Knitting Circle

I tend to have a lot of ideas that slowly tick over, and I think that a lot of people who know me well quietly think I'm a little bit crazy. But this idea was brilliant in so many ways and it is about to be realised this weekend with the beginning of our family knitting circle.

I have been a bit erratic with my blogging both because of my technology issues and because my Grandad passed away. One thing that happens when a family member passes on is that you reassess your realtionship with your family. I have a very close relationship with my Mum and three brothers, and a fairly close relationship with my Gran and aunts and uncles on Mum's side to varying degrees. I consider family to be very important to me, but I really don't see any of them enough. On my Dad's side, aside from Dad, I haven't really had contact with anyone since I was about 13. The funeral was both a celebration of Grandad's life and a goodbye, but also a reonnection within the family. It highlighted to me the importance of initiating contact and not letting my fairly distant relationship with my Dad cut me off from that side of the family. One thing about slowing down and simplifying isunderstanding the importance of family and community. I think I need to focus on family a bit more and work on keeping in touch with my family on the paternal side.

So when the knitting circle idea popped into my head it seemed like a brilliant way to keep connected with my family and share something with them. We were at my Gran's place and a conversation about knitting sprung up after I apologised to my Gran for asking her to knit me some socks, making her hand swell up and her have to get her ring cut off... well, actually I asked Mum and she pawned it off to Gran... long story. Anyway, my brother's partner mentioned she wanted to learn to knit, and I know Mum is doing some knitting, and I guess I'll need to learn to knit my own socks now, so, viola, the knitting circle was born. Well, actually I suggested it and I think everyone else thought I was joking but I got so excited about it they just went along with me. Either way, the knitting circle is all go.

With my usual burst of enthusiasm I got in touch with my two other brother's partners, and they were keen, and we organised it for this coming Sunday.  The idea is to get together fortnightly to learn/practice/teach knitting, and have a ladies luncheon. We are all going to bring a plate of lady-like lunch treats, like scones, cucumber sandwiches, asparagus rolls and that sort of thing. Its a great way to make sure we all see each other regularly, and people can come whenever they can make it. I'm very excitied, and hopefully I'll learn how to knit my own socks too!