While out shopping for a sweater to dress a tree (more about this on a later post) the green one presented itself in a thrift store for $2 (half price on long- sleeved tops) and I could not resist the colour and the feel of the orange one as well. It is hand knit and I intended to frog it for the yarn which I think is a blend of wool and silk.
I washed it when I got it home and it was drying on the deck with myself beside it reading and having a cup of tea. The book was interesting but I kept looking at the sweater. At the zipper. The zipper would have to be removed before I could start to return the sweater to yarn.
After several slides of eyes from book to sweater I got up and got the small scissors and stood and slowly cut away the zipper from the sweater; standing because sweater was wet and I couldn't put it on my lap; slowly because whoever had sewn it had done it randomly and then neatly tacked the zipper edge onto the sweater; there were many stitches to be clipped.
Whereas I had been trying to read but 'distacted' by the sweater I was now wholeheartedly snipping contentedly away – but I did not realize this just then.
When I freed the zipper from the sweater and put it on the table on the deck to dry I went back to the book. Again the zipper kept catching my eyes, this time with its many bits and pieces of clipped orange thread still adhering to it.
This time I 'got it' more quickly and with less resistance. And as I sat there in the sun and slowly (there were lots and lots of threads and I felt no rush) picked off the orange pieces I became aware of the happiness in such a small event. And wondered why.
Another aspect was the fact that as I picked off the threads I was letting them fall onto the deck, watched them collect colourfully on the wood floor, knew they would eventually blow away in the wind or be washed away by the rain onto the garden and earth below. The freedom of such behaviour outdoors has always delighted me.
Increasingly I am finding satisfaction in completing an activity and having something to show for it that makes me feel good. I have spoken with others of my age and situation in life and most agree. Maybe it is that with the time of jobs and childrearing behind us we still have a need to feel productive but now in ways of our own choosing. Many of us are focusing more on this journey of self and can open to more awareness of the 'details'. Taking pleasure in small things is certainly part of it and realizing how enriched each moment can be when we pay attention.
Once I had picked all the threads off the zipper there was no hesitation to stand up and remove the cut threads from the sweater.
And as I did so I felt more and more the time and effort that had gone into the making of this sweater, began to feel a kinship with whoever had done do, and decided not to frog it but to wear it.
It was still wet when I went and got this closure and attached it to see how it would look. It looked just fine as well when it was dry and I could try it on.
What I've used is a crochet hook. It is old and lovely but two others I have like it broke as I was using them so I have decided not to crochet with this one but use it as decoration, sort of like putting an old horse out to pasture.