A year or so ago, I read the Book Knitting Through It, stories on how knitting have helped people, especially the women in the book, to deal with the many things going on in their lives. From tragedies to moments of triumph, knitting kept them sane, and increased their ability to cope. Now, as I parent my child into his adult years, I too, find myself knitting through it. Knitting is my buddy. The calming aspect of yarn and needles flowing through my fingers, relaxes me, centers me, focuses me. Challenges have always caused me to rise to the occasion but now, rather than carry around a stuffed animal ( although there are days I wish I could and not be thought of as " touched " ) or my worn little blankie, I have my knitting. The peaceful looping of yarn, the soft sound of the needles, the rustle of the knitting bag; all bring me full circle into myself and again, I can rise to any challenge with a calmness that even those around me need.

Saturday night, December 7th was Gallery Walk in town along with the community tree lighting and the arrival of Santa. It was an exceptionally cold night was temperatures in the teens. Crowd turn out was small but welcomed and in between customers in my gallery ( the 940 Gallery ), I knit. Determination is my middle name these days as I strive to make new things from new yarn for the shop and also to finish some of the projects that fill my work basket by the chair in the living room. I am making progress and last night finds me knitting on a baby afghan in cotton that I began years ago, a shameful admission. What sorts of things are you working on? These knitted projects may not turn into gifts this Christmas but they will be ready for next Christmas or a birthday here and there! I am going to snuggle tonight under my fake lamb's wool blanket and knit on this cold winter's evening.

The days are definitely shorter and this week, much colder. Temperatures that have my teeth chattering make me take out all my knitting, especially those unfinished projects and begin on them again. Maybe I should say begin to finish them again. I like to snuggle in my favorite chair, put my feet up, watch a television show or movie, and knit away a couple of hours.

This was my Thanksgiving Day knitting.

The shop is loaded with new yarn, felt kits, new book titles and new needles. It was so difficult to control myself when it came to purchasing all the fall and winter yarns. I loved this one's color, the softness of that one, the texture of this one, the amazing patterns for the yarn over there.... and on it went just buying my favorites until we were bursting at our seams. 

New Yarn!

The shop is all warm and cozy and inviting you to browse through the patterns and fondle all the yarn. Bring your latest project in, we would love to see it. Come sit a bit and knit a few rows. let us know what you hope to see for - dare I say it? - spring! Surely as we approach the shortest day of the year, we are all looking forward to spring and the lovely days that lie ahead. 

This Saturday at Diva there will be a trunk show and special sale of my friend Jane Shreven's buttons during Gallery Walk. We will stay open late, until 8 and display her buttons along with some of the holiday knitting we have done for the shop. Come in and join us! Now, as for me, it is back to knitting on that baby afghan. Have a wonderful, warm evening this fine winter's night. 

Knitting Through Paris

Lately, I have been thinking quite a bit about my knitting and the times I choose to knit. I think of it as my stress reducer, my calming activity, the motions that carry me through an event or times when I need comfort.

Recently, I was on vacation in Paris where I had taken three knitting projects with me. I figured I would knit on the plane coming and going and perhaps a bit in a quiet moment or two. Instead, I knitted every where. I stood in line at the catacombs for almost an hour and knit in line. I returned to the apartment in Montemarte in the late afternoons and knit until dinner, then knit again until bedtime. Waiting for my traveling companions to get ready for the day, I knit in the comfy chair in the living room. The knitting soothed me, focused me, gave me patience as I waited for plans to come together. I carried it to every tourist sight as if it were a talisman.

During this trip, I realized just how much I needed the very act of knitting. I taught a friend on the trip to knit and she created a long and winding scarf, a real beauty and then as she craved to knit more; we searched out and found a yarn shop in Paris. I didn't need something specific to make, I just wanted to knit. I could answer the question, " what are you making? " because I did have patterns for the projects with me but it was difficult to explain to the non-knitter, just what it was that I WAS doing.

Without the thousand things I have to do at home for my family, the businesses and the many, many things to distract me ( television anyone? ), I just reveled in the act of knitting. Yes, I finished two projects, goals were attained but I knitted for sheer joy and comfort, so far from home.

So, the trip to Paris became an actual time of vacation, the first in decades, as I worked on knitting for the shop without distraction in the company of friends and conversation. I knitted in the company of strangers where I could still be aware and a part of what was going on around me. I knitted for me. I knitted for comfort. I knitted for the love of knitting.

Summer is moving ahead at a brisk and sunny pace in Diva. New fall yarns are arriving and there is excitement in the air as we plan all the projects we will be knitting for shop samples. Lots of color, texture and unique kits are in stock along with really interesting new book titles. I was knitting a little fair isle cap from Silky Wool but I have decided to turn it into a stocking cap. I've never knit a stocking cap before and after looking at many different patterns, I think I have put something together that will be fun and challenging. Stay tuned.

We also have added a selection of hand dyed wool felt in fat 1/8ths hand dyed in Port Angeles. Working in and with wool is one of my favorite things to do.

So as we head into the long last days of August, get some knitting and head into the great outdoors, find a shady spot and knit your heart out. Happy knitting!

Recently, someone mentioned to me the importance of community in my yarn shop. I had never really thought about it before. I love to knit and crochet, I use it as a soothing meditative activity for however brief a time in my day when I get to do it. I have always knitted my way through stress and life's ups and downs. I knit in public, private. On planes and in grocery store parking lots. I knit in doctor waiting rooms, in the dark at movie theaters. I knit alone and in groups, with friends and strangers and yet I never thought of community.

I guess knitters, spinners, crocheters and weavers are community. We share a love of fiber and color and texture, of progress done and things made. We crave the comfort our handwork brings. The soothing to our soul the pursuit of handwork that has been done for centuries. A bond between people that has lasted generations.

So yes, there is community, whether one person is knitting alone or in a group; there is a community of previous lives and generations knitting with them. A community across the ages.

I am thinking of all the people in Oklahoma displaced and injured in the giant tornado that struck the town of Moore, Oklahoma. I am so sorry that it happened and heart broken over the loss of lives and disruption of their days. A disruption that will last a long time.

When I am stressed, deeply troubled and feeling overwhelmed, it helps me to knit. I am calmed, contented and clear headed as I sit down to knit. I am thinking of all the knitters and crafters there that have lost their projects. How they must long to reach for them in this horribly stressful time. I think of the moms and dads who settle their children for the night and would reach for their knitting to have a few centering moments for themselves. I am sorry for this loss too. I wonder how I can help. I would love to send yarn and needles to Oklahoma but it is likely too early in the chaos to send off this comfort. In the meantime, I will knit and pray and send comforting thoughts to all the citizens and crafters of this area. Later on, I will find a way to donate yarn. Donating the comfort of the familiar stitch, the welcoming project, the becalmed moment.