Start Where You Are

This morning, I struggled to think about what I wanted to write today. Not for lack of projects, mind you. It is a slow Sunday and I spent yesterday building furniture for the guest bedroom and spindles for my shop. Today, I am tired and there is more furniture today. A fitting theme for today seems to be start wherever you are.

I learned to knit several years ago. My first project was a dog sweater. My second project was my wedding veil. Neither gussets nor lace intimidated me. Very few things in the fiber world intimidate me.

One thing that intimidated me -- socks.

I'm not sure if it was because I had to make two. Even now, socks seem like a daunting challenge to me. I have been avoiding making socks for years, now. Several friends have egged me on in 2017 to learn. And I finally had the opportunity when my mother-in-law was in the hospital for a very scary open-heart surgery over Christmas. I brought several hats and other projects to keep me busy in the waiting room, both crochet and knit. Well, five hats in, I ran out of hand-spun yarn for hats. I still had a skein of purple heather wool.

In the midst of stress and pressure, I decided I would make my mother-in-law socks. Failure was not an option because I needed to make her something. I needed to show her I loved her. I needed to do it for myself. So I began, right there in the waiting room, between comforting my husband and his father, knitting and frogging, stopping to make sure everyone ate. As she began to wake up after a long surgery, I finished up the last stitches and wove in my ends. I was able to walk into that hospital room and show her finished socks. She may never realize the mental hurdle I overcame to put that gift into her hands, but for me, it is something very special.

My mother-in-law is now recovering well at home.

Start wherever you are.

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