In an attempt to do something to divert me from the never ending work that makes up my life I’ve taken up crocheting. It’s a lovely relaxing thing to have got into. There is something about the movement of the crochet hook that is deeply satisfying.
I’ve just finished a very long scarf for Trevor (Dr Who length). But finishing it was hard – I really didn’t want to finish it and found lots of little things to do it to prolong the inevitability of it being finished. Fiddling with the fringe, putting a single crochet row along the long edges, all prolonged it. But finished it is, and Trevor curled up on the lounge last night (it’s starting to get chilly at nights here) with it around him.
There is something delightful about seeing someone you love wearing something you’ve made for them. I think we’ve got out of the habit of this kind of “homeliness”, giving higher value instead to what is bought and expensive. I can see all the little faults in the scarf (it’s my first attempt), but it has a history now of Trevor and me sitting up late and doing the fringe together. And it will forever hold the memory of place – I made it for the 4 weeks of bitter bitter cold we get here to help keep Trevor warm as he runs about the place doing this and that.
Now I have started on a rug. Amie, our wonderful daughter-in-law taught me how to make a corner so now I am able to make a square, although very very roughly.
Trevor and I were having a conversation about making things and the desire to perfect your skills. My crochet work is definitely less that perfect. Out of that conversation rose talk of the Islamic approach to perfection – that is that only Allah is capable of perfection – in a sense of perfect unity.
Here is a delightful article about Islamic textile art. And a quotation from it:
“…. This is why the “mistakes” we see in kilims have significance: were the kilim-maker to become too proud of her own skill, to seek perfection in her work and too great importance upon her own abilities and creations, this would place her in danger. To be an act of devotion her work needs to show humility, an acknowledgement that her skill is given by God, her materials and leisure provided by God … any beauty which she creates from her labours is a small light from Allah, a hint of the unlimited beauty created by Allah in the next world”.
