I’ve been familiar with crocheting and the associated crochet hook from the earliest years of my recall. Crocheting is almost a passion of mine, but not quite. My early years included memories of my mother, mother’s friends, grandmother, aunts and cousins crocheting.
I found myself married to a man who was also surrounded with the mothers, sister, and aunts who crocheted, and interestingly called it knitting.
I became a crocheter by default. My association with knitting was similar to the women of my acquaintance; it was that of a hungry person standing outside a restaurant, watching the fortunate people within satisfying their appetite.
Familiarity with crocheting encouraged continuation of this craft, as I went off to work to fill the immediate necessity of supporting myself.
Recently, working on a knitting project, the equipment required was a 29” circular Size 1 knitting needle. Wanting to start the project immediately, I went in search, doubting I had this item. I didn’t wish to travel the 15 miles or so to purchase a new needle, but I couldn’t begin my interesting new knitting adventure without it.
To my surprise, buried among my stash of knitting needles I found a Susan Bates 29” circular Size 1 kitting needle still in the original package and never having been used. The price was $1.65. I didn’t remember buying this in some wistful past before I had begun my knitting journey, but it was probably from a strange little discount store from our region back in the ‘60’s called Philadelphia Sales. It was a very long and rambling building that carried almost everything at supposedly discount price. Included in this establishment was a really well-stocked sewing department that displayed knitting, crocheting, embroidery, quilting, and fabric.
Today, after years of devotion to the needs of others, I’m beginning to have the ability to pay closer attention to my own needs. The 29” Size 1 knitting needles I had bought so many years ago would finally be of use.
Today, the character of knitting needles is virtually unlimited. I’ve seen wonderful sets of needles with interchangeable tips, all nicely housed in nifty containers. We can find beautiful wood needles that work so well with yarn of little resistance such as silk. The man-made materials can be so slick it is a joy working with nubby wools. Tips can be blunt or sharp according to need.
Researching the various types of tools for knitting can be almost as enjoyable as the process. Knitting is a very personal pursuit, and finding precisely what suits you is a journey in itself.
Once upon a time I barely had time to knit. Now I have the time to relax into this wonderful craft, research that which is available, and play with the process. This is a gift of age I had dreamed of for years. I often wonder if I was smart to put on hold the deeply satisfying interests of my life, in order that I could fulfill the responsibilities of a career serving the needs of others. A different path would have suggested a more modest lifestyle without the intense responsibility, but with more attention to the joys of my soul.
The bad news is I will never know. The good news is, I’ve remembered what is the joy of my soul before I am too old to enjoy them.
A very simple idea to personalize knitting needles is to purchase the dowels found in craft stores. A tip can be sharpened in a pencil sharpener, sanded to requirement, stained as desired, and with a knob at the top that can be a wood or jewel bead.
This would at one time have been a silly waste of my time and energy. Today, life has slowed down enough to allow for play. I had forgotten play. I almost forgot laughter. Blessedly, I never forgot my dogs.
I could continue working at a job that demands what I know to be senseless. I’m fortunate to have chosen to let it go while I still have time to remember what life really
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