Just in time for the start of autumn, I finished knitting my cosy Anker's Cardigan from Cheeky Merino Joy. But as happy as I was that the temperatures were finally dropping and I could wear it straight away, I was also empty inside: I had nothing left on the needles!

Instead of knitting all the time and everywhere, I suddenly found myself without knitting, sitting idly as a passenger in the car with my hands free watching TV. And how well I could have used the hour for children's gymnastics! It didn't just feel like lost knitting time, I was simply missing something. How could this have happened?

In the past, I often knitted several favourite pieces at the same time instead of concentrating on just one. So it sometimes took longer to finally finish a jumper. However, I never ran out of fun. There was something for every mood and every occasion. It's nice to be disciplined and finish something before starting the next one - but for this year's (hopefully!) cold season, I want to knit in parallel again.

In line with these thoughts, I recently read the chapter "Planning projects" from the book "Mit Stricken gesund und glücklich werden". I already quoted from it in the knitting newsletter Knitting for the soul. As it is unfortunately no longer available in German, I'm sharing a little of what I found there today.

According to author Betsan Corkhill, it is important to take time to plan different knitting projects, as this allows different needs to be met and the positive effects of knitting to be intensified.
I have therefore put together a few characterisations for you here, which you can use to consciously knit according to your respective life situation.

The work of art

A challenging pattern on the needles offers our brain the opportunity to distract itself from worries, problems and pain. And dedicating ourselves to a complicated task and creating something artistic gives us a sense of control in otherwise confusing situations. The Let it Fall jumper or the Delightful scarf, for example, are suitable for such cases, as the lace pattern requires a calming level of concentration.

The novelty

Regularly learning new skills promotes brain health. Fortunately, there are an infinite number of knitting patterns that can challenge us in a pleasant way. This means we can always have a piece of knitting to hand where we can take our time and learn a new technique without any pressure. Perhaps you would like to try out how to knit a mosaic pattern? The beautiful shawl Cinnamon Star offers you the opportunity to do so. Or are you interested in getting to know shortened rows? Then the Piace scarf is just your design.

The mantra

Of course, things shouldn't always be complicated and challenging. With a simple knitted piece that your hands knit automatically, you can let your mind wander and let your soul dangle. Single-coloured tops, for example, which are knitted in the round in stockinette stitch, promise pure relaxation. Like the Mengeti shirt from our Dekade collection. But a shawl in garter stitch, such as Tatto, also works always well on the side.

The take-away

You can never have enough hats. And because of their manageable size - and especially with simple patterns - they are also ideal to take away. Simply slip a bag of knitwear into your handbag and enjoy knitting on the way to work, long journeys or waiting times. The Yndi hat, for example, could be such a bag project.

Instant happiness

A short-term knitting fun for in between, preferably in your favourite colour, brings a quick sense of achievement and is a real mood booster. The Juble hat is perfect for this. Not only is it ready in an instant, but its bright colours will instantly brighten up any winter doldrums.

The long-term relationship

Some knitting projects, on the other hand, need a lot of time and attention. If we can nurture and enjoy them without pressure and always continue knitting when we feel like it, it makes us all the happier in the end. For example, a cardigan such as Veselie or Festa. A large blanket like the one I knitted in Portugal years ago is also something solid for longer.

The freestyle

This brings us to the last point: I knitted my blanket from individual squares without any instructions. And I modified my shawl Tatto to suit my taste. According to Corkhill, a creative process like this not only encourages and nurtures creativity, but also helps you to just let your hair down and go with the flow. I can only confirm that!

With this in mind: Have fun planning and happy knitting in all situations!