#Knitting Life Lessons

I began learning how to knit this winter; knit, purl, cast on, cast off, worsted, cable stitch- these words swirl around in my brain as I try to manipulate the needles without dropping a stitch. This activity is a lesson in patience and concentration, and when I proudly show my week's work amounting to six inches, my instructors display hats and scarves, and half finished sweaters! But speed is not my objective, and I have gained far more from this experience than learning this craft. The only failure in any new endeavor is not to try. Mistakes can be corrected, but fear of making one will only hinder you. An extra stitch  combined with another is successfully hidden; several rows of newly created stitches become my unique style, and then there are the stories! Between the three of us is more than a century and a half of experience, accomplishments, and misadventures. I listen intently to the tales of people I know and some that I never had the pleasure to meet. Tidbits of information delivered with a smile or a sigh or a roll of the eyes paint a vivid picture of those whom I now live among in this small community which is probably similar to thousands of villages spread across the world. Isn't it human nature to seek out others to socialize and share yarns of past times?  Thus, my lessons this winter have taught me much: the fabric of a community is strengthened when residents gather to share skills, knowledge, and stories.