Apologies to Lewis Carroll but there are similarities between making a gauge swatch and listening to the signs your body is sending you.

How?

Well, they’re both important. Every knitting and crochet pattern out there has that little line about taking time to check your gauge. Diet and fitness gurus are constantly telling us to eat better, whatever that may mean.

But let’s be honest, do we do either one? Every single time?
Be honest now.
I didn’t think so. I rarely swatch and I rarely get my eight servings of vegetables in one day.

It’s hard, I know it is. So what’s blocking us?

1. Lack of time. We want to get started on our project right away! Or figure out what’s making us sick right now! These are things that take time. So take a deep breath and let it out again.

2. Lack of information. Who should we trust about health information? How big should a gauge swatch be?

3. Lack of motivation. It’s okay to own up to procrastination. Changing your health habit or re-swatching isn’t the most exciting or interesting thing to do.

So we’re all full of excuses and things we’d rather be doing and food we would prefer to eat. And that’s okay. However, we do need to listen up and pay attention to that voice that says “Perhaps, this isn’t going quite right.” 

Listen to that little voice. Not the nagging voice that delights in telling you that you are WRONG! The quiet one that whispers, “Something’s not right here.” Give yourself permission to listen to her. 

Figure out what works best for YOUR body.

Are you more a snacker?
Try having smaller meals throughout the day.

Not big on breakfast food?
There’s no law out there banning you from having a sandwich as part of your first meal of the day.

Hate linen?
Don’t work with it! It’s okay!

Take deep breaths, listen up and take notes.

Your body and your knitting will thank you.

Thank you to our guest blogger
Vanessa at Mixed Martial Arts and Crafts
NessaMcTastic at Ravelry