I can't believe that I have been gone from my blog for so long. Last night I had a fabulous experience and realized that I have been gone for too long. This could be what is missing from my life. So I am back. More on Last night in another Post, tonight I am thinking about a question. . .
Why do we knit?
Clearly there are easier ways to get a scarf, a hat, a pair of socks, a sweater, some lace. . . So why do we do it. I asked this question on Plurk and Twitter, and I will ask it to you. .
Why do you knit?
Why do I knit? To Cope.
I can personally remember the fist day I purchased needles. Nope, I really can. It was Sat. Sept 8th 2001. I remember this because I returned home from Michael's Crafts in High Point North Carolina with a pair of needles and a skein of yarn. I'm fairly certain it was pink. Right when I got home I was informed that my Boppie was dying in CT. I went through the next couple of days, I wandered around hoping that I would get home in time to see him, and learning how to knit. Then on Tuesday Sept 11, 2011. . . well we all know what happened that day.. . but I wandered through that day trying to figure out how to get home, because my Boppie had mere days to live.
For my early knitting projects I remember a pink scarf, I remember a hat, I remember a Christmas stocking. But I will always remember the day I purchased my first set of needles, and where I was.
Throughout the years, knitting ultimately became something that I always had with me, and over the past year it has helped me cope with terribly stressful situations.
This past year. . . . well. . . It has been awful. I won't beat around the bush about that.
When my aunt was passing away last October I was working on some blankets. The intention was for them to be given to my cousin and her new twins. unfortunately I don't knit very well when incredibly stressed. I have those blankets still, and I am reminded of the love that was surrounding my aunt during her last moments of life.
Sadly I don't remember what I was knitting while my Grandmother was passing in January, but I do have the February Lady Sweater that I knit for her as an 80th birthday gift. I loved knitting that sweater, and I think she enjoyed having it. Well, at least I hope she did. I wear the sweater with pride now. It doesn't quite fit, and it's a bit pilled, but I don't care.
This year, in early August, I received a call that my father fell off a cliff. . . no really he did. . . he fell 15 feet into a ravine. He broke multiple bones, but is alive and walking. When I was taking the train to meet him. . . . I had knitting.
And when I found out that my nephew was having brain cancer, I knit a hat (see more about that project in another post.
So why do I knit. To cope. sometimes it's stress, sometimes it's family situations, sometimes it's death, sometimes it's coping after a bad day.
Why do I knit?
to Cope
Why do you knit?
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Why We Knit Wednesday
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3 comments:
This is a beautiful post, I'm happy to hear that other people knit to cope with thier stress.
You get the right pattern, and you can zone out for hours.
I hope knitting continues to soothe you in your hard times, and that it takes you beyond.
What a year you've had. I'm so glad you have knitting to help you through it. I bought my first needles for my first real project right before my mom had open heart surgery so I'd have something to do while waiting in the hospital.
Sending healing thoughts to your dad.
Luann
I knit to do something else with my hands. To be distracted. And to keep me occupied. In short, to cope.
I had a really awful final year of high school; 2 grandparents, an aunt and a great aunt all passed away, plus I was trying to study while battling clinical depression.
That is when I started. My best friend bought me a pair of needles for my birthday, and I got myself some yarn, so started squares.
Those squares became a blanket, which I gave to said Aunt's grandchild :)
I hope everything gets a little less stressful soon!
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