Deviltry
You don’t need these. You really don’t. Some of you may even be scandalized by them (which really, if this is what you can muster the energy to be scandalized by given the state of the world, well then I admire your equanimity in the face of actual catastrophes). But I know, in my heart of hearts, that there are some of you who will have you day made better by these little dudes. That, or you’ll use them to make someone else’s day better, and that’s just as good.
Because the world is on fire. And it feels like the bad guys are winning. And we’re all exhausted and terrified and overwhelmed. And that’s not going to stop any time soon.
But when it feels like that, there’s something powerful in putting down your phone, picking up your needles, and making some absurd little thing that brings you joy or making something you know will make someone else smile. No it’s not practical. No it’s not necessary. But making a little bit of time to do something joyful is surprisingly powerful. And I want you to know exactly how powerful you are.
Noteworthy
Paper is magic. Admittedly, it’s that sort of quiet, everyday magic that’s easy to overlook. But it’s magic nonetheless.
It can be soft enough to protect your most delicate treasures, or strong enough to climb on. It can be so ephemeral that you throw it away without a second thought, or it can last for centuries. It can hold your thoughts, when nowhere else feels safe, and either keep them secret forever or share them with others long after you’re gone.
Because paper is magic, and the right piece of paper can change the world.
Now, I am not foolish enough to think that these little bits of knitted paper are going to do any such thing. But I do know that you can turn them into a little pouch for all your secret treasures, or use them to display your favorite pins, or (if your embroidered penmanship is better than mine) maybe send someone a very special note. And I know they’re going to amuse quite a number of you and bring a bit of happy distraction to some folks who need a break from a world that feels increasingly grim. And I know none of that changes the world. But maybe it makes it a tiny bit more comfortable, for just one person, for just a moment. And that’s a kind of magic too.
Glowing
If you looked at these and though "ooooh, I wanna color them" you're not alone! I've made a little coloring book with images of a couple of my favorites. It's free, and you can download it over here! And if you're worried they're hard, I've got a little free download over here with some sample folds so you can try it out ahead of time to make sure you can do it.
Every year, right about when the time changes and the sun starts setting well before dinnertime, I am overcome with the urge to make these. I fold them by the dozen and absolutely fill my windows. I can't explain it. I can't justify it. I have absolutely no idea how something made from nothing more than a few sheets of paper and a couple of stickers can be so utterly enchanting. But somehow they are.
They satisfy my brain in much the same way as knitting. You use simple materials (yarn, or paper), and a tiny handful of fundamental techniques (knit & purl stitches, or straight & diagonal folds), and repeat the same actions over and over (stitch after stitch after stitch, or fold after fold after fold). And somehow you end up with something that feels like so much more than the sum of its parts.
They've been a touchstone of my year for longer than I can remember (the family lore is that they were one of the holiday crafts the nuns at my German kindergarten taught me to make). They make even the darkest winter days seem just a bit brighter and more bearable. And, while I certainly don't have the commanding presence of an elderly German nun, I absolutely love the idea of sharing them with all of you.
I hope they bring you a little light when the world feels dark!
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