The Zen of Needlework

My mother made sure I knew how to sew, embroider, and knit. I have done all three extensively over the years, but my favorite is knitting. When her church group was knitting squares to make blankets for soldiers from the Korean War, it looked like fun and I wanted to do it too. I was seven years old.

The ladies looked on fondly as mother cast on stitches with a ball of red yarn and showed me how to hold a long pointed needle in each hand and wrap the yarn around one to make a stitch. It didn’t look hard when mother did it, but when I tried, I found the yarn had a mind of its own and I couldn’t tame it. The yarn kept slipping off the needle, which then fell in my lap, causing all the stitches to fall off of it. My clumsy fingers weren’t able to make the smooth rhythmical movements I saw mother’s friends doing, all the while gaily chatting, stopping only to sip their tea or take a bite of cake. But my fingers learned what to do, and when I finished my one red square, the ladies applauded.

So I grew up doing knitting projects when I had time. And today, I have at least one or two going. Drawn to interesting patterns and yarns, I’ve knit socks, adult and children’s sweaters, vests, hats, scarves, capes, baby clothes, and blankets. I inherited my mother’s collection of knitting books and needles which, added to my own, form a sizable library. Configuring and executing a pattern is both an intellectual and a creative challenge.

I’m grateful that I learned knitting so young that it became something I can do easily. This facility has led me to experience the zen of knitting. As I concentrate on executing a pattern, and listen to the measured clicking of knitting needles, I can let the outer world fade away, replaced by inner stillness. Knitting is a way for me to unwind after a busy day, to calm my mind, to ponder decisions.

But let’s not forget the practical side. The Puritan ethic stalks me but I can justify sitting in my easy chair and watching TV knowing I’m being productive doing needlework. There are always birthdays, babies, and holidays to knot for.