My friend Stefanie died on Tuesday. So many of the projects I’ve made since meeting her I made because of her, or were inspired by her, or inspired her, that I can’t help but think about how there is such an amazing and unique connection between knitters, and crafters, that other people don’t have.
Ann Weaver’s Button Cowl
When I found out she died I went straight to the drawer I keep all of my winter accessories in and pulled out this cowl she made for me for Christmas last year. I put it on over my pajamas and held it, crying and reading facebook posts left by her friends and family. I didn’t take it off for the rest of the day. It made me feel warm, like a hug I desperately needled, and close to Stefanie because she made it with her hands. This cowl would not exist if she didn’t exist.
Crazy Gloves
You may remember CRAZY GLOVES from two years ago. That was all Stefanie. Keeping in mind this girl JUST learned to cable, she comes in to class with this pattern. And it was crazy fun working up these gloves with her.
My Donkey
Stefanie’s Donkey
Chemo Hats
When she started her chemo treatments I started compulsively knitting her hats. ALL of which I saw her wear, because being a knitter she knew that even though she had cancer I’d still be pissed at her if she didn’t wear the hats I knit for her. From left to right – Gilda’s Club Chemo Hat, From Norway With Love, and Robin’s Egg Blue hat.
Tiny Knit Nativity
Last Christmas we got together to have a tiny knitting party, Stefanie with like 3 Mochimochi books and all of us with piles of size 2 needles and very tiny yarn.
So it’s Thanksgiving. And blah blah we should all be thankful for our health, because when you don’t have your health it’s over, and it could go at any moment.
But more than that MAKE THINGS. KNIT. SEW. Use your hands and create ridiculous oversized donkeys and very tiny hotdogs and give them to the people you love. Make them hats and cowls and toys and pillows, so they have lots of silly handmade stuff to hug and cry and laugh at when you die. Hang out with the people you love while you make things. Learn to make more things, and give all of those things away.
And nobody else get cancer. That is a new rule I’m enforcing from here on out.
