Saturday, January 16, 2010

knit

My knitting addiction surged again in November after a period of dormancy. (The hiatus was definitely driven by the need to finish the plain squares for my stepson's wedding afghan. I find no joy in knitting 12 x 12-in stockinette squares with a garter stitch border).

It's a wild ride. Each evening I spend 30 to 150 minutes sitting on the chair-and-a-half working on my latest project. Obsessed, I miss my bedtime and wake each morning sleep-deprived.


It's a stress reliever. After a day in a work environment with frequent reorganization, change, and near-constant deadline pressure, the rhythm of knitting, focus on pattern, and emerging results growing on the needles soothes me.


It's a spiritual reminder. The Bible tells me that God knit me together in the womb, and knew the days He would establish for my life. So each stitch joined to the previous one, each new pattern, each added row - all are metaphors representing life. And sometimes as I knit, I remember gratefully that God is knitting together a little baby I call Adele... After two babies that God holds in His arms, my sister-in-law is again pregnant.


Someday - only God knows when - He will finish the knitting project called Susan, binding me off into a beautiful garment for His eternal pleasure.