I got up early this morning to make the journey to the Midlands for a Knitting and Crochet Guild committee meeting. A slightly hurried departure admittedly as I slept through the alarm clock, so I grabbed pretty much the first comfortable clothes that came to hand. The day went well, a smooth journey there (and home again), a productive meeting and at the end a brief opportunity to look at each others knitting.
Jane was working on a shawl; Imogen crocheting; Rita was wearing a wonderful coat in an amazing blend of yarns and Lesley was proudly showing off her Cat Bordhi bag made with a moebious strip (definitely on my to do list for 2006). It was only when they made flattering comments about the knitwear I was sporting that I realised how much my lifestyle, knitting and my friends are intertwined.
Firstly the shawl I was wearing is a wonderful confection made by Jacinta ; my wristlets were the delightfully beaded "Mrs Beeton" knitted by Jill; my socks were what my DH refers to as my "Polly socks" ( whilst my joints have been bad I've not been allowed to leave home without wearing a pair - yes the wonderful woman has knitted me more than one pair). The sweater I was wearing was bought whilst I was at the Harrogate show; the jeans I bought in Birmingham (also whilst working at a show). I'm not telling you about the rest except that now I look I can see I bought some of it in York in 2004 (but rarely worn) when I went to the KCG AGM. (As you might have guessed by now, I'm not the world's best packer when it comes to clothes - I prefer to have room for the important knitting projects).
My knitting was a lace smoke ring using yarn from Lesley P. in Australia, the needles were ebony from Dawn; the stitch markers were from SP6; my tool bag contained knitting gifts from exchanges as far back as 1995 - even the book I was reading was written by a knitter.
There are few photos posted of these wonders on this blog, in some respects I am a private person and prefer to keep private gifts private though I'm happy to post those from official exchanges like SP6 and & SP7 (more on this tomorrow).
Some of the blogs I read and internet groups I belong to are currently commenting on the negative actions of certain knitting businesses ( both in the USA and the UK). I've decided to take a hiatus from reading them and not cloud my mind with any more of those negative thoughts, I've read enough to form my own opinions and will act as my conscience dictates.
Instead I will rejoice in the emotional riches that I've gained through belonging to such a wonderful world of diverse individuals and start plotting how to pay back some of that generosity through introducing others to this wonderful world at the Knit and Natter classes at Brighton in a few weeks time, where once again I will be surrounded (quite literally at times) by people giving up their time (and at their own expense) to teach the hoards of potential new knitters and crocheters that the show attracts.
Posted by Yvonne at January 29, 2006 12:36 AMVery thoughtful/thoughtprovoking post - I'm so glad you are on the KCG committee, because your love for yarn always shines through, and you always seem to welcome the new and the old, the experienced and the complete beginner, and make time for it/them all. No wonder your life and friends are so intertwined.
And good comments re the spates of negativity. It is so easy with a computer to just hit the publish button, sometimes too easy, and too easy to get caught up in the downwards spirals. It is such a shame to lose the positive, fun, and good in sharing knitting. Have fun at Brighton - sounds like it will be a blast.
Posted by: susoolu at January 30, 2006 04:29 PMVery interesting post. A voice of common sense. I know what you mean about talking about gifts but the fact that you wear them so much says more about how you feel about them than any number of photos on the blog.
Posted by: Mary at January 29, 2006 09:18 PMinteresting post and definitely makes one thoughtful for several reasons. I understand exactly how you feel about showing your gifts. Some people are much more private than others and well, different strokes for different folks, right?
xo p
Posted by: atu at January 29, 2006 05:50 PMGlad to hear you are surrounded by knitted kindness, you deserve it after all the good knitting vibes you distribute all around the country. Hope you are feeling better and I love your new shawl, I finished the Oak leaf shawl in cotton angora and am really sorry its not for me cause I love it.
Posted by: yvette at January 29, 2006 05:08 PMCan only imagine the number of knitters you have benefited with your cheerful advice! Loved reading the post x
Posted by: Lixie at January 29, 2006 04:35 PMGreat post Yvonne - I must admit I tend to stop reading blogs that are full of what I considerer negativity on a regular basis. I prefer to surround myself with the positive in my free time. How lovely to find yourself wearing so many knitted gifts. You must have felt so surrounded by companionship and love.
Posted by: Carol at January 29, 2006 03:33 PMLovley post, Yvonne. One of my new year's resolutions has been to be more positive this year. Over the last few years I've really felt the world becoming such a negative place. I know the immediate reaction is "well what can I do about it?" but I've decided that what I can do about it is be more positive myself. I'm a firm believer in "what goes around, comes around", and I'm sure that if each of us were a little more positive every day, that cocoon of negativity that seems to be enveloping the world will disappear in a puff. Wishful thinking, maybe, but it has to be worth a go.
Much love
Helen.
Glad to hear that you sound so much better - still covered in all those knitted projects (kind of like knitted hugs?) must be doing the trick. Perhaps that is a new type of complimentary medicine the NHS should investigate - the power of healing by application of knitted things given with love???
On a second point about negativity creeping into some posts etc - I know what you mean. I have had really slow response from a favourite supplier down in England, however after some frantic emails from me they left a really apologetic message of the phone to say they had have major moves to contend with and late shipments of stuff. Long as I know they hadn't sent (and it wasn't lost), I am happy. Sometimes we are so busy looking for a negative we forget that the positive is all around us.
Now back to hunting for the excaped hamster (very negative!) - wish me luck.
Hugs, J
Posted by: juliet at January 29, 2006 01:00 AM