The Healing Power Of Knitting

When we were in Sunset Beach in January, we had an opportunity to spend time with long time friends Ray and Clara Holmes of Greensboro, North Carolina.  We have been friends for a very long time.  Dick and I used to go to Myrtle Beach for a week in the summer every year for many years.  We stopped going about 7 years ago when things in Myrtle Beach just became so crowded and chaotic.  Going out to eat became a stressful event and getting tee times became difficult.  If you can't go out to eat or golf without feeling stress and anxiety, it's time to change your plans!

One year early in our visits, I was struggling with golf and Dick went on his own while I spent the day on the beach.  When he came home he told me we had dinner plans with a nice couple he met at Waterway Hills.  For those of you who have been there, they met riding on the gondola from the parking lot to the golf course.  That was the beginning of a wonderful friendship.  We watched their kids graduate from high school and college, get married and have children.  We watched their grandchildren grow up and go to college.  They are a wonderful couple who welcomed us into their life.  

Since we don't go to Myrtle Beach in the summer any more, we have been getting together when we go to Sunset Beach.  Dick and Ray golf, Clara and I visit and shop, and we all go out to dinner.  Clara had back surgery last spring which didn't work out well.  She had a very difficult time getting around and was going to have a new procedure on February 15.  

One day I dropped Dick off at the golf course with Ray and I headed to Ray and Clara's condo to spend time with Clara.  Of course, I had some knitting with me.  Clara had a Christmas sock pattern she'd had for years and made for each of her children, their spouses, and her grandchildren.  The pattern was badly beat up.  I am not a sock person, so I told her she needed to go to Molly at Knit 'N Purl and ask for help.  Clara went and came away with yarn and a pattern for a "Ruffled Neckwrap."

The next time we went out to dinner she gave me pattern, yarn and needles and said it was mine.  I started knitting it with Clara on my mind.

First of all I had to get those pesky 360 stitches cast on.  Remember my tip?  If you cast on 50 stitches then place a marker, cast on 50 stitches and place another, etc. until you have your stitches it's not such an onerous task.  You only have to count each stitch once and you only have to count up to 50.  This is one of the most helpful things I teach my knitting classes.  I got the 360 stitches cast on and I was on my way.

Just like when I knit the scarf for my friend Sally, as I knit the Neckwrap I thought about Clara feeling better.  I pictured her walking without help, getting out of the car on her own, driving herself to shopping destinations.  I even pictured Clara playing her beloved tennis.  I thought, pictured, and visualized.  Finally, I was done.

The beautiful yarn is Mountain Colors in Berry or Blueberry.  Isn't it yummy?  I love this yarn and this pattern AND this button.  I found this beauty in my button collection.  It is so much fun to need a button and find something in my collection that exceeds my expectations.  I was feeling lazy and didn't want to go all of the way to the Stash Studio to take a picture of the Ruffled Neckwrap  with Lydia, so I tried this. . . 

It just wasn't the same!  Lydia is a perfect model for all of my treasures.

We will pop this in the mail along with "Still Knitting A Love Story" which chronicles year 2 of my beloved blog so my Mom can read it.  She just doesn't feel comfortable reading from a computer or iPad.  Clara read my first year (Ray read it, too!) and loved it. I have many, many copies.  I can just see Clara wearing this.  She will look so beautiful.