Meditation is good for the body and the soul…there is only one problem. My ADHD brain can’t “sit still” long enough to meditate, which causes me to feel oddly guilty. I feel that I should be able to meditate…that it is a moral failing that I somehow cannot.
Or, at least, that is the way I used to feel — before I discovered the joys of knitting. I took up knitting 3 or 4 years ago when my middle aged eyes began having trouble focusing on needlepoint. I started with the simple “Knit Stitch” because I was intimidated by anything more complex. All that “knit one, purl one” scared me to death. And patterns, well patterns really frightened me.
So I began knitting prayer shawls for a ministry at church. These suited me to a tee. I learned to cast on 57 stitches. Then, by golly, all I had to do was “knit, knit, knit” practically forever and at the end, when it was as tall as I was, it was done! Yup, 5 feet a a smidgeon of the garter stitch and I had a prayer shawl. Using the classic prayer shawl yarn, Lion Brand Homespun, which is “nubbly,” gave the piece some interest and behold, I had something that would comfort someone ailing or going through a rough time.
In time, I noticed a couple of things. First, I got really, really good at doing the garter stitch. I could practically do it in my sleep. My stitches became quite even. I loosened my grip on the needles and my stitches were no longer so tight. I got creative and added a border for interest by knitting 2 yarns together at the beginning and the end. I’d knit in a skein of eyelash yarn at the beginning, until the eyelash was all gone. Then, when the shawl was as tall as my nose, I was ready to add the second skein of eyelash yarn. It was a foolproof, if rather odd, way of “measuring” my work.
Then, I also began to notice how relaxed I was when knitting. Knitting calmed my brain, which tends to have ideas ricochet off off the inside of my skull at a rapid rate. This act of knitting actually caused me to be able to concentrate better than when I was not knitting. In fact, the knitting was rather meditative. So, knitting has become a zen-like activity for me.
And after 3 years of doing nothing but prayer shawls, a funny thing happened. I decided to learn how to purl. It was awkward at first, but I got the hang of it. Then, I got brave and tried a rudimentary pattern…one that involved only the knit stitich and something called “yarn overs,” where you wrap the yarn around the needle without knitting to create a lacy effect (it’s magic, but a yarn over does create a hole)…
Well, now I’m addicted. I have future knitting projects mapped out for the next 6 months, with yarns already purchased (because, I’ve discovered, yarn stores are very dangerous places for a knitter!).
I knit everywhere. On long trips in the car (when I am not driving, of course), on planes (yes, the TSA does allow metal knitting needles on airplanes) and when I’m watching tv. I haven’t gotten up my nerve to knit in meetings, but I’d sure LIKE to! I think I would pay better — not worse — attention.
Along with knitting has come the accoutrements of the hobby. There exist all kinds of fun gadgets that help knitters out. My favorite is the “all in one” thingie, which contains a row counter, a measuring tape, a yarn cutter and a crochet hook for picking up dropped stitches. There is even a little compartment which holds stitch markers and needle stoppers, to prevent the work from falling off the needle.
I recently invested in a set of Addi clicks needles. Addi turbos are metal and they knit smoothly and fast. They are the best needles I’ve found, but can be pricey. Well, I fell in love with the kit of 7 needle sizes and 3 lengths of cord which allow you to mix and match to make different needle combos. Big savings vs. buying them individually.
So, I’m happy to say that my 12 hour trip back from California tomorrow will be a knitting interlude, rather than a boring, interminable voyage. It’s almost worth getting up at 4 a.m. for. But not quite.
I’ll end by leaving you with a knitting poem…and I’ll upload some pictuers of what I’m knitting to future blogs.
Knitting
Click, clack:
unsteady needles together
break Saturday morning silence
Steam rises off the lake:
a cold front come through
with summer’s rain, rhetorical
from the great tweeded plains.
Click, clack:
trying to keep time
with the rhythm of the tiger maple
grandfather clock ticking
against the living room wall.
Knit one, purl one:
fingers woo nubbly yarn
over and under,
a shawl,
for a Honduran woman
I shall never meet.
She has nothing
but three clay pots,
a dirt floor, love
for her four hungry children,
.
Each of ten thousand stitches
anticipates its job,
offering warmth
on a chilly night
in Central America.
It is a Prayer Shawl.
and I pray,
my hands working
the wool with
wobbly fingers.
Click, Clack:
Thank God,
I pray better than I knit.
Hugs to you all, and thanks for reading me!
Anni
