Knitting a path to recovery

When I was young I learned how to knit and crochet. I earned some badges for Girl Guides and made some hideous dishcloths that my mother might have used once before "accidentally" losing them in the wash. Then as time passed I tried making other things. I finger knit scarves, and crocheted bathmats. I once made my best friend a mitten. I was so proud of that thing until she put it on her foot and pretended to be a monkey. I apparently had the gauge off. But I never tried to make the second one of the set. In fact, I put my knitting away completely for a few years.

Fast forward a few years and I found a book on how to make gorgeous squares for a blanket, I worked all year trying to create this beautiful blanket for my grandmother to enjoy. Only to learn that my grandmother hated the colours I had chosen. I still have ten of the squares I completed, unable to throw them away. But I never finished the blanket.

Fast forward a couple more years to shortly after I got married and learned I was pregnant. I decided to make baby blankets for my new baby. I had visions of beautiful Christening gowns, baby bonnets, and booties. Up until this point, all the yarn I had ever used had been donated to me or was value brand yarn. I didn't even know what the different kinds of yarns could make, or why I might want to use one over another. Needless to say, valubrand yarn is scratchy and rough. It doesn't make for nice material to put against a baby's tender skin. Once again I put my knitting away as a failed experiment.

A few years later, I injured myself at work and decided to start making a nice blanket for my daughter to occupy myself during convalescence. This time I decided to crochet it. I figured I knew how to crochet from childhood, so it would be fairly easy to do. Right? Well, thanks to Youtube tutorials I did eventually finish the blanket, only to realize that what I thought would be a twin-sized blanket, was in fact quite narrow.

In 2010 I quit drinking and I began trying to get better at my hobby. I needed something I could do that I could pick up and set down again at will. Once I realized I was terrible at gauge - that is making things a specific size according to a pattern- things became much easier for me. I made all kinds of things, but I really enjoyed making toys. Since they didn't have to be a certain size, and I could make them however I wanted. And I started getting really creative.

But it wasn't until 2012 when I quit smoking that it all began to come together. I learned how to make amigurumi toys. I began to specialize in making really adorable toys. I loved creating toys for my friends and family. I've made some amazing things that I'm really proud of.

A few years ago I was in a car accident and then my daughter got sick. Once again I found myself at a loss, so I pulled out my old knitting bag. When I taught myself how to create reversible images I really began to enjoy the process more. Not only did it occupy my time, my hands, and my imagination (of which I had an abundance) But it also gave me something complex to do to help while away the hours I spent in doctor's appointments waiting for specialists.

Trial and error taught me that knitting is different than crochet in that the stitches are not square. So a pattern will be squatter than it is tall, unless you create it sideways, or add extra lines. I hope to learn how to create crocheted images soon, as I will be able to do more complex pictographs once I can. But for now, I am pleased with the work I have managed thus far. It has kept me sane in ways I never realized it would.

I appreciate this contest as it has given me the opportunity to revisit pieces I had done in the past that I was very proud of accomplishing. I hope that you enjoy them, as much as I did. Not only did they help me when I needed help with everything from loneliness, to injury, and even addiction, but they helped me to create joy for other people as well. I am so lucky to have this skill and I can't wait to see what I can come up with next!