thinking about it . . .

One of the things I like about knit groups (both the online kind and the brick/mortar kind) is the encouragement and ideas that everyone is willing to share. 

For example, Jane mentioned her love of wool and how she made a beautiful beret, which when wet, grew too big so she felted it a bit.  Ta da . . . instead of having to redo, she solved what could have been a hideous problem with a simple technique and has a beautiful hat, which is probably also a tad warmer because of the mini-felting.  I, on the other hand, would have thrown the silly thing across the room!

Last night at the knit group at Book and Bean (Berea, Ohio by Baldwin Wallace College), we do a lot  of sharing and feeling up each others' yarn.  There is always someone that has a question or an issue or concern about how to do something.  We schlep finished stuff to share, tell each other about good buys and when a new knitting product (like KnitPicks Zephyr needles) come out, whomever succombs first to a purchase is more than happy to let everyone test drive it!

Speaking of yarn (was I speaking of yarn), I was thinking about an idea this morning.  I remember my Mom and Grandma buying yarn at The May Company or Zayre's.  I don't know what kinds there were there but probably less than what is at WalMart.  They would have both loved the kinds and varieties available now.  I know they would have both been enthralled with self-striping yarns and silk and cashmere.  I can also see my Grandma laughing over the idea of intentionally shrinking wool.  I remember her giving my Mom a sweater that had gotten shrunk so that my Mom could use the sweater as a warm liner for a jacket.  My Mom cut off the panels (fronts and back) and sewed these panels to the lining of the jacket that she made for my Dad. 

And sometimes when I am knitting and, especially if I am wearing my Mom's wedding ring, I see her hands and can pretend that she is there.