Your thesis, my creation

Yesterday, I found myself sitting in the waiting area of the dentist office next to a "little old Italian lady".

Little as in very petite and old as in, she must have been in her late 70s, early 80s IMO.

Its the most unlikely place for a lesson in loving your creative works but there we were.

When she spotted me, with the creamy goodness that is my work in progress, peasy cardigan, she reached out her arms like

she was greeting a grandchild she hadn't seen in years.

You would think I would be shocked. I'm never shocked in these situations.

If you knit and you are knitting, nine times out of ten, any knitter in the near vicinity can't help but ask you, "So what are you working on?"

Her daughter, who looked perplex in how to handle this situation, smiled at me, as if to say, "please be kind".

Silly Rabbit!

I'm a professional, I know how to handle people that enjoy my creations - lots of humility and gratitude.

A few minutes later, my knitting was in the little old Italian lady's hand and she was performing a full diagnosis.

"Oh, a raglan, very nice"

"Soft, definitely a wool, with something else, something silky, ah, a wool/silk or wool/nylon, maybe, its so shiny"

"The lacework is beautiful, I can tell that you slowed down here, look how even your stitches are, very nice, very nice"

It was the most interesting thing, I've never seen someone look at a garment like they can write a thesis on it.

She shook her head a few times in an agreement gesture, as to confirm all her findings one after the other.

Then, she placed the cardigan back into my hands, carefully, and told me in her very thick accent.

"you will never stop doing this, you will do this all your life, you will teach someone else, you will, this is very nice"

And then it was complete.

She smiled, her daughter smiled and whispered, "It is very pretty, I love the details."

Yeah.... this was kinda weird, kinda wondrous, very inspiring and very thought provoking, but all in all, this was nice, very nice.

Comments

[Joyce in NC]

This reminds me of an incident that happened to me in a restaurant. I though this older lady was watching me. Finally, she came to my table and asked if she could touch my quilted jacket. I had taken off my jacket and draped it over my chair back. She inspected the seaming and the pattern design very carefully. She said that she knew I had lovingly made the jacket as soon as she spotted me in the restaurant. She complimented me on a wonderfully color, and pattern selection. I was very pleased when she left the restaurant. A fellow crafter can usually spot and appreciate the time, patience and care involved in creating works of art.

[Carolyn]

What a kewl way to pass time in the dentist's office!

[sheila]

Such a heart warming moment.

I was sitting on the train crocheting back in September and a young lady motioned to my project and I proceeded to tell her what I was making. Then she motioned with her hands that she cannot hear. We were sitting side by side and I realized that if I faced her she could read my lips, we were able to briefly communicate about my project and she motioned that she made hats and I told her keep it going never stop. It was such a heart warming moment.

[Alethia]

I love those kind of encounter, that was a great experience

[Becky]

What a wonderful moment! Someday YOU will be the old lady encouraging a younger crafter to always create.

[Serenity]

I was knitting in court and almost got arrested. I guess not everyone appreciates the art....

[adrienne]

awwwwwwwwwww

[Mary in FL]

What an awww-inspiring encounter.

[toni]

what a beautiful story!

[robin]

sometimes we entertain angels unaware...

[Carla]

that was a beautiful story

[Val]

thanks for sharing this ..

[Carol]

What a lovely experience. As I get older I grow more and more to cherish encounters with older people like this. Imagine how it warmed this lady's heart to see a young person doing something that so few do these days.

[Heather]

A once in a lifetime encounter Toy. How amazing? You will always remember this meeting.

Now how about you telling me how to purchase the cowl in your Dec. 3rd posting. I followed the links but still cannot see how to obtain it...even checked Amazon...my side, to no avail. Thanks and hugs.

[Janice]

Beautiful experience. I hope some day I will meet a fellow knitter so in love with knitting. You will always remember her encouraging words and compliments.

Janice in Southeastern WI

[Mary Beth]

Wow. What a trilling thing to have happen!

[Lynn]

Poetry at its best.