Friday, November 12, 2010

I'm taking a break from our roadtrip in the heartland to talk a bit about yarn. You heard me right... colored string that you make stuff with. But not just any stuff; things that loved ones will use and remember you by. A friend of mine had her first child last year, and I knitted these little booties for her. With stay-put ties, she used them all the time. A tiny baby I hardly ever saw was kept warm and bright by a bit of string I had knitted into socks.



I suppose I could have bought a pair at the store and wrapped them up, but I didn't. Between you and me, I knitted these during the darkest time in my life so far. It was an inner darkness, and I thought I would die there, suffocated by a pressing despair. Knitting something pretty was as a tiny hole in that dark room, where a bit of light could shine through. I remember the day I finished them; I sat them up by a little onesie I had purchased to go with them and thought that if I could make something so promising and beautiful, then there must be something in me yet worth salvaging.

Out of that despair emerged the way I feel about homemade things ... there is something in you yet, in everyone, worth salvaging.

I am regularly inspired by a blogging friend named Judy, who is having a homemade giveaway this week at her blog:

http://www.dailyyarnsnmore.com/mid_life_bliss/2010/11/as-promised.html

She has dipped into her own private stash of colored string and homemade things, and is reaching out across the world to anyone interested in receiving a bit of Judy in their mailbox. (I love her idea).

A bit of string and a bit of friendship...

11 comments:

Judy said...

Thank you Allison for the kind words. You are a beautiful person and those booties are adorable. Making things for someone really does something for a person. It's giving a part of yourself to them. Thanks for posting about my giveaway.
Have a wonderful weekend.

Southern Lady said...

I am not very crafty, but I have friends who knit all of the time. I'm sure your friend appreciated the love that went into those booties. Carla

Out on the prairie said...

Something handmade is a valued gift, a bit of your persona within it.My mom would give us a ball of yarn and a crochet needle when we weren't feeling good, and we would make long chains.I used this thought when I worked with behavioral disorder children and made a bunch of needles after being given a huge sack of yarn.I was impressed when some worked at making a tiny blanket or scarf, in a sublime peaceful way.I have taught many to do this, but never learned to knit.

TexWisGirl said...

I am so glad you commented on Judy's blog that you had posted about her giveaway on your site, for you are my wonderful find of the day! I've read thru your entire blog this morning, sipping my coffee as the autumn rain is falling here in Texas. I was raised in Wisconsin but have lived here now 27 yrs. And even though I'm not nearly as separated by miles and oceans as you are, I also feel the pangs of homesickness for the Upper Midwest. I miss my closest-in-age sister the most as my parents are both gone. And yes, as we age I think the homesickness sets in even more.

I love your photography, your love of family (and doorways), your poetry and your poignance. Thanks for letting me peek into your life. I will be visiting most often!

TexWisGirl said...

P.S. Thanks for coming to find my blog too! Will enjoy sharing life with you from Texas!

Anonymous said...

Oohh !it's so cute, congratulations !
I am unable to knitting ! :}

Bye :))

Diane AZ said...

Adorable baby booties! I like to crochet and still want to learn knitting but most of my spare time seems to go into quilt making. Glad the knitting helped to bring you out of your dark place, I think we've all visited there.

Teté M. Jorge said...

I miss you too, dear! Thank you for visiting me...

Coming here always makes me feel well. You always have good things to tell, great pictures to show, life, everything.

Thank you very much for sharing your lovely moments.

A good weekend for you and yours.

Kiss with love.

Carole Barkett said...

just found your wonderful blog through out on the prairie and am so glad I did. This is so true about knitting and the love that goes with anything made by hand. You should post the pattern they are so sweet.

Allison said...

Thank you country mouse! I will dig that pattern up and post it, then. It does make such a lovely gift!

penny said...

Allison, it makes me sad to think of the despair you must have been feeling while creating this precious gift to give to a new born life. I hope it helped.
The best gifts are hand made straight form the heart.

Hugs :)