I started these two projects last April, in the depths of lockdown here in Massachusetts. I wanted a simple garter stitch shawl that I didn’t need to pay attention to. I chose Color Affection by Veera Välimäki. The pattern was published in 2011 and it seems like every knitter had made one, except me. Now that I had all the time in the world, I could just sit and knit.
Or embroider. I admit, I chose this kit because of the name “fairy ring.” I was working on a poem on that subject, and I couldn’t resist. All this time, it’s a gift, right? I should use it for knitting and crafting, shouldn’t I? Or writing, or walking, or maybe I should deep clean the bathroom.
At the beginning of the pandemic, I dug out my old 1960s Kenmore sewing machine and mad a dozen ill-fitting masks. I used the good quilting cotton that I’d been saving for…something. I also found 2 packets of 1/4” elastic. I sewed and sewed, and made slightly better masks.
I started other projects. I knit 4 sweaters (3 fit, I frogged one). I journaled every day. I made really tasty recipes and total disasters that required emergency fast food for dinner.
These two projects languished. And then a few weeks ago, I picked them up. I’m still not done. I have to bind off and block the shawl, and finish the moons.
The Seven of Pentacles is all in good time.
It’s about patience, and due diligence, and doing the foundation work before going forward. It’s a card of waiting, and delayed gratification. More, it’s about knowing the right time to do a thing, how much effort it requires. What is worth doing, what is worth your time and energy, and what is ok to stop.
In the end, I finished the fairy ring, and frogged the shawl.
Cards: Melanated Classic Tarot
Reading: Oracle by Cate Marvin
Knitting: Raindrops by Tin Can Knits in Malabrigo Sock “Frank Ochre