George & Gracie

 

George & Gracie

Sometimes, something happens, and we attach a feeling to it. The thing hasn't changed, but our perception of it has.

This project was like that for me.  I started this project for my Mom when I was new to knitting, and the stitches are absolutely crazy.  When I taught it as a long-term class, we called those two stitches George and Gracie after Nana and Pop Pop's ducks that visit yearly.  (I know they are named after George Burns and Gracie Allen)...But I wanted a bit of Nana in the pattern, so my stitches are named after ducks.

George is a t2l (twist 2 stitches to the left).  This is George:

Knit into the back of the 2nd stitch on the left-hand needle, do not slip the stitch off, knit into the first stitch on the left-hand needle, slip both stitches off

Gracie is a t2r (twist 2 stitches to the right).  This is Gracie:

K2tog (knit two stitches together), do not slip the stitch off, knit into the first stitch on the left-hand needle, slip both stitches off

Those stitches were complicated at first for the people in the class, but as time went by, they became pros at "George and Gracie." Plus, it made us all laugh, which is always good medicine.

For me, it wasn't hard to teach the class or even knit the pattern in another yarn, but for some reason, I couldn't pick up the yarn from the hotel incident in last week's post.

I was stuck in a moment in time, and it took me a lot of self-work to pick up this project again.

But when I did, I separated the project from my emotions.  The project never did anything wrong; it was a victim in this story.  

This whole project was created out of love for my Mom. Each stitch was lovingly picked and worked repeatedly, and I had a reason for everything used to make it.

I just redid my craft room, and it is now a safe and happy space. All my yarn is organized by weight, and all the WIPs are in drawers waiting to be finished.

I started with the Laurene Shawl because it is my oldest WIP. I began by reaching back to myself in that hotel room, giving her a hug, and saying, "I got you. I am here for you. I will finish what you started. Take time to heal. It will be okay. I got you."

When I said that, I felt chills; all that negative emotion disappeared. I picked up the shawl and knitted, and I surprised myself at how complex I made the stitches because I wanted them to look a certain way.

I don't want to change a thing because every stitch means something. Everything has a story to tell, and sometimes, that story holds us back, but if we remove the emotion and look at the facts, our perception will often change.

I made a contract with myself to knit at least two rows a day until the shawl is finished. Making the stitches that seemed so hard in 2004 is easy for me now.  

I love working on this again. The Silky Wool slides through my fingers. It is a beautiful yarn—a gorgeous green for my lovely Mom with the beautiful green eyes.  

I know it is a little early, but Happy Mother's Day, Mom.  I love you and miss you.  I will finish this shawl; when I wear it, I feel like I am being held in your arms.  

Happy Crafting!

Bright Blessings,

Ruinwen