Crazy for Ewe

I recently ran across an interesting talk by Alain de Botton called, Why you will marry the wrong person. The title is intended to be click bait, and I bit. I watched the whole thing and even shared it with my grown children, who are either married or considering such. It might seem like a heartless and callous approach to an important topic, but it makes sense. And, as with everything I read, it is applicable to knitting. So here goes.

In his lovely British accent, Botton makes the point that marriage is a challenge. Ask anyone who’s been

I am always happy to be at a table of knitters. They are among the kindest and most generous people in the world.  Whether it’s showing a beginner how to cast on, offering up a stitch marker, or celebrating another’s project fresh off the needles, they are loving and giving, and lavish with praise and encouragement.  Usually.  

Sometimes, though, I hear knitters say some not so nice things. 

I’m such an idiot

I’ll never get this

I have a friend who’s a professional designer, Kate Abt.  She’s amazing.  129K followers on Instagram.  Not that the number of followers you have indicates your actual talent, but trust me when I tell you, she’s that good.  

When she’s done the design on a home, she has it professionally photographed for her portfolio, but she stages it herself. Her trunk overflows with baskets, pillows, linens, platters, fruits, vegetables, flowers, cookies, and other props to create an atmosphere and tell a story in that space.  The camera clicks, and she’s off to the next room, scooping piles of lemons and greenery as she goes.. 

This is not a new idea.  Architecture and home decor magazines alway

On the surface we sell yarn for knitting and crochet, but that doesn’t begin to touch it.  We have had babies, raised families, and celebrated every imaginable milestone together. We have dealt with divorce, coped with cancer, and buried our loved ones. Every single conceivable emotion  has been shared in our community, and it has been better for that sharing. We have faced down a quarantine, stood fast against a pandemic, and we have survived together. Apocalypse?  Bring it.  We got this.  

New year’s is the obvious and most popular time for making a positive change in our lives.  New Year’s is an appealing clean slate where we can start anew.  

 Knitters make a certain brand of resolutions.  While some people resolve to start a new hobby or get a new skill, that’s rarely where a knitter’s mind goes.  We already have an all-consuming hobby, and we learn new things all the time.  No, knitters’ resolutions typically take the form of 

 I’m not going to cast on a new project until I finish ____________ or, I’m not going to buy any more yarn until I use up everything in my stash 

‘twas the night before Christmas and all in the shop
Was perfectly arranged from bottom to top

Ginni, her sweater so perfectly fitting
Had just settled down for an evening of Knitting. 

When out on the wharf there arose such a clatter,
She jumped from her chair to see what was the matter

The moon on the bay cast a beautiful glow.
So taken was Ginni  she stopped knitting mid row