knitting as therapy

Life has seemed chaotic around my house the last few days. It's a combination of too many things needing to be done, needing my attention, and too many other urgent things popping up and taking too much time. I don't know why this inordinate number of crises has been bestowed upon me right now, but there it is. Nothing serious, I suppose, just frustrating and annoying.

To top it off, I've felt an irresistible urge to knit. Seems frivolous, at a time when there is no time to spare, that I just want to curl up with some nice yarn and favorite needles. It is not uncommon for me to want to knit when things are going wrong, though. I find comfort in the softness of the yarn, the way my favorite needles work, the neat, orderly rows and columns of stitches growing in number underneath my fingers. It's a welcome contrast to the chaos around me. So much that I often identify pieces I've knitted with what was going on in my life at the time. Not in a sad way, just a matter-of-fact way.

I did manage to eke out a few minutes to start something new, though. I had to stay up far too late one night to do it, which proved counterproductive the next day, but it was delicious. The fingerless mitts I made a while back have stretched and gotten all fuzzy. I love to wear them, but they make me feel like I have Sasquatch hands. So I started a new pair. I had a bit of Country yarn by Naturally Caron in Chocolate Truffle. I gathered a favorite set of double point needles and the pretty stitch markers, and set to work.

While I'm at it, let me tell you how much I adore this book. Some of my projects start with a pattern, and I buy yarn to suit it. But often my projects start with a yarn I found on sale or a new pair of needles I want to try out. This book has earned its keep in those times. The mitten pattern alone has saved my neck on more than one occasion. You just choose your yarn and needles, knit up a gauge swatch, then follow the charts to knit whatever you want. It also gives a simple, blank canvas for any special pattern stitches or colorwork you would like to add.

And if you'd like pretty stitch markers too, visit Karen at Beadmarkers. :)