I Am Renewed

There is "tired" and then, there is "good tired." I arrived home yesterday from the Rewind Retreat "good tired." Tired in body, but refreshed in spirit. It was not quite 48 hours long but it was a true getaway. Knitting retreats are as much about fellowship as about knitting. It's a chance to meet new friends and get to know old friends better. In this beautiful camp setting where there are no televisions, we could set aside the daily news blast (most of which is either depressing or disturbing) and let ourselves truly unwind. It's like hitting the reset button. Of course, there were plenty of iPhones on hand, but they were mostly used to touch base with family. Or, maybe look up a knitting pattern.

For two days, we just visited with other. Got to know each other better. (I knew fewer than half of the 21 attendees this time.) Swapped ideas. Talked about books. Told stories. Laughed a lot. All while knitting. Instead of looking up a "how to" on YouTube (which is a wonderful resource) there was always a real live knitter in the room who could show you what you needed to know. Or, help you solve a problem. Or make an educated suggestion.

In a world that feeds on divisiveness in nearly everything—politics, climate, religion, vaccinations, schooling, food choices...you name it—we lived for two days without talking about those things. No rule. We just didn't. Instead of controversy, there was plenty of coffee. Plenty of snack food. Too little sleep. Too few hours in each day. No cooking to do or kitchen to clean. No search for the car keys because there was no need to drive. It was exactly what a retreat should be.

Now, you know you cannot put this much yarn and this many knitters in a room together and come away without learning something new. The new skill for this retreat was learning to add beads to our knitting. And it wasn't nearly as hard as I though it would be. I'm always happy to know my brain can learn one more thing.

Personally, after this weekend, I'm rethinking my decision to avoid variegated yarns. (The yarn I used contained variations of a single color.) They are always fun to look at in the hank, but often when knitted up, they are disappointing. But here are a few of the works in progress from other knitters. And I love them all. Getting to see these shawls in person (as opposed to just photos) was an education for my eye.

We all worked on a pattern designed especially for this retreat. I cannot wait to finish my version. And then I might have to dig out a couple of multicolored skeins of yarn that I've had stashed for too long. Thank you, ladies, for inspiration and for friendship.