, too? Some ideas…
My latest Creativebug class is now available along with a slew of others:
Button-Down Jumpsuit class here
All my Creativebug classes here
Also, birdie-beetle posted these charming winter booties that she stitched up using my pattern and it went mini-viral. I’ve made quite a few of the winter booties and summer slippers, and I can attest that they are one of those beautifully soothing and utilitarian projects. Yes. Form, function, freedom from fear-mongering. If interested, the pattern is here.
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Alright 2026, watcha got? I’m a little sniffly, but with my body layered up in my jumpsuit and other handmade garments, my neck hugged by a haramaki cowl, and my feet swaddled by winter booties, I’m ready.
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