A Bit Long . . .

It has been one heck of a week around here. Sometimes I don't know whether I am coming or going ... and just when I have about given up and started cussing everyone out, a shift in the universe catches me off guard and I have an Aha! moment (Thanks Oprah!) Let me explain:

I Am Not A Snob, Just Particular
Occasionally working from home home allows me some luxuries like meeting up with a friend for lunch and then shopping (more like wishing) while most of the city is indoors. So when my friend Michelle called and asked if I would like to accompany her to the Rag Shop, I was all too happy to oblige. After our Mexican indulgence, we headed to the craft store. Now, I have to be honest, I have been spoiled by the suburban counterparts of major craft stores like Michael's and Hobby Lobby, I was a bit surprised why Michelle, who is a fabulous crocheter, wanted to go there. It is a very small and cramped store and the lighting is not very good. But that can be overlooked with the lure of a sale. Once inside, my excitement gave way to disbelief when I saw the dismal selection of yarn and the way they were displayed. Unraveled skeins and other rolls of yarn littered the floors and unkept bins. It was such slim pickings that I decided to make my way over to the sewing section to look at some patterns. Meanwhile, Michelle was quite content rummaging through the bins of Red Heart Super Saver yarn that was 2 for $7. When she met me up front, she was surprised to see that I was empty handed. I tried to bow out gracefully and explain that I didn't see anything I wanted but she kept pressing the issue." How can you pass up this deal!" she said. I then explained I had enough of the yarn in my stash that was collecting dust; especially since I didn't like the hand of the yarn. It feels a bit harsh to me. she then rolled her eyes at me and called me a bourgeois-knitter! (Okay, now this is where the head rolling and the finger snapping would about to begin, but because my peace-loving, utopian, Aquarius ascending was skitting across the celestial plane at that precise moment, I put away the can of whoop-a** and decided to be the loving person my Mama knows I can be). Now I don't consider myself a snob in any sense of the word. The depth of my pockets usually determine my yarn purchases along with the occasional eBay auction ...and ... occasionally I will splurge. However, I am not the one to buy if the selection is less than appealing. So therefore, I am PARTICULAR. Aha!
Needless to say, the ride back to my house was a bit tense. Once upstairs, sitting on the couch, she looked into my knitting basket and fingered my latest project. She commented how soft the yarn was and asked what it was. With a devilish smirk, I showed her the Caron Simply Soft Brites label. That's right Girlie ... 100% Acrylic, $2.99 each at Save-a-thon! (Now, this is the part where I would like to say she was picking the pieces of her cracked face off the floor, but I am not one to gloat.) Instead, I showed her my ever growing yarn stash filled with everything from Red Heart to Artyarns to Interlacements. Again, the universe shifted and she apologized. I couldn't find a pen fast enough to get it in writing. She then explained that judging by some of the things I have knitted in the past, she always thought I used expensive yarn. Well, I didn't know whether to take that as a compliment, ponder the question of what she really thought about me or chalk it up to her being very into appearances. Needless to say, I took it as a compliment and we began brainstorming about her latest project.

Yesterday
Before we could sketch out the plans for the children's book she is developing, we started flipping through the channels and saw that Yesterday was about to air on HBO. I have been LONGING to see this movie. It is the courageous story of a South African woman named Yesterday who contracts AIDS from her husband who works in the gold mines in Johannesburg. One can not help but be moved by the plight of this woman, living in a poor, remote area and having to come to grips with her illness... while trying to secure a future for her young daughter, Beauty. It is deeply moving and a must see. Leleti Khumalo, who also played the lead in Sarafina!, draws you in with her innocence and intense range of emotion.
See it and be aware.

Edgings
After the movie, we were both lost in thought wondering how we can make a difference in the lives of the children affected by the disease. We came to the conclusion that we would use the love of our crafts to help. Baby blankets, hats, booties, sweaters. We have our research ahead of us but the fire has been lit. Fueled with the feeling of doing for someone else, I picked up my knitting and started to make a dent in the braided edge for my Aunt's shawl.
I got the pattern from Nicky Epstein's Knitting on the Edge.
Once finished I plan to attach either a basketweave or stockinette panel. I love texture so I will have to experiment with different stitches for the panel.

Well, I warned you. This is a L-O-N-G post. I am off to sketch out a pattern for a baby blanket. Maybe I'll use some of my Red Heart Super Saver. Tee Hee, I'm such a stinker! Knit On!