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Thursday night brought some lace knitting and finishing the next 2 sections of my Insomnia Scarf. Thursday night was a rough night, as it had been just a short while since I had last seen my mom and was not prepared for how far downhill she has gone in that short time. It's been 4 weeks since finding out her cancer has spread to everywhere in her body, and 4 weeks has many changes physically. Only 2 treatments of chemo, when over the years she has had so many, but these 2 treatments have been the worst yet. She is trying to buy some time.These yarn overs stand for focus on something other than the "beast" raging inside of her. And the helplessness I feel inside.
This turkey brought so many smiles to my family and to the nurses at the hospital! This knit along is done now, but I have to "catch up" and get his feathers done and attached. I didn't have Internet access at my mom's house, so I could only do up to what was current when I left. I have many other turkey "parts" in various stages, as these guys will show up at my LYS soon! Turkeys, now how can you not smile looking at a turkey? Definitely therapy knitting done here.
Top section of mitten as of now:
My mitten. Or, should I say, Velta's mitten. This was therapy for my 86 year old grandma. See, this is her pattern. She can't see anymore. Once upon a time, 68 or so years ago, a textile student in Riga wrote a mitten pattern for a final in her school. She didn't think it was "good enough" and didn't wind up knitting the pattern. She then tucked away in a school book. 68 years later, she finds the book, and the pattern and hands it over to her knitting granddaughter. She now has the pleasure of knitting this mitten up, and sometimes filling in a few blanks on the chart with her almost blind grandma, who cries every time she sees the mitten. This is therapy for her too. She remembers the Old Country, the occupation, the burning down of her yet-to-be-opened weaving shop, the flee, the capture. The concentration camp. She remembers the fear of day to day living and not knowing if she'd make it out outlive. She gave up her dream of weaving, of textiles, when she and my grandpa came to the States. A dream un-lived, is a dream unfulfilled. She has given me her dream now, she says. It will live in me. I'm not sure about the weaving part...but I do know the knitting part is alive and well in me. We are creating these mittens together, and that I cherish so much! Here is the next section, again, 3 color carry on 3 rows.
Mom wound up in the ER on Sunday. I started a sock for one of the girls for Christmas out of Spud & Chloë Fine.
And a test knit for BSA that I can let you peek at...these are made out of the wonderfully soft Brushed Suri. This is a different yarn to knit up--very fuzzy and soft, but softer than cashmere. These mitts are extremely easy, so many of these could wind up as Christmas gifts for your loved ones that enjoy luxury items.
Whew! Lots of knitting. I also did lots of cleaning, lots of cooking, lots of "nurse tending" to my mom. Talking with her was so precious. We laughed, we cried and we did alot of reminiscing. I was awake every 2 hrs with her during the night, so this gave me all that "extra" mom time.Give your mom a call today. Write her if you can. Hug her if you are given the privilege. Our moms are forever connected to us, no matter how far away. They do so much for us, not only as children but as adults. I am so blessed to have a mom. She will always be a part of who I am. Let your mom know that too, if you can.
You will make her day, I promise.
Finished the St. Paddy's Socks for 
