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Knitting ~ Together
October 5, 2011
Earlier this summer my mom and I celebrated her birthday with a mother-daughter outing. There was lunch in a touristy town (not hard to come by around here) and there was yarn.
Mom and I both have a thing for nice yarn. We ohh and ahh, appreciating the beauty of dyed wool. And sometimes we even knit.
It was my idea to knit a shawl. Mom liked the idea so much she decided to join me. I think she just wanted an excuse to buy that gorgeous wool.
It was a slow start. It was the height of summer after all. The time for beaches and gardening - outdoor activities. Then there was a rainy August afternoon (the same day my mom taught Celine how to bake a blueberry pie) where we sat on the couch together and got serious about our projects. Or at least got some yarn on our needles.
Near the end of summer came road trips and vacations. Open chunks of time to do some knitting, at least for my mom who can knit while riding in a car. Lucky duck. Doing anything but looking straight out the window while in a moving vehicle makes me ill.
Mom is a master (or mistress?) of multitasking and on her frequent phone calls to family and friends out west she picks up her needles and knits. Ingenious.
I've been knitting in those in between spaces of my days.
There has been some transitional turmoil in my life this past week. We're getting ready to move again and the routines that bring me comfort and peace of mind are once again up in the air.
So when the day's plan starts to go hay wire (which is happening with increasing frequency the closer we get to moving) or at the end of the day when I just want to chill with my family I've been reaching to my knitting project. Something to keep my hands busy and to give my mind a rest. Except, of course when I inevitably make some mistake and have to seriously concentrate to fix it.
I love being able to knit and listen to Damien read to us. Or listen to my children read to me. Or knit and talk. Or knit and just sit, quiet.
With all this knitting we're actually making progress on our shawls. Mine is the little dark one below. But as you can see on the ball of yarn (hidden behind Mom's orange yarn) the brighter colors are coming!
This knitting together, it's a good thing. And even when we move and I leave the sanctuary of my parent's home and don't have the privilege of sharing life with my mom each and every day (sniff...) we'll have this shared project. That's more beautiful than the yarn if you ask me.
Find the pattern and my final project notes on Ravelry.
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Charity on Oct. 5, 2011, 1:18 p.m.
This post moved me to tears (sometimes I am emotional)....It is so special that you can spend those moments with yout mom. I am sure you are super thankful.
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Becky @ Sowing Little Seeds on Oct. 5, 2011, 1:46 p.m.
That does sound special. I wish my mother and I had some special thing that we enjoyed together (I tried teaching her to knit once but she has no patience for those things) I have recently (just over a week ago actually) taken up my knitting and crocheting again. I moved all of my children into one bedroom (all littles 5 and under) to make our bedtime routine easier. With the kids in separate bedrooms I was constantly going up and down the stairs putting children back in bed, breaking up arguments, etc. But now I keep all of them in one room and read stories then they all get in their beds, I turn on the christian radio station and pick up one of my projects. I have come to really cherish this time because I can be there with them but get my time to work on something as well. My 2 year old son will lay there quietly listening to the sermon or music and watch my fingers move until his eyes slowly close and he drifts to sleep. I think it is the rythm of my movements that helps him relax. My older 2 have asked when I can teach them already. I would love to share something like that with them.
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Vickie on Oct. 5, 2011, 1:51 p.m.
I love Noro. What kind is your mom using? I love the colorway.
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Emily on Oct. 5, 2011, 2:39 p.m.
I love all of this. xo
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Karen on Oct. 5, 2011, 3:31 p.m.
I honestly hadn't planned on buying yarn that day but when I saw this beautiful wool I couldn't help myself. Kauni is a Danish company: the way I read the wrapper on the ball, its color identifier is KEQ. It's 100% wool and I'm using 2- (150-gram) balls. It'll be interesting to see which one of us will be able to wear our shawl first, considering our "sometimes we knit" track record!
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Beth Wagenius on Oct. 5, 2011, 6:28 p.m.
It is beautiful yarn. I have a soft spot for beautiful yarns too. Especially wool or cotton. I don't knit much but I love to crochet.
