“Learn as if you will live forever, live like you will die tomorrow.”

— Mahatma Gandhi

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In today’s email:

• Knitspiration: Great knitting advice from Dad
• Stitchionary: An stitch worthy of a wall
• Pattern Pick: This shawl is solid as a brick
• PLUS: Knitted ties, just the two of us, and more

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Disclaimer: This newsletter may contain sponsored ads and affiliate links.
When you buy using them, you support our work here at The Yarnist, as we get a small commission.

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💡 Knitspiration

😫 You can't do it all...

With it being Father's Day in many parts of the world yesterday (but not here in Estonia 😒) I've been seeing some posts about the best advice dad's have given.

Here are three that stuck out to me as particularly relevant to knitting:

"You can learn something from everyone"

This is a huge reason I LOVE our Yarnist Society members. They often jump in with answers to questions that others post, long before I ever get a chance. Not only that they offer multiple unique solutions to the problem.

Even folks who feel like they don't have that much experience in knitting have interesting things to contribute. Whether it be a new pattern they found or video they saw or tip they learned at the local yarn store.

But more than that, this is a great way to look at the world. You can learn from people older or younger, who have different political or religious views, and who come from lower or higher economic backgrounds. We just have to be willing to listen...

"Measure progress against yourself, not others"

One of our Fearless Knitting mantras is "Embrace Your Mistakes" (maybe that would be a good T-Shirt 🤔).

It's easy to look at other more accomplished knitters and think you're not good enough. But those knitters have only gotten where they are because they have made more mistakes and learned from them.

If you're trying to get better at golf you shouldn't compare yourself to Tiger Woods. You should compare to your previous efforts. Even if you miss your shot, that's a *good miss* because even your bad shots are getting better.

And in your knitting it's ok to make mistakes. Those *bad stitches* are still better now than when you started.

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"Just because it's a good opportunity, it doesn't mean it's a good opportunity for you."

This is something I wish my dad had taught me growing up.

When I started my professional knitting career I had the *great* idea to do a video knitting tutorial EVERY DAY.

And you know what?

I never achieved that goal. I'm not sure I went more than a couple weeks where I got 5 tutorials out in a row.

I launched 4 different knitting websites, manufactured a couple yarn lines, opened a yarn store, started a subscription box, and suffered from panic attacks on a regular basis.

I wanted to do EVERYTHING.

And as a result I wasn't GREAT at anything.

It's easy to get distracted by every shiny new yarn or knitting pattern or new technique discovery. I deal with it every day as I prepare these newsletters for you.

But you can't do it all...

Pick something and do that. Do it to the best of your ability.

There will ALWAYS be something new, but don't let the NEW be the enemy of the NOW.

Take joy in what you're knitting today, and when that's finished see what else is out there.

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I'll leave you with one thing I've learned from my own father.

"You've got to have the want to"

For me, this has meant pushing through the difficult moments in life to see success.

Whether that was the hard decision to close my yarn store after just 6 months, or choosing to start a project over because I knew I could do it better.

Having the want to makes you fearless.

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📆 Daily Stitch

The Brick Stitch

This stitch makes me think of my dad.

He's an engineer although we dealt more with pipes than bricks.

Still, he could build anything, whether it was a cardboard playhouse or a syphon system to keep the back room from flooding every time it rained.

And I always aced my physics projects; just the two of us working together and learning how the world works.

Learn this Stitch

📣 Announcements

Last Chance to Join...

Starts TODAY! Perfect Fit Verano Tee

If you've wanted to begin knitting garments but aren't sure where to start, this is the perfect project for you.

This simple tee alternates between lace, garter stitch, and drop stitches so there's always something interesting to knit.

During this KAL you'll learn new skills like:

• How to add extra stitches at the end of a row
• Making a boatneck collar
• Sewing different types of stitches together using multiple techniques in the same row
• Adjusting a simple pattern to your own measurements
• and much more

As long as you are comfortable knitting basic lace you will be able to finish this top without any issues.

And if you want to learn how to make garments that are seamed together this is a GREAT first project.

As part of this Knit-A-Long you'll get:

• Access to the Yarnist Society private community
• Video tutorials walking you through each step of the project
• Daily check-ins to keep you motivated and on track
• At least 3 LIVE calls (with recordings) to help you on your journey
• The chance to win awesome prizes
• and much more

This even will run from June 19th through July 16th, so you'll have PLENTY of time to finish.

Are you ready to join us?

There's still time! The fun starts in...

Register Today!

PLUS your purchase includes a FREE year of Yarnist Society Standard membership!

Oh, and did I mention that you'll get UNLIMITED access to the KAL videos so even if you don't finish in time you can still work on your top when you have time.

Whether this is your first garment or you just want to join in the fun, I can't wait to get started knitting with this amazing community.

I hope to see you there!

🧶 Pattern Pick

Slip Slip Brick by Julia-Maria Hegenbart

This shawl uses a two-color version of the brick stitch featured above.

While it looks complicated it's made mostly of knit stitches, and only one color is ever used at a time.

Best of all, it's 100% FREE!

Get This Pattern

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😂 Knits & Giggles

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Thanks for reading!

Before you go...below you'll find a few ways we can work together, and other bits & bobs: