Today, I seek to share with you how a stance of non-judgmentalness can allow ourselves to truly embrace who we are (with all the imperfections). There is just so much delight in each of us, so much nuance, so much beauty, and so much diversity of skill and beyond. Non-judgmentalness highlights our unique factors. 

As a key component of mindfulness, non-judgmentalness asks us to strip evaulatory language from our conversations. Judgements ascribe some kind of an arbitrary evaluation upon us. Terms like good or bad, better or worse, are commonly found amongst judgements. We all judge to a certain extent, I am simply asking for you to notice your judgments and determine if they are really helping you in this moment. Judgments assume that this is one right way to things, and truly, if knit collage teaches us anything, it is that there is multitude of ‘right’ ways.  Is there truly something that is good or bad? or is it that certain experiences are more helpful than harmful. You see, most judgments are simply shorthand for actual descriptions. 

Let’s take a look at common knitting judgments (and descriptions!!). 

• Judgment: Everyone else is such a better knitter than I am. 

• Description: Some of the other knitters in this group have finished their sweaters faster than me. I am a slower knitter than some of the other KAL participants. 

• Judgment: My sweater looks terrible. 

• Description: There are a couple stitches that are looser than others in the ribbing of my sweater. I can work on improving my ribbing tension in my next project. 

When we describe, rather than judge, we are actually able to communicate facts. We are able to see what is true reality, and ultimately decide if we really need to make any changes. There is nothing inherently wrong with knitting slowly. There is nothing inherently wrong with an uneven tension. There is nothing inherently wrong with a random yarn over hole. AND if you determine that you would rather knit faster, or fix that yarn hole, you can indeed make those changes and get closer to your desired outcomes. If we just say something is good, bad, worse, or better, we do not actually know what is going on. And also those judgmental words play on our emotions. 

When we approach ourselves from a non-judgemental stance, we are able to highlight all of the various elements that make up who we are. We are able to highlight the areas in which we hold pride, and identify the areas that we ourselves would like to change. We are able to embrace our true selves. 

Knitting gives us this fantastic opportunity to lean into ourselves. There are few places in which we are encouraged to make something that is truly ours. I think that is why my Kaleidoscope sweater feels so incredibly special to me. I let myself disregard the traditional ‘rules’ I have when it comes to knitting. I let myself choose my colors as I went. I followed my heart and I couldn’t be more pleased with how it came out. It just feels like … me. 

And as we see our fellow knitters post with pride their progress, we can notice that no sweater is bad or terrible. Rather each sweater is unique. Each sweater serves a different purpose. Each sweater meets the needs of wherever their knitter is in this moment, of this very day. 

Just like our kaleidoscopes, you are a one-of-a-kind.

So today, I have two questions: 

1. What is one judgment about your knitting that you can transform into a description?
2. How are you leaning into your authentic self during this KAL?

Thank you so much for being here. YOU are incredible. YOU add so much to our knit collage community <3 

Take care + happy knitting, 

Emma of Bloom and Create, Amy and the Knit Collage Team