Hello old friend, I say this old blanket (or wrap--- I haven’t decided which yet). It’s been in my knitting bag for over two years now. No, I haven’t worked on this project exclusively; instead, it’s more of a constant companion. It’s something I work on in between projects. It’s comforting.
I have its stitches memorized:
Row 1: K4, K1, K2tog, YO, K1, YO, SSK, K1*, repeat * across, K4
Row 2: K4, P across, K4
Row 3: K4, K2tog, YO, K3, YO, SSK* repeat * across, K4
Row 4: K4, P across, K4
It’s so simple yet it produces such a classic and exquisite design (made famous in Elizabeth Zimmerman's February Lady Sweater and updated by Flint Knits). I think I could make this blanket over and over again... and I might!
Yes, I’ve made some mistakes along the way. I dropped some stitches when I moved into my own house over a year ago and they are reflected in a row of mismatched stitches some five inches below my current spot. I would have corrected them if I had noticed at the time. But I didn’t, as distracted, distressed, and focused on new challenges as I was then.
And frankly, I haven’t been knitting much lately. My knitting bag sat in the corner as I ran back and forth to work and errands and kids’ activities. It seems that it has taken me almost ten months to settle into this new routine of mine--- ten months to notice my forgotten knitting bag and feel the need to pick up my needles again. Meanwhile, I’ve been sewing a lot when I can find snippets of time.
But it seems that for me, it takes a certain level of permission to sit
down, forget everything else, pick up my needles, and settle into the relaxation of knitting. I haven’t
had the time for that these past ten months, I tell myself. But in reality, I
haven’t chosen to take the time. Recently, I did, though. And it was just what my
distracted mind needed---- the repetitive motion, the feel of wool, the
clicking of the needles, wool's earthy smell, the tangible reward of my progress. My old friend.
Taking the time is welcome, indeed.
** Though this is not the pattern I used, here is a free blanket pattern similar to mine.
