A post that actually ties in with the concept of this blog!

I recently started knitting a vest for my son based on a pattern in the newly released Son of Stitch ‘n Bitch book. Not that Norris needed any more clothes, or I needed any more projects-- I thought it would be a learning experience, given that it required both knitting in the round and using multiple strand Fair Isle technique.

My friend Lisa came over to talk me through my fears about knitting in the round, which I have always avoided because the concept messes with my mind. For example, where you would usually knit one row, then purl one row to get a smooth stockinette pattern, when knitting in the round (really a spiral), you’d just knit every row. Freaky! The Fair Isle technique involves following a grid pattern for each row, working with at least two colors of yarn at the same time. Hard! But Lisa convinced me that this would all make sense (thanks, Lisa!)

As I commenced knitting, I realized that I didn’t really have to understand all the concepts—I just had to slavishly follow the instructions. As you can see from the photo, the pattern features anchors and stripes. Amazingly, as long as you do exactly what the chart tells you to do for each of the 36 different rows, the pattern will magically appear. This so intrigued me, that I began mulling on this as a metaphor for life; i.e., you might not understand everything, but if you just do what is commanded, etc., etc. etc.

This idea was explored in A.J. Jacobs’ The Year of Living Biblically, a humorous and touching book that I highly recommend. In an attempt to fully follow all commands in the Bible, he invited an Orthodox Jew over to his apartment to check his clothes for improper mixing of fibers (shatnez). This mentor, Mr. Berkowitz, believed that it was better not to try to understand God’s reasoning behind the traditions and laws. He even taught the rabbinically-approved way of putting on your shoes. “You put on your right shoe. Then your left shoe. Then you tie your left shoe. Then you go back and tie your right shoe.” That way you don’t waste any time thinking about it.

Just as Jacobs eventually gravitated toward a more liberal Judaism that encouraged questioning, I slowly came to realize that my blind obedience to The Chart was not going to work. If I followed the instructions to keep repeating the same 36 rows, some anchors would be directly on top of each other instead of off-set. After reasoning this through with my husband (a non-knitter, but one with an engineering-type brain) and my son (a non-knitter, but one who has a vested interest in the outcome of the project, so to speak), I ended up designing another 36 rows to make the anchors and stripe colors turn out right.

So what is the take-away message? Joel pointed out that Mark 12.30, “And you shall love the Lord you God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength,” includes ‘mind.’ So, whether in knitting or faith, it’s still necessary to think. And read a review of a book before buying it—doing so retrospectively, I learned that S ‘n B books are known for their errors.