Saturday, January 5, 2008

What Are Friends For?

For a few days I kinda hit a snag in the area of knitting interest. I was really getting quite concerned about myself. Everything I picked up to knit got on my nerves, I just wasn't a happy knitter. I thought that maybe I had KAL'd myself to an early knitting death. And, for real, who do you call? Where do you go for help? I've yet to see a shrink or counselor advertise services geared toward the depressed knitter. Depression yes, but not specializing in knitting depression. You know, you can purchase various drugs that increase the serotonin in your brain, creating a happier feeling. Or you can get help in the area of sexual energy. But, what do you take to increase your knitting enjoyment if or when it becomes lack luster? I even went to my LYS with my daughter, Sara, to help her pick out some scarf yarn. I walked out with nothing!!!!! The owner asked if I was still into the lace KALs. When I told her I thought maybe I was KAL'd out, she just tssked and shook her head. If ANYONE could offer help you would think it would be her.

Thursday I headed up home to take my sister to the grocery. The 2 hour trip up there and back was spent screaming at the top of my lungs. Well, I call it singing. I tried to escape my knitting frustration by throwing myself into the songs of Wicked. But, there is no escape. As soon as I got back home and walked in the door I felt the same dark blanket of fiber disillusion fall upon me. I got to thinking, "Is this how non-knitters feel all the time?" "How do they stand it?" "What is to become of me? I have my own wool room, what is wrong with me???????"

I got me a cup of coffee and trudged up the stairs to "the room." There lay that stupid tomten, the beginnings of the Spring Shawl Surprice KAL, along with various other UFOs. I sat down in my little chair and punched the button to check my Ravelry messages. Low a behold, an angel appeared right there in the inbox. This angel's name is Arlene in Northern NJ. I read her message and thought about how sweet it was for her to say such nice things and to take the time to encourage me. As the evening progressed her message continued to ring in my ears and before long I found myself picking the SSS KAL up and I was knitting away. Some times we just need a little angel shove to get us up and running. Arlene's message was that little shove I needed. Here is her message:

"Peggy, I see your shawl has become an UGH. Is it just your yarn or something else? I know you are in a bunch of other KALs and were becoming overwhelmed, but I wanted to give you some encouragement with this shawl. So far, its actually not hard at all, and the reverse row work is all purls except for the faggoting in the 6 end sts at either side. You are always on the group giving everyone else a positive word, so I thought you might need the same! I know you have the skills to do this shawl!"

Here is the picture of one half of the first clue finished. Personally I think you can see the various moon stages along the border. It looks to become a very beautiful stole.

We have some good friends that are missionaries to Ecuador. They know of my love of yarn/fiber. This week they sent me four skeins of yarn made there. This was an great encouragement as well. With the cold snap we had this past week my baby, Jordan-23, said he didn't have any gloves. I said, "Well, if I was any kind of knitting mom I would take care of that." I mean, it isn't like I don't have enough yarn, but all the worsted I have is already spoken for by various patterns. And I am really going to try not to purchase anymore yarn for a long time. I had thought about spinning the yarn myself, however, I am wanting to get them done this month, not next year. :) After all, January is glove/mitten month for A Loose Knit Group.

So, thanks to Arlene and the McDonald's I am back on my game. What friends are for!!!!

12 comments:

Arlene said...

Peggy, you are just too sweet! We all hit knitting blocks and you are so busy encouraging everyone at the KAL's, I saw you could use a little encouragement yourself.

The circles look lovely, BTW. Just the right balance between solid and lace. Keep up the knitting!

Maggisen said...

I do like your SSS as far as you have gotten, the colour is lovely!

Opal said...

Knitting friends are so important to our knitting health. I've hit those slumps before and I can't tell you how important it is to have that support network in place for just that reason. :)

And your SSS? Gorgeous! Definitely *not* an UGH.

Betty said...

Peggy hope you have your knitting mojo back I get that way to when so much to do and where does one start? My dd sent me this and I printed it out and have it where I can view it often
"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself." - Neil Gaiman

Sonya said...

Peggy, you just needed a little nudge in the right direction. I am a little blah with the project I am working on now. But I will press on and not cast on anything else until it is finished.

Anonymous said...

Oh, so sorry you were in the doldrums!
I just ripped and knit the yoke of a sweater 3 times so I feel you on the lack of fiber love.

I'm glad Arlene was there to pcik you up, the knitting community out there is amazing. Keep on keeping on. The moons look fantastic.

Anonymous said...

I'm happy to hear that your knitting mojo is back! That SSS looks lovely and I really love the pink colour.

Unknown said...

SSS looks great Peggy, and you should be proud of your accomplishments. Sometimes our plates get too full and the mind just says to take a break from what you can. Friends encourage us to come back from that break and join in again.

Enjoy!

June said...

Peggy, your SSS is gorgeous! The color will be great on you. Knitting and spinning friends are the only ones that understand the blahs you were feeling - I think we all get them (the blahs that is) once in a while.

BUT- WHAT, what, what?? You went to Starla's and left without a purchase! I think I may faint.

Arianwen said...

I know how you are feeling. I just cast on the sss and just feel blugh! I want to give it as a present or I would be frogging back. I think I am laced out. I really want to make the fetching gloves so bought yarn to cheer me up! look forward to seeing your gloves. I have some really old patts for gloves which might be the right weight for you if you email me I can put them in the post for you?

SYLVIE said...

Sounds like you have your knitting groove back! Good for you.

I just LOVE the pink you've chosen for your SSS! I should've picked pink too, instead I got blue and I'm not even fond of blue! oh, well too late now I'm up to row 30.

Roseann said...

Your shawl is sooo pretty! What encouragement your blog is for me as I feel like I have too many projects going. Your Loose Knit Group is helping me to focus on my mitts. I look forward to seeing the gloves for your son and more of your shawl.