Travel as Motivation

Crafting with a goal:

How many works in progress (WIPs) do you currently have going? I'm about 2/3 through knitting two scarves that I started about 3 years ago, I have a crochet blanket that I'm about 2/5 of the way through that I started almost a year ago, one sock out of 2 started last May, and about 5/12 into my Sophie's Dream blanket, not to mention the several projects that I've abandoned in the basement - one for nearly 20 years. They all have their purpose and good times to work on them and I make progress eventually....

But sometimes, you really want to finish and wear something. When I saw the Dan Doh Bamboo sweater pattern I fell in love with it, especially because I was planning a trip to Japan. I was in my local yarn shop for a felting class and saw that they had the Dan Doh silk + dk yarn in what were perfect colors for me (Pacific and Vanilla). It seemed like the perfect thing and the pattern was definitely completable over the several months I had. 

Dan Doh silk yarn - the cream flecks in the Pacific complement the Vanilla

Of course I jumped right in, making great progress as one always does when starting out. But then summer happened, and I picked up my other projects and.... slowed down. As the date of my trip approached, I began to doubt whether I would finish after all. 

Psychological benefits of travel:

As an aside, I've long believed in the many psychological benefits of travel - time for a mental reset, connections with new people and places, increased understanding of the differences and commonalities between cultures, to mention a few. But for me, one of the most powerful benefits of travel is in the anticipation. It is simply something to look forward to, to dream about. "The positive feelings of anticipating and planning a trip...can boost your happiness quotient." (cite) So why not combine that planning and anticipation with a real project that you can enjoy? I can tell you that working on this sweater was a regular reminder of the upcoming trip and brought me so much happiness.

In the nick of time:

Getting back to my Bamboo... I had all but given up on finishing when I got together with a good friend, who is also a dedicated knitter. She encouraged me to finish, saying that there was plenty of time! That was the boost I needed. I managed to wrap it up and sew in my ends approximately 24 hours before departure, and to wet block it overnight. Thankfully, I live in an arid climate and it was ready to go as I was packing my last bags. Of course it went in the carry on - I wasn't going to risk losing this to the baggage demons before I had a chance to actually wear it. 

The Dan Doh Bamboo sweater blocking the night before departing for Japan

Thankfully the sweater made it in one piece and was the perfect thing to wear in the warm weather of Autumn in Japan. Wearing it on my trip led to another discovery - a beautiful handmade item such as this becomes a conversation starter with other travelers, bringing yet more joy and connection. 

The author happily wearing the finished Bamboo sweater in Japan