Reflections of a Knitter

I’m a knitting newbie. Well, not exactly; I learned to knit when I was nine years old and I got a lot of satisfaction out of working the needles for many years. Somewhere along the way, however, knitting virtually disappeared from my life. And then I attended the Knitting and Spinning Retreat at East Hill Farm, which I would subtitle as the Weekend of Wonderful Women. I’d like to share some of the reasons I loved this weekend both to express my gratitude for a fabulous getaway and to encourage others who might be thinking of joining the party next year.

It’s better than a week on a tropical island for relaxation, no beds to make, no food to cook. Sumptuous meals prepared and served by friendly and cheerful Inn staff. Available at all times, homemade goodies (doughnuts, cookies, muffins) to enjoy with tea or coffee just in case of a snack attack. And no multitasking merry-go-round life for one long weekend.

It’s better than psychotherapy for building confidence; even my simple knitted hat earned rave reviews and admiration. So many projects at so many levels, every one observed with interest and appreciation.
It’s better than any formal knitting or spinning class for learning new techniques or entirely new skills. Ask a question about reading a pattern, turning a sock heel, spinning with the right tension, dying yarn, chances are 99% that someone in the group will know the answer. Pretty quickly there’s a discussion, probably a demonstration, and it’s just one more example of the camaraderie of the whole weekend.

Never picked up a needle or touched a treadle before? You’ll still feel welcomed. There’s something about fiber people…the fiber of their characters maybe?

Best of all is the comfort of the weekend. Some of the attendees are old friends; some are people I’ve never met before. Groups gather in a number of appropriate spaces, but there is a fluidity of movement from room to room. I choose to wander, sometimes taking my knitting into a circle of spinners, sometimes hanging out with a room full of serious knitters. “Wait a minute we’ll find another chair,” “Make the circle a little bigger, we need space for one more,” are greetings I can always expect.
After all these years, I’m hooked on knitting again. I can’t wait for next year!

Submitted by: Connie Adams