Knitting Afghans

I just finished an afghan. That isn't so unusual, but this afghan is the first real project afghan I've ever knitted. I've thrown stitches on a needle or crochet hook and looped a big thing together and called it an afghan, but my newly finished afghan is work of art. ( Photo forthcoming.)

My friend Janet started the whole thing by inviting me to attend a class at our local knitting shop. I wanted to do something new so I went along. I've knitted lots of socks, and I've knitted sweathers, even one of those bulky Aran things, and I've knitted shawls with feather weight and cobweb soft yarns. but this afghan was a challenge. Some knitters knit mindlessly, never changing the way they knit or what they knit. It's like mind meditation. Others love a new project because it gives them something new to learn and try out, even to the point of failure. I usually fit into the former category, but I was game and went to the class.

The afghan pattern was a new experience for me. It was 12 different squares, all using difficult and challenging patterns. I learned new methods of casting on ( the very beginning technique for a knitter), new ways of increasing and decreasing stitches, lace patterns, cable patterns, entrelac, Fair Isle, (using different colors in special ways), three different kins of pockets, and the best way to knit things together so they don't look like they have a big old seam running down them. I also learned a better way to block the final project so it was smooth and flat, and not lumpy. I was busy knitting my afghan for months and last night I finished it. It was amazing when I threw it down on the rug, spreading it all out to see what it looked like. It was a rectangle, the edges were finished and it was beautiful. Also, it was interesting to look at with all the colors and different patterns for each square. It was soft to touch, and the wool will be very warm to cover feet or a body for napping. It was a wonder to see what I had made with my very own hands. Don't be confused about my bragging; my afghan is not perfect. It has a funny row where the corners on the squares don't match exactly and a few bumps where I know there are errors in the knitting. But, it is a glorious thing to see!

I had help while I worked on my afghan. I had my friendly neighborhood knit shop where I got instruction, and I had the best teacher, Kathy, who reassured and encouraged me all along the way. Also, I had other knitters learning along with me as we shared and compared our work. I had the best atmosphere in which to learn, sitting at the table in the front window of Kathy's knit shop, Oak Harbor Knits. Before this experience, I had struggled alone to figure out patterns, even going online to view video of how to do some knitting technique. I had never been part of a knitting group, and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.

As I think about my afghan project, I can't help but draw an analogy to my church. I don't knit in the pews, but I am working on my soul afghan when I am there. I have the same kind of friends and teachers in the church, helping me to make my soul afghan just as beautiful as the wool one. Each time I pray, study, read the Bible, or learn a new idea about salvation, my soul afghan gets a new square, a new place to store happiness and the knowledge of Christ. Just as I give thanks for the wool afghan I knitted, I can give thanks that the "Lamb of God" has given me the wool of friends and a congregation to make my soul just as intricate, as interesting and as beautiful. Thanks be to God for friends, teachers, congregations and knitters who help me make my life the beautiful pattern it can be.

Update: I just finished a wool scarf, but I'm itching to get started on another big project!