Teaching the Guys to Knit

A simple ball of yarn,

a couple of knitting needles,

and every stitch you knit

brings you closer to that clear calm space
in the center of your soul~~

For me-
one of the greatest pleasures in my relationship with knitting
is the ability to pass that skill on to friends 
who desire to learn to knit.

"Will you teach me to knit?"

is like music to the ears of a devoted knitter.
There is something about watching new fingers learning to hold the needles, awkwardly moving as instructed while trying to manipulate the yarn, knowing all the while that in time this will become like a second nature to them.  
 

My friends Bobby and Eric invited the Gardener and me, along with my friend Marsha and her husband, to dinner at their beautiful  "Just Be Farm".  A knitting lesson was planned for after dinner that evening~~

 Eric is a phenomenal cook!  He made "from scratch" pie crust for the Turkey Pot Pie that they served for dinner.  

 Eric told me that his grandmother taught him to make pie crusts at an early age.  He said that he was making pie crusts as a child when he was so little that he had to stand on a little stool to reach the kitchen cabinet.  

 This might just be THE best pie crust ever!

(Eric-you totally rock!)

While the pies were in the oven~ Bobby and Eric gave us a tour of their beautiful farm. 

Our friends Bob and Eric

These are pygora goats.  (A cross between pygmy and angora goats.)  Eventually, the guys want to spin and knit the yarn from these adorable goats.

Meet Luna, Hermione, and Minerva
the cutest little goats ever!

Just like being at a petting zoo!!

Do you think the Gardener will let me have some baby goats?

 

They call this the "Chicken Palace".

Doesn't everybody have crystal chandeliers hanging in their barn?  (I laugh every time I think about this!)

Such a beautiful winter evening sky.

Dinner is Served!

After the most wonderful dinner (I brought peach cobbler and home made vanilla cappuccino ice cream!)- we all adjourned to the living room for the knitting lessons~~

"~~ and you hold your needles like this -

Knitting can calm a busy mind with it's gentle repetitive rhythms.

 It can busy idle hands, uplift your spirits,

and heal your soul~

 Knitting keeps you company in sickness and in health,

in happiness and sadness, 

in calm and concern~

I first learned to knit when I was 13 years old.  The first thing I ever made was an ugly scarf for a project in my home economics class.  I chose to learn to knit because I knew that my Mother was a knitter and I thought she would make the scarf for me.  I was wrong- she wouldn't and I had to make it myself :(

When I was 13 - knitting was not the "in" thing to do. There was no publicity related to knitting - no knitting clubs, no pretty yarns, no reason really for this teenager to want to keep up with the skill - so I laid down my needles (after I made that ugly scarf!) and did not pick them up again for over 30 years~~

A few weeks before my Mother passed away, while I was caring for her - she asked me if I had ever started knitting again.  I told her that I had not knitted in years, and did not think I remembered how.  She asked me to bring her needles and yarn - and there on the side of her bed - just days before she passed away - my Mother taught me to knit - again.  I have never stopped knitting since that day~~

Over the years, I have come to realize that knitting can bring more focus and calm into your life.  Knitting calms not only the knitter, but also those around you. My knitting has helped me through times of both worry and despair. I have knitted both "prayers" and well- wishes" into gifts that I have made for others~~

My message to Bobby and Eric~~

"knitting is not just something that you do.  To truly appreciate knitting you need to allow it to become a part of you.  When you have come to fully appreciate what that means - (and you will) - I am asking you to do as I have done- teach someone else to knit.  Pass those skills on to someone else who desires to learn."

"And~~ knit something for charity.  Use your skills to make something that will benefit someone less fortunate." 

When you have achieved success with your knitting~ (taught someone else to knit and knitted something for charity)- my gift to you both will be a pair of glass knitting needles - the ultimate in beautiful needles.  Perhaps you might also want to pass this tradition along~~

(Thanks guys for THE most wonderful evening!)

~~~~~

I have been crazy CRAZY busy here in the Sacred Yarn Room!! I am about a third of the way through my "nesting" list.  To those of you on this year's list - I so greatly appreciate your patience. I am steadily working, working, working~~

(for those of you on the list~if you are worried or want to know about your place on the list - you are welcome to email me!) 

And - I am just now getting to sort through the photos that we took over the holidays.  Coming up next will be some pictures of our grandbabes- just wait till you see how they have grown!!

Please be patient with me as I have not had the time to visit your blogs as often as I want to right now.  I am making my rounds slowly, but surely~!!

Love,

Vicki