I am hoping I am not the only knitter who is just crazy about things they do being perfect. My password name should always be Frogger. The baby sweater I am doing right now has been ripped out so many times that I am now finding a slight positive in knowing this yarn (Milky Soft by Ella Rae 50% cotton 50% milk product) takes a beating and still looks great.
I know that the baby who is getting this (the lovely Miss Tea) would not mind a bit if the lace had a bit of error in the pattern or if each stitch was not perfectly even. I know that her parents or grandparents wouldn’t mind a bit. I even know that the other folks at our office wouldn’t do anything but ooh and ahh when/if it ever gets done. And that when the sweet girl is wearing it no one who sees it will scream at her parents to get that shoddy thing into the garbage. I know all that but I am still knitting and ripping, knitting and ripping. This is just me and at my age I am well aware of my weird compulsions.
This failing is especially startling as I consider my FAVORITE knitted gift. Some of you might see it and have some critical comments. Of course I will have to kick you right in the shins. It is a special scarf made for me by my favorite granddaughter, Katie.
Not only did she work hard on it but she was careful to tell me she picked the color because it was NOT orange—a color both of us can’t stand. On the day after she gave it to me she finished a bible class at our church and I was proud to wear it.
How much more perfect could it be? I need to remind myself of this as I finish the sweater.
I didn’t bring the scarf with me as we are inFlorida. One of the highlights is a visit to one of our wonderful retailers, A Good Yarn in Sarasota. I was there Thursday
Since I am in Florida I was able to visit one of our premier retailers, A Good Yarn, in Sarasota. (link: http://www.agoodyarnsarasota.com/) Of course I was worried that no one would be there to meet me and learn more about the Signature story but I figured I could wander the shop for the 2 hours I was scheduled for. Being “Bothe early” I showed up at 2 for the 3pm appointment. When I came in I was amazed at the wonderful shop—large, beautiful and filled with fabulous yarns AND 2 areas for sitting both of which were filled with people.
I assumed they were there to knit but many of them were there to hear my story. Of course I learned a lot from them – such as that this store is true gathering place for knitters who live nearby or just winter here. There was the woman who was back for the first time from her appendix surgery (who was taken from the knitting table to the hospital), the sisters from Iowa, the handsome Bill and so many more. What they told me made it clear why the shop is so successful—Sue the owner and the wonderful staff help people with patterns or techniques even if the pattern/yarn was purchased somewhere else! This makes for such a welcoming place which Bill and I decided to describe as “Cheers without the beer”.
One of the shop folks came over and handed me the softest and prettiest washcloth and I was beyond touched when she said, “One of our customers made this for you but she wants to be anonymous.” I asked her if she would pass on a thank you note and she said yes. A short time later she came back and said the kind gift giver has decided to reveal herself and here she is: Kerri Williamson from Michigan and Bradenton. This kind gesture is something that made me think about how much an unexpected gift can have a huge impact so thank you Kerri!
I got to meet the charming Mr. Susan, Maury, who was also kind and gracious and their lovely daughter. But the real cherry on the cake was Susan’s mother who leaned over when I was telling some stories of what happens at Signature and said, “You sure are interesting.” What more can a visitor ask—an unexpected treasure to take home and a real taste of Southern hospitality.
