Knit one, Purl two…. Ok, make that just knit…knit….knit. Yes, I have been hooked on knitting this winter. I am loving it. I only know how to knit scarves, but knitting them, I am. Seems that a lesson I learned in fifth grade, some 45 yrs ago, is resurfacing. Back in 1968, in South Dakota, our fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Austin, taught us students how to knit. Mrs. Austin was one of those “you’ll never forget” sweet, older lady teachers. You know, the ones with the belted floral dresses, hankies up the sleeve, hair a wavy blue-gray. You get the picture. Oh, and her voice had kind of a soothing sound to it, even maybe a bit of a whistle to it. Mrs. Austin would read a chapter book to us, after noon-time recess, and we would pull out our knitting as we clicked away to the soothing sound of her voice. Picture this on a cold winter’s day in South Dakota and you probably have visions of Little House on the Prairie. Well, it wasn’t quite that rustic!

So, fast forward to 2014, and you will find me clicking away, on these colder winter days. Delightful! One of my friends was recently visiting me and she said she could just crawl up on our couch and fall asleep, listening to that sound. (Really, she liked the sound of the clicking needles… She was not drowsing from boredom, I promise!) The best part of that day was the conversation and joy we had being together, but after she left, the memories of that day got intertwined and woven into that scarf.

I have heard it said from people who quilt, that every quilt brings back a memory of the feelings they had as they did the sewing. I feel the same way with the knitting. It’s really great when you know as you knit, who the recipient is going to be. All that love and all those good feelings for that person really do get knit into the piece. Hard to explain this, but it’s an amazing feeling, for sure. I recently finished a scarf for another dear friend, and as she put it on she said, “Oh it even smells like you, Mary”…(Thankfully she did add that it was a good smell…Whew!) So, create, express and then honor a friend or family member with your creation. It just feels good to pour yourself into something, then share it with someone else.

My sister Robin had told me several months ago that “every person needs a hobby. It’s just good for them.” I would have to agree with that thought. I know that in our busy world, many people don’t really have the time to think about hobbies, (and I might have thought that same thing last year when I was working at a very busy job) but what a gift it is to give yourself the joy of learning something new, and creating and just slowing down a little to enjoy something outside of your normal world. Maybe pick up those knitting needles, (or, “knitting sticks” as one of my friends called them!) or grab a paint brush, a writing pen, you name it…Just create…and enjoy…and slow down …. I know as a fifth grader, it just felt good, and as a 57 year old, it still feels nice… Maybe you can find a “Mrs. Austin” to teach you something new… Oh my gosh, I just realized, I AM about the “Mrs. Austin” age now! Kind of glad we don’t go with the blue gray hair any longer, but she looked great with it! Happy knitting one and all…Click click click…..