I’d forgotten how exciting it can be to reach the downhill slide of a big project, how contagious can be the enthusiasm of others — the discussion of possibilities, the pleasures of pondering button placement. The last time I felt this, it was the end of February and I’d just won a gold medal for Williamsro in the 2006 Knitting Olympics (U.S. Cable Team, among others). I will still basking in the celebratory glow, feeling full up to here with the knitting mojo, realizing what a fantastic thing I’d accomplished, when, on the last day of February, my brother was in a horrific car accident and landed in ICU and for the next five, six, eight weeks, my focus was almost entirely on him. End of celebration.
The way these things work, that change in focus happened to my entire family and caused our whole dynamic to change — drastically — but things are never static, so as the chips fall and as we all find our new footing, the focus has been evolving and changing, too. Things — emotions — were really topsy-turvy for a while — they still are, I guess. Some of us are still processing events and coming to terms with who we are now and and changes and how it all works. As I wrote to my sister the other day, as she was pulling her foot out of mouth yet again (poor thing — and at least we could find some humor amongst ourselves), I liked our old family dysfunctionality better — even if it wasn’t ideal, at least we all knew what to expect and were on the same page of the same book. She agreed — someone has definitely taken the fun out of dysfunction. ; )
Through all these months, I continued to knit — socks, knitted toys, blanket squares, dishcloths, sweaters pieces large and small — but didn’t finish any but the smallest thing, and sometimes not even then. There is satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment in finishing A Thing, no matter the size or complexity, particularly if it brings you (or the recipient) joy, but I’d had so many great things floating around in my head. My knitting mojo really, really suffered. I’d have little spurts — namely, Trellis and Fib — and the pieces were easy to do, but any finishing requiring more than a kitchenered toe and/or weaving in of ends seemed overwhelming.
Now it is autumn. Technically, I know it is not, but the kids are back in school, so yeah, It Is. To me, a knitter, autumn = a focused return to knitting, sweaters, wool, maybe even a festival. Whilst I stood by as lovely assistant on the Pergola Project (PP), I found that I wasn’t really needed all that much. Even with the autumnal nesting and all the putting up of tomato sauce around here, I still had some "free" time, so I decided that it was time to pull out Fib. I usually do my seaming at the kitchen table and that was perfect, as I could easily keep an eye on — and be available for — PP. Once I started, well, it was that slippery slope, the downhill slide. So many things provided impetus to continue… Darn if those colors don’t just scream autumn! The lightheaded, giddy elation of matching stripes; warm days and cool nights; tomatoes, onions, garlic and herbs perfuming the house; not only opportunity, but reason to soon wear that sweater. DH has been very excited and quite complimentary, as was Katie — these two and their sensibilities for color and style (well, not DH so much in the style department) were energizing, as were the earlier, encouraging comments in posts last spring as I was knitting the pieces. It was getting exciting!
Buying buttons at Iris the other day, asking for your opinions yesterday, knitting with the group at Bahr Creek last night and getting their input — I’ve been absolutely infused with energy! I’ll tell you, people, I am higher than a frickin’ kite. I probably shouldn’t be allowed to operate machinery. Thank you for all your thoughts and comments and compliments! I think the knitting mojo might be awakening. ; )
*****
Bahr Creek (link at right) was WONDERFUL! It took me an hour to get from work to my friend Pat’s house, then another hour to Cedar Grove, so we arrived around 7:00. What a great group — young and old, boy and girls — and I was surprised at their number! We had birthday cake — for a 90-year-old in attendance (she was 90, wasn’t she?) — and artichoke dip! Yum. Amy Lu showed me the moebius cast on and how to knit it and I think I was doing it right all those times, it’s just weird. Nice to have Amy’s calm presence next to me — I’d lean over and ask, "Does this look right?" and she’d say, "Yes," and a few minutes later, I’d lean over and ask, "Is it supposed to do this?" and she’s say, "Yes." ; ) So, I think I’m finally knitting a moebius! There was some great, lively conversation and I really want to go back again!
Pat… I’ve got to spend more time with Pat. She brought some yarn with her, wanting to pick a few brains in regards to a felted bag design. She’s not a knitter, but she knows plenty of them and trades services or whatever — tomatoes, for one thing. ; ) While they don’t have any currently, she and her husband usually have sheep in the barn. She washes and dyes their wool and uses some of it for her work as a textile artist, most often felting, and some she spins, and she is also a weaver. I nearly plotzed when we got back to her house and she showed me bags and bags — many more than three bags full — of WOOL in her four-car shed (not a garage) — colorful, curly, soft, beautiful wool that she’s been dyeing all summer in preparation for winter’s work. My next mission is to get a tour of her workroom at home. She was elated to have finally visited Bahr Creek, too, to see first-hand their great selection of supplies for spinners and weavers.
I’m inordinately excited with the discovery of 
