Sometimes a little garter stitch is good for the soul.And a lot of garter stitch has miraculous healing qualities.
It heals the stress of end of the school year piles of work:
the student papers, the exams, the last committee meetings squeezed in during finals week.
It soothes the soul as you repeat to the 20th person: no you can’t contact me/ call me for a meeting/ send me drafts/ leave me in charge of this project over the summer. Garter stitch, done enough, gives you the fortitude to repeat the words over and over: “I’ll be unavailable.”
I’ve discovered that I can knit garter stitch even after I tripped on a hole in the sidewalk and scraped up and bruised my left hand and right knee. It even helped me to slowly get full mobility back in my hand, and gave me something to do over the days I sat with one leg elevated.
Knitting garter stitch is repetitive and mindless, and replicates that zen state of mind. Done enough, it allows your imagination to expand and concoct summer plans: trips, writing projects, and yes, more knitting of garter stitch.
These past few weeks my dream state has been induced by the bib pattern Baby Bib o’ Love in Mason Dixon Knitting. I’m currently knitting washcloths from a container of odd balls of different sizes and colors of crochet cotton, in the classic diagonal pattern. One more, I keep repeating to myself as I knit myself into a calm state of mind.
I could be at this all summer. I’ve even pulled some yarn for a Modern Log Cabin Blanket, also from Mason Dixon knitting. Just in case I need the enlightenment.
8 comments:
Hope you're now on the mend, Barbara. I love garter stitch too, especially for scarves. Have you seen this pattern? http://www.angelyarns.com/free-patterns/noro-scarf.php It's really fun with self-striping yarn. Take care! Oh, and Happy Summer!
Yep! You DID have some bibs just like my friend's. Your's are super cute. I just love that simple pattern.
that might be enough garter stitch to put me to sleep!
I like what you say about garter stitch allowing your mind to expand and concoct...to plan your summer...I'm curious about what you are planning to write?? Glad your hand is better and that you are sticking to being "unavailable"...good for you.
So sorry about your fall, and I hope you're doing better. Those bibs are darling!
I thought you might be involved in end-of-the-school-year activities and that's why we hadn't heard from you lately. Sorry to hear about the accident. Glad it didn't keep you from knitting! I've been hankering for a mindless project of my own. Haven't figured out what to do yet though. It will have to be random stitching though, not knitting or crochet.
You are onto something really important here, Barbara!
Very glad you are on the mend after that fall....
Knitting oneself into enlightenment: I think you've nailed it, Barbara.
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