One thing I have been able to do in my 'recovery' phase, is knit.
Thank God.
I have been knitting since I was four years old. My mother, fresh from England, thought that she had to teach me to knit, and to read, before I went to school.
I was scheduled to go to school at 4 and 1/2, so she got busy.
All of my life, knitting has been a comfort to me. I have a huge box of needles and paraphernalia, and several totes full of yarns, just for knitting.
I didn't knit at first when I came home from the hospital, but the second week, I got my knitting bag out.
I knew it would make me feel better. And it did.
I am making kids' mittens in various sizes.
So far I have a small stack of them on the coffee table, with no thumbs. One of these evenings, it will be THUMB NIGHT.
I know, this is almost too exciting for words.
At one point, a few years back, I bought a sock knitting machine. I had always wanted one. It took me a little while to figure it out, but eventually I did.
As soon as I cranked out my first sock, I realized that I hated it.
It was too labor intensive, it felt like work, and quite honestly, I wanted my knitting to be my retreat, not another job. I didn't feel one moment of regret when I sold it.
My favorite things to knit, are mittens and socks. I like funky hats, too.
Occasionally, I will knit a sweater, but not often. I can't finish it in a night ................you get the picture.
I have these wonderful instructions for mittens.........I've had it for donkey years. There are instructions for mittens for 2-4yr, 5-7yr, 8-10 yr, women's and men's, all on the same page. I love this.
If anyone wants this pattern, let me know. I will be happy to mail it to you.
And that's the excitement here. I guess when you are bored, you are boring.
Or something like that.
Except that the show, which L did single handedly, is done, and she did great.
I bet she will be happy when I am no longer a slug.
21 comments:
Hilary,
First off, I don't comment often, but know that I have been reading rooting for you for these past weeks. You are simply one of the bravest people I know. And I'm super glad that Roy has been taking good care of you, along with everyone else. ;)
With the cooler weather I've gotten the knitting bug again and would love that mitten pattern. I'm on the search for a cowl pattern now, but mittens are pretty darn important too! Keep healing, keep knitting and keep blogging, pretty soon you'll be back full force ahead. You juggernaut you!
I started crocheting when I was five. I can knit but would rather crochet. It seems to be one of those things that you like what you learned to do first. I always keep yarn and needle close to my chair in front of the TV. I don't really watch the tube except for the news/weather so I crochet hot mats from a pattern of my mothers. It something to do with little thought unlike weaving. Glad you are continuing to feel better!
Louise
I love the monotony of knitting ... doing the same thing over and over, while producing something beautiful ... so relaxing and rewarding. I admire how you can knit mittens and socks ... completing that second item in a pair makes it feel like a chore for me. I have a pair of wristlets on the needles right now. Tonight is a good night to,watch football and knit.
So glad you have something that is comforting to do while you heal. Your attitude is terrific, so I know it won't be long until you are back to your normal life...it may be a "new" normal, but YOU will be in charge it- I can just tell! :)
Someday I want to knit socks. Right now I just knit dish cloths because that's about my attention span before my hand falls asleep.
Keep going - and thank you for your blog!
Mary Ann
So glad you have something that is comforting to do while you heal. Your attitude is terrific, so I know it won't be long until you are back to your normal life...it may be a "new" normal, but YOU will be in charge it- I can just tell! :)
Someday I want to knit socks. Right now I just knit dish cloths because that's about my attention span before my hand falls asleep.
Keep going - and thank you for your blog!
Mary Ann
I still can't thank you enough for helping me to figure out the scarf pattern last week. Knitting is such a comfort (especially now that I know what I'm doing). Would love your mitten pattern. Some day I will branch out and try them.
I can't make much of anything crafty so my hat is off to you my dear. Love the colors of the mittens! Thumbs or no thumbs, I give them a thumbs up!
I love the colors you used for your mittens.. Are you going to put different colors for the thumbs?
I too would like the pattern.. It's getting chiiy here in Iowa and time to knit..my e=mail address is:
annieptigger@aol.com
So glad you are getting better..
ta ta for now from Iowa:)
You are never boring. I love hearing from you!
Glad the show went well! And if you ever make multicolored mittens for women, 2 pair for me, please.
Yay - you're creating again! :-)
I just started knitting. I did it because I started spinning yarn, and I needed to do something with it once it was spun. Neck warmers are my specialty. lol
I don't know if I'd ever be able to do mittens. I want to do a hat but need a really easy, simple design. Funky is my kind of style, but finding patterns is so boring to me.
I'm surprised knitting doesn't hurt your neck but then, I have to LOOK at what I'm knitting - it probably is second nature to you and you don't even have to look down...
I know you'll be back to weaving soon, but meanwhile, the mittens are VERY cute!
Martha
Little by little, things are returning to your New Normal. I like to knit hats for the same reason as you like mittens: they can be made and worn quickly. Thumb Night: I love it! :-)
.. i havent done any knitting in a while but you are inspiring me to go find that sweater and finish it
I'm so glad that you're doing things that make you happy! Knitting is one of those things for me too. I would love to have your mitten pattern.. My email is peterson.ksuzanne@gmail.com. I look forward to your posts from day to day. SO happy that you're recovering well and finding your new way.
Hilary, I know exactly where you coming from. In spite of all my "day work," I look forward to sitting down and knitting (or crocheting) to relax me. There is something so powerful about feeling the needles and yarn in one's hands that makes all the problems of the day vanish. Now that the weather has turned chilly, mittens would be perfect--I'd love the pattern:-D My email is STierneyC@aol.com, XOXO
Sounds like you are
b-a-c-k.....welcome back Hilary!
I'm knitting too (socks-magic loop-2 at a time), it helps me think and process. Chemo-brain did a number on me.
You sound like yourself.
Do you still have a headache?
The picture at the top of your blog makes a great screensaver.
Aloha
Will you please send me the mitten pattern?
Let me know how to send my address.
Aloha
So glad to hear you are bored. That means that you are getting better each day. Yes Please, I would love a copy of your mitten pattern. Thanks for offering it.
I would love the pattern, thank you. Yours are so colorful!
It is wonderful to see your progress. Miss seeing the pix of the kitties but no doubt we'll see them again soon.
You are sounding a lot better so I hope things are working out after the surgery.
The mittens reminded me of the ones my mom sent to me in college. I loved them and was terribly sad when I lost them on the bus one day. I just hope someone picked them up and appreciated them as much as I did.
Lovely to see you are posting more!
Post a Comment