Do You Do Hand Knitting?
I am no good at Yes or No
As answers
They are never enough
The girl behind the counter asked
Do you do hand knitting?
I hesitate
She is after all
Putting balls of yarn and needles in my bag
But it’s the way she asked the question
I’d never heard it put that way
Hand knitting
Yes I do hand knitting
It sounds so nice
Usually people ask
Do you knit?
Except for a long time now
No one has asked at all
Things are changing
I nod my head
She confesses
“I’m just starting
You know, learning how to do it”
From the look on her face
It’s not going so well
“Stick with it
You’ll get there”
I say
“It’s worth it
In the end”
Is it though
How many times have I started?
With all the hope in the world
Put in all that effort
If I don’t flag or fail
Lose the pattern
My place
A stitch or ten
Or persist
Only to end up with an
Unwearable
Huge saggy
Out of shape thing
That I hide away
Or donate to the Oops Shop
But once again like the wild wolf call
When the rain sleets wet and grey
And the wind carries an Antarctic blast
A distant oh so faint click clack
Makes me want to leap at a sheep’s fleece
With two sticks and call it wearable
Unable to resist
I take myself to the shop
And there I find
Arranged row upon row
Yarns of every texture and hue
Animal or man made
Chunky or fine
Lumpy, tickly, sequinned
Fluffy, freckled or plain
I get so excited
I cannot help myself
Once again I am hand knitting
But perhaps another reason emerges
When I see this photograph posted
On the computer
One of our Grandsons, Toby
‘Camping in pjs and a ma knit beanie!’
I glow with pride
Hope leaps alive
And off I go again
Yes I do hand knitting
After a fashion
And yes dear one
Do try
Again and again
Because it is worth it
… in the end!
Words, Photographs (and Beanie) © Denise Stanford 2011
Within the Vine 
Love this Denise. Love Bev
I am also a hand knitter Denise! I loved this post! And the sweet face at the end would keep me knitting too! I was just told by a young lady last night “I don’t have any grandmas or a mom that makes things by hand, this is SO special.” I had just given her a baby blanket. It will be a lost art someday Denise, maybe we should make a pact to try to teach at least one person how to hand knit before we die.
Because a darling grandma taught me.
oh enjoyed this …. and how cute is Toby …… with his beanie ….. gorgeous wee man X
Thanks Robyn yes Toby is adorable, so is his brother Joel… so precious x x
Fiona I’m in…
I had the joy of helping a neighbour’s child learn to knit a few years ago, I was so honoured to be asked, can’t promise it took but if any one else wants to have a go, give me a call lol…
You are right though… along with hand made patchwork quilts, crocheting and embroidering those baby blankets… (Where do you buy your wool?)
We need to pass on those very special skills that tell children and all our loved ones, ‘you are worth this time and effort’ x x x
Keep up the good work my friend x De
Thanks for taking the time out Bev, stay safe x x x De