The word for the day: Connection. A very bright spot in this knitting group is that many of our residential clients who are discharged are coming back offering to teach the new admissions how to knit. Not only is this helpful from a knitting point of view but very helpful in that we have role models for recovery able to share their experiences in staying clean and sober. We have a residential program consisting of approximately twenty five women and each one joins in our group and brings their very special talents,ideas and creativity. They are designing their own handbags and they are fascinated with felting. It is fun to teach about different fibers and explain how wool turns to felt. Most of the women have never been in a yarn shop. Knitting seems to have given many of the women a new world in that they are connected with knitters wherever they go. They notice scarves and clothing others are wearing and it immediately is a connection as they discuss knitting with others they meet as they travel to appointments throughout the week. Many have told me that their grandmothers knitted and then knitting becomes a connection with a past generation. Many are teaching their children to knit: another connection.
There were many beautiful projects completed and being worked on this week but unfortunately (being a new digital photographer) I ran out of space on my disk. I managed to get a few photos but will add more throughout the week.
One photo that I got before I ran out of space was Leslie(our volunteer)wearing a coat she has been working on using Noro yarn. I also have two of the clients handbags. the green is a "before" and I will post the "after" and the other is a handbag that has been worked on by a client for weeks! Everyone loved the end result of all of her work.