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Emily on Oct. 5, 2011, 8:49 p.m.
Do you have a link to the pattern? Or is it something you picked up at the store?
(I love the feet pictures.)
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renee on Oct. 5, 2011, 10:44 p.m.
Seraphim Shawl, found on Ravelry.
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Mel on Oct. 5, 2011, 9:56 p.m.
What a wonderful project to work on together. And what lovely yarn! I'm working on a shawl/capelet thing right now, too. Like your mom, long rides in the truck are my friend and where I get the most done. Having the boys in gymnastics gives me an additional 45 minutes a week, so I should be done...... eventually. It's the journey, not the destination, right?
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Naomi on Oct. 5, 2011, 11:22 p.m.
How sweet! It must be so hard thinking about saying goodbye. I do think it is ironic though, I have had plans to write about my sister and me crocheting together!
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Kika on Oct. 5, 2011, 11:33 p.m.
I am so excited to hear more about all the details of your move as you go through it. 750 sq ft, right? My middle daughter just began teaching herself to knit which I think is great... I don't think I have the patience to sit still and learn; perhaps in a different season of my life. I did crochet for a time while nursing my third child but as soon as she was weaned... so was I (from crocheting)!
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renee on Oct. 5, 2011, 11:35 p.m.
750 sq feet is right. We just found it this past weekend on a total whirlwind trip to QC. Oh and Kika it is the sweetest place. I can't wait to blog it, sometime in the coming weeks.
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Lori on Oct. 6, 2011, 1:24 a.m.
Love this post!! FIRST ~ that yarn is SO gorgeous, WOW!!! SECOND ~ how wonderful to knit with your mom and create the special moments. THIRD ~ I had to laugh about appreciating the wool and sometimes even using it ~ I don't knit, but I do sew and I very much feel that way with fabrics. :) Lastly, I love your mom's arms! :D Enjoy your ongoing project ~ I hope your share when done and blessings to your family on your upcoming move!
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Catherine Forest on Oct. 6, 2011, 3:35 a.m.
Lovely! I made a similar shawl two years ago with Noro too... Your mom looks so athletic!
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Susan Kunkel on Oct. 6, 2011, 1:25 p.m.
I pick up my knitting during homework time. It can be a stressful time at my house. Knitting helps to keep me calm.
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Lori on Oct. 6, 2011, 3:10 p.m.
Oh, that's so beautiful....all of it, the yarn, your gorgeous mom, your feet together. I've been feeling sad that our 14yo daughter is growing up, but your post gives me hope that our cozy moments do not have to end. And what a memory that project will always have for you! Thank you for sharing.
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renee on Oct. 6, 2011, 4:53 p.m.
I know that sad feeling. It catches my heart as I watch my 12 year old grow up also. But living with my parents this summer has reminded me once again our relationship doesn't stop when our children grow up and start families of their own, it just gets deeper. That realization takes (in theory) the sting out of my "don't grow up so fast" melancholy. Even so... I don't ever want to see these children leave home.
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Auntie Ruth on Oct. 7, 2011, 2:30 a.m.
your projects are coming along nicely and such beautiful colors!! I've been working on a couple cowls in a pink/grey mohair blend - so interesting to see how the colors knit up . . . I'm proud of you two!! wish I could have been in your circle also!
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renee on Oct. 7, 2011, 6:13 p.m.
Me too Auntie! But you would blow us out of the water with your speed. You are the real knitter of the family!
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Amy in Maine on Oct. 17, 2011, 5:18 p.m.
I LOVE THIS!!! knitting is a way of life for me. I am a little jealous, and can imagine myself joining your knitting party... there is nothing like the feeling of knitting, creating, loving all in the same project... and that yarn... soooooo beautiful. can't wait to see the finished projects!
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Shelley on Oct. 5, 2011, 12:51 p.m.
Yes it is more beautiful then any yarn. What a special time, space, project you have with your mom. My friend would LOVE the orange yarn. could you tell me more about it?