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Weaving Little Wonders

Making rainbow key chains during the pandemic gave me peace and hope.

By Allison KellerPublished 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago 3 min read
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Weaving Little Wonders
Photo by Alex Jackman on Unsplash

For centuries, the optical miracle known as the rainbow has fascinated mankind. Ancient philosophers argued about how many colors it actually contained, whereas during Greek and Roman times people believed that rainbows were arched gateways the goddess Iris used to bridge the gap between humans and immortals. Many are familiar with the account in the Bible after the flood, wherein God promises Noah he will never destroy the Earth in that manner again, and as proof of that promise he gave humans the rainbow. This Biblical account is one of my favorite morals, because it depicts the rainbow as a symbol of hope and better times ahead and shows how powerful promises can be. Rainbows can be seen after a torrential downpour, their brilliant rays of light blanketing the sky like a beacon in the middle of a storm. They’re a reminder of better things to come, of hope that looms on the nearing horizon.

Growing up on the South Eastern coast of North Carolina, I’ve always been infatuated with rainbows. I remember running out into the yard after an intense storm had passed, (usually a hurricane), and staring up at the sky in awe; often at a resplendent rainbow glistening against the clouds. I always loved the fact that a rainbow shining in the sky signified the end of a raging storm, and that there could be beauty after destruction. Now, living in the West where rain and storms are less frequent, rainbows are equally fascinating to me, not only for their magnificent beauty, but also for how rare they come into my life.

Like many people during the COVID-19 pandemic, I scoured the internet for new “at home” projects to take part in during quarantine. It was on Pinterest where I was looking for new hobbies that featured yarn, (I love to weave tapestries, and as a result of that hobby, I have a stash of balls of yarn…more than I am proud to admit.), that a bright fabric rainbow caught my eye. The original post used these creations as part of a mobile for their newborn child, but in my mind I saw endless possibilities. Eventually I narrowed it down to constructing little rainbow key chains. The link on Pinterest led me to a video on You Tube featuring a walk through tutorial, so I watched that a couple hundred times, made a list of the supplies I needed, and got to work.

Pastel Rainbows I made for my sister and niece

I am not the best hand sewer, so my first creation came out a little rough, but as I continued to practice with my tapestry needle, the lumpy lines transformed into smoother creases, and I was quite proud of my creations. I began to make my little ‘Woven Wonders’ for family and friends, often including a little note about why the hope of rainbows could make our dark COVID days brighter. I even tried to sell my rainbows on a profile on Instagram, but ultimately decided that I liked making them as gifts better. Making these little wonders helped me feel good for multiple reasons. I was able to give small gifts while money was tight that made others smile, and it gave me inner peace knowing I could put my anxieties down and replace them with needle and thread instead. More and more I have found that for me personally, giving to others not only acts as self-therapy, but an outlet to showcase my art in ways where there is no pressure about whether or not it is “worthy” of success. Although quarantine has given me many new hobbies, weaving little wonders has been my favorite.

crafts
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About the Creator

Allison Keller

Wife, Dog and Cat Momma

My socks might not match, but my feet are always warm.

Brakes for Birds!

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