Knitting for a Friend

A knitter's instinct when they hear bad news about someone is often to knit them something comforting. Maybe it's because it has the dual effect of comforting both the knitter and hopefully the recipient. Maybe it's our need to feel like we are doing something to help. Whatever the reason, you tell a knitter bad news and most of them will at least have the thought of "I should make them something," even if they don't follow through.

I recently received the bad news that one of my friends was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. She's a grandmother who should be getting excited about her latest grandchild-to-be and looking forward to retiring in a few years and playing with her grandkids. Instead, she spent the holidays getting a tumor removed and trying to figure out when she should start chemo. When she told me, I spent about an hour thinking that this must be the worst practical joke ever before it sunk in that she was serious.

Then my knitter's instinct kicked in and I started to think about what I could make for her. Hats are popular for chemo patients, but she was never a fan of hats, so I wouldn't even know what type she might like. I couldn't see her using fingerless gloves or needing a scarf, and larger objects are too cost prohibitive. Eventually, I decided on a shawl.

The idea of a shawl appealed to me for a few reasons: she has always been religious, so a prayer shawl would be appreciated (the idea being that the item is imbued with good prayers for the recipient), and she has always had issues with regulating her body temperature, which will only be made worse by chemo. The unlike a cardigan or a sweater that might get in the way of an IV, a shawl is easy to get on and off in most circumstances and it is easier to adjust them.

So, I started to think of a design and I came up with this:




Originally, I had thought to put a Celtic cross on it, but every time I tried, I thought of a headstone. So I decided to use cables that reminded me of crosses instead. I also used machine washable yarn (Cotton Ease Seaspray), so that she doesn't have to worry about washing it.

I admit that this project was probably more to comfort me than it was to comfort her. Sort of my way of giving her a long distance hug.

I don't know if I'll publish the pattern for this one. I might, but as a shawl and a blanket pattern. It would feel weird to profit from this pattern.