The Dark Side of Knitting July 6, 2010
submitted by Julie Zager
Last fall, at our Common Threads gathering – I caught a glimpse of a gorgeous coat that Susan Fyall was wearing that she knit!!!! It was so beautiful – I just knew I wanted to make one for myself.
I am very passionate about knitting – I LOVE the sound of the needles clicking together, going to lots of yarn stores and looking at (an buying) all types of fibers and yarns available, the colors, the feel of the yarn and the needles – basically everything about knitting! One big difference in my knitting projects and projects from other knitters is that normally, I make things that are not based on size!!! I knit scarves, hats, baby blankets, mittens, fingerless gloves, dishcloths, socks – lots of things, just not sweaters. But – I decided I really wanted to make this coat – and the pattern looked fairly simple, and Susan told me that it was EASY.
So, I began. It was indeed an easy pattern – you only knit, no other stitches needed – just straight knitting. A LOT of knitting. Susan had warned me about making sure the sizing was right as I went along because she had adjusted hers at various times. So I had my friend at the yarn store get me started – making sure the size and gauge were correct – and off I went! I had worked for about 2 ½ months on this project, when I was at a point that I needed a little re-assurance on how to proceed to the front part of the jacket.
I made an appointment with Janet from the yarn store. The day arrived and I was so excited to meet with her to start the next part of the jacket (on the downhill slide!) Janet looked and measured, measured and looked again. Then – she said the words that every knitter dreads “you have to rip this out”. My heart sank… “What part of it?” I meekly asked. “The ENTIRE BACK and ONE FRONT piece” Janet said. (Thinking to myself – that’s 2 ½ months of work!) “Are you kidding???? WHY?” Thinking to myself – that’s 2 ½ months of work! I was practically screaming now… Janet remarked “you are off by 5 stitches on one side, which throws the entire fit off. There is no way to fudge on this”. I felt my eyes fill with tears…all that time and work…it was just so sad. Janet kindly said she’d rip it out for me – she used a cool tool called a nitty notty to re-wind the yarn.
We sat together and I watched all of my work get ripped out and wound up. “Don’t worry – just wet the yarn, with a little soap, and hang it to dry – then you can use it again”, Janet said – like that would cheer me up! “OK!”
Part of me wanted to just quit right then. Give up on this project – I was frustrated and hurt. But then, after a good cry – I began to see that I indeed wanted to finish and wear this coat!! I love the yarn, and the color – I even have a great scarf to go with it!
As I reflect on this latest adventure in knitting – I began to see Jesus, and how He lovingly gives us opportunities to “rip out – and start again”. Something in our lives that we must remove or change. Something that the Lord will use to help us learn and grow – to make sure something is correct and fits right. It’s painful, difficult and sad to go through these seasons. Tears, frustration, and various other thoughts and emotions are involved, but in the end – God washes us clean, redeems and restores.
I’m looking forward to the day when I can wear my well-fitted coat. It will be so worth the pain! It will also remind me of what Jesus does for me!
(Picture borrowed from Color ‘n Cables…a knitting blog.
