The Oregonian
Zen and the Art of Knitting
"Eight women sit companionably in a circle, their chairs pulled within the cozy boundaries of a hooked run, their hands neatly enmeshed in needles and yarn. They chat as they work, a cheerful, relaxed kind of conversation. In the background, soothing music blends with the occasional bleat of fluffy sheep, which peer curiously through the window. Fragrant scents of cinnamon-spiced tea, hay and wool fill the air.
It’s a tranquil scene with ancient roots – women gathering to share work and company. In this case it’s a knitting class held in a rural West Linn barn converted to fiber arts studio. Susan Hale-Mecouch, who teaches here, steps over at times to smooth an awkward stitch or untangle the mysteries of a pattern.
The memory of movements repeated thousands of times eventually will create a hat or sweater or vest that will bring more than warmth to a loved one. For the knitter, says Hale-Mecouch, the garment and its making will bring moments of calm in a hectic life, an opportunity to full spin thoughts to conclusion and perhaps to feel a link to ancestors…" |
