The Comfort of Home

How yarn crafted gifts can keep us connected to home

Over the next few weeks, many of us will see our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews heading off to university for the first time. And whilst we have a sense of pride and trepidation as they leave home to start the next stage of their lives, we shouldn’t forget that whilst they’re feeling excited, part of them will really miss the familiarity and security of home.

It’s certainly how I felt thirty one years ago! But one of the things that helped me keep my connection to home was my love of knitting. Amongst all the other preparation required for leaving home, I remember going on a shopping trip to Cheltenham with my Mum and we were going through the sales bins in the Rowan concession in Cavendish House to find aran yarn for a jumper and parka that I wanted to knit. I also remember hunting for toggles in various shops for the parka and then sitting at home knitting away and chatting to Mum at every opportunity until they were complete.

The pattern picture of the jumper I knitted and the parka as it is today...well worn and a little moth eaten now!

And then you travel to a new town or city where you will spend most of your time for the next 3, 4, 5 or even 7 years. Your first week away is strange. It’s a bit like you’re on holiday! You’re pushed together with strangers in halls of residence, you’re attending events designed to get you socialising (that’s the politest way I can put it!) and then you meet those on the same or a similar course. It’s not home though, and it’s not surprising that we all feel a little bit home sick for a while.

For me, I had my knits and knitting which gave me and still does give me that sense of connection to home. I remember that it was a pretty perfect autumn during my first few weeks in Bangor, North Wales so my comforting knits naturally had quite a few outings. But then so did quite a few hand knits or crocheted garments. Whether they were jumpers or hats or scarves they soon became conversation starters with complete strangers who then went on to become friends. And whilst I knitted my own, most of the knits I saw came with the same set of phrases: someone in their family had knitted or crocheted it for them. They weren’t just cosy things to wear, they were hugs from home.

I think sometimes we underestimate the power of connection that knitting and yarn craft provides. Whether it’s as a community with traditional styles that need to be preserved, whether it’s in physical or online groups where we learn and nurture friendships or where we create memories and comfort for our families. Every time we pick up our needles or hooks we are creating more than just garments, accessories and blankets, we’re putting ourselves into that work and reminding ourselves or the recipients of where we come from and that connection and comfort can stay with us for a very long time.

And when I was coming up with a new collection of aran scarves a couple of years ago, I wanted to capture the essence of those comforting knits from home for those heading off to university. The initial inspiration for my College Collection were college style scarves with a twist that I designed with the four universities that my partner, I and my sister had attended.

I’ll be writing more about this collection with its Oxford, Bangor, Aberystwyth and Bristol scarves and beanies in an upcoming Creative Journey post, but it won’t be long before another design is added to the collection because my nephew is heading off to Swansea in a couple of weekends time. And I hope that he, and those members of your family that are embarking on this next big adventure, will be able to find comfort in those little things that we provide…whatever they may be…from home.

Oxford scarf and beanie from my College Collection

Until next time…