Jananas

I’ve had a post rattling around in my head for a few months. I’m going to attempt to get it down in writing, although I’d ask that you bear with me as I’m sure that the sentiment behind it will get refined over time.

There’s a simple question. Why do I knit? The supplies cost money and it takes a lot of my time to finish projects. There are moments when I walk into stores and pick up something (a hat or a sweater) and there’s no way that I’d be able to make it as cheaply as they can sell it for. And yet, that doesn’t stop me from knitting things for myself and for friends.

So why do I bother?

Because of the story.

Because behind every finished project there’s a story. The yarn I buy has a story – where the yarn is from (renn faire or thailand or a farmer’s market or the handspun I traded for a pair of knit mittens or that was a gift from a friend). Each knitted item has a story – how I felt when I was working on the project, what was going on in my life when I picked up the needles, how to yarn felt going through my fingers, or even where I was when working on a project (a roadtrip, airport, other city, stitch ‘n bitch session). Even the reason a project exists has a story – was it an order for a friend or a relaxing knit or for a particular event (like my graduation sweater). Every single step in a knitting project has a story.

Because of the memory.

I have afghans that both my grandmother and my nana knit. Even though they’ve both passed on, I have a memory of something that they made with their own hands for me. Everytime I use them, it reminds me of them and the good times we had.

I can only hope that my own knitting projects will impact other people’s lives in the same way. That it creates a bond between me and them. Something that I created and loved is out there in the world, hopefully making things better for someone else and cheering them up.

Because it connects me to the world.

When my friend Tim moved to Australia for work, he donated all of his winter gear. He kept one hat and it was one that I made him. Not only is something I made traveling the world, its special. Its a memory and a bond.

And so I knit and give things away. Because it connects me to the world. Because it lets me tell stories. Because its a way to pass on memories. Because I love doing it.

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