knit together!

Sometime in December I was feeling really bad for myself the scarcity of female companionship. I expressed to my dear friend Katherine how I envied the mother's book club she attended and the craft night she participated in once a month. 'There's nothing like that here,' I complained. I know the church once tried a book club and there was enthusiastic interest, but a meager then non-existent turnout. Katherine simply said I should organize something, oh yeah, just that easy, I put myself out there with a bunch of women I don't even know and then nurse my wounded ego when no one comes. Eleni seconded Katherine suggestion and pointed out that I need to get over myself and my fear of rejection. After Ben's friend recommended reading "The Friday Night Knitting Club," I was sold on giving it a try.

I asked Janet if she'd open her home because I love her cozy farmhouse and then I started to ask around church to gauge the interest. As it turned out, there was actually lots of interest, each woman had a project tucked away for years that she'd like to work on, but just never had the time. In fact, when we did convene Beth won the prize for bringing the oldest project, a floral cross-stitch for her parents 50th wedding anniversary (which was 11 years ago). I brought a pair of Valentine socks I started for Ben before Joachim was born (maybe I'll finish them for this year).

Well, it was a lovely night with nine women in attendance, Donna even completed a vest that she'd put off for 4 years! It was so interesting see all the projects and especially getting the demonstration of Janet's new sock machine. It's an exact replica of one from the late 1800's and it's fascinating. She said there were home business scams even then, because included were reprints of the original flyers for the machine claiming that wives could have their own home business making socks, but think about, up until this machine, socks were all knit by hand! It looks easy in the following video, but I understand the heel and toe are challenging to master... she also finished assembling her first sock!