Why I Wanted to Learn to Knit

While growing up, I was blessed with many wonderful aunts and aunties. As with most families, some aunts shared family history while others shared friendship. My Aunt Margaret had a knack for the creative creations and a good gift from her was a pair of cozy pastel slippers. Her gifts gave me a strong connection between great aunt gifts and something crocheted or knitted. Decades later, I still remember my many slippers from her so when I received the wonderful news that I was to be an aunt, I grew determined to learn to knit so I could be that thoughtful aunt who gave slippers or scarves as gifts. Though I had attempted to learn to knit in the year before the news, I was unsuccessful. I realize now that my love of food kept getting in the way of my lunchtime learning sessions. The key was to learn without food nearby to distract me. One of my grandmothers was extremely proficient in knitting and crochet so I thought that my genes should be good at it and given my background in art studio and my solid fine motor skills, I had high hopes that I could learn to knit or crochet. Luckily, I found a knitting group locally and a patient friend who has taught me the ways of the needles. Soon, perhaps I will also learn to crochet. For now, I still see some of the results of my group’s hooks and needles to be akin to magic! In late July, we will be sharing the joy of knitting and crochet at the Kinsale Arts Week. A fun chance to be behind the needles that just last summer I was wishing I could steer with deft.