Slice of Life - Knitting to Learn, Reflect and Celebrate

I have recently retired from being an elementary school principal, so I fill my days with others things besides being at school.  I miss the teachers and the kids but am continuing to learn, reflect and celebrate.  This is my first Slice of Life post.  It's part of my motto:  Never Stop Learning.

I have always been a knitter.  I use to knit much more when I was younger.  Of course, the crazy life of being a mother, wife, teacher, and principal often got in the way of settling down with the knitting in my hands.  But now I have time - precious time - to choose the things I want to do.

I usually knit some everyday.  I also try to read and write everyday.  My most reflective time is when I sit down to knit.  Somehow, life slows down while I am knitting.  My hands take on the routine of the knitting while my brain has time to wander.

Yesterday, I went to the store to purchase yarn for a blanket for my grandson.  I was looking forward to working in shades of blue and grey.  It seemed to be a calming notion.  However, my grandson had a different idea in mind.  Even though he is only five, his favorite color is red and he wants Ohio State colors (grey, white and scarlet) in his blanket.  So I learned to be flexible. 

In conversation with my daughter, I discovered that JoAnn Fabrics accepts coupons from Michaels Craft Store and Hobby Lobby.  So I scoured the latest newspaper ads and got on line to gather my coupons.  I ended up with seven 40% off coupons and headed to the store.  So I learned to be frugal.

When I sat down last evening to begin knitting, I was tackling an unfamiliar pattern for the blanket.  I worked on a sample swatch, planned my color combinations and began.  But after a bit of knitting nearly a dozen rows, I discovered that I miscounted and made a mistake a few rows back.  New patterns can be tricky.  I had to learn two new stitches and had to keep careful count as I went along.  I had to take out several rows before I could continue.  So I learned, once again, that mistakes are all part of learning.

I will keep at it.  The blanket is a big project and will take me weeks, maybe months, to complete.  Being a knitter teaches you patience as your project unveils slowly over time.  So I learned that knitting takes patience and persistence.

While I knit, I have time to think.  As I work on this project, I will have many hours to reflect on life and its ups and downs.  I will have time to celebrate as the blanket grows in size.  I will have time to think about my precious grandson and the person he is growing up to be.  The life of a knitter is one that is filled with learning, reflection and celebration.  I am glad I am a knitter.