Closely knit

It's a small, everday miracle that the sheep on the left is the source of the yarn on the right, which, in the right hands, produces something as lovely as the blanket below. 

Sadly, those hands aren't yet mine. I'm struggling just to cast on and remember the difference between a knit and a purl, let alone get the tension of the yarn just right and be able to follow a pattern. Happily, Bethy has the technique down perfectly, and the soft clicking of her knitting needles reminded me of the gaping difference between buying a blanket made by a machine and lovingly knitting one for someone you want to keep warm.


Something else happens when you knit: Your blood pressure lowers, you feel the tension sneaking out of your body, and your mind and soul are at peace for that space in time. 

Dropped stitches and complicated patterns can wait. I want to experience the nirvana of knitting. My goal is simply to produce something that looks like this. And there are even YouTube videos to get you started. Thank you, Bethany, for reminding me to pull over. Life in the fast lane is too crowded and too nerve-wracking. S-l-o-w is good.