Stages of Grace - By Carey Heywood Page 0,67

first loop. I watch her work that first row. The stitches move from the first needle to the second needle with each new loop.

"When you finish each row, you just turn the needle and start over." Kate passes the needles to me and watches as I slowly make new stitches. When Kate knits, she barely looks at her hands. Me, I have to concentrate on making each new loop.

"Why are they getting so small? It's hard to even put my needle in the loop," I ask.

Kate leans over to look at my needles "Oh, you're working too close to the point. Make sure to put the needle further through to keep it from getting so snug. If you only work the point of the needle, the loops will be too small to push further onto the needle." To illustrate this, Kate holds up her shawl and slowly knits a couple of stitches.

I watch and try to duplicate Kate's movements, although not at her speed. I work to make my loops further down the needle and continue row by row. When I'm ten rows up, I count my stitches and see I now have twenty-seven, not twenty-five. When I show Kate, my mouth drops as Kate begins unraveling all of the work I have just done. I had added two stitches somewhere along the way, and Kate tells me to count each stitch to ensure I won't do it again. But all that work? I take my scarf back and now count each stitch. I am concentrating so intently I don't hear Ryan walk in.

"And what are you making, Grace?"

I jump.

"I didn’t mean to startle you. You scare easy, or I'm truly a ninja"

I laugh "I'm sorry. A ninja? Really? I just—never mind. I'm making a scarf," I say proudly, holding up my knitting.

Ryan touches the ribbing delicately. "It's lovely, Grace."

I flush. "I have an excellent teacher."

"Yeah, Kate's brilliant. Did you know she made me a sweater?"

"I did not." I turn to look at Kate.

Now it’s Kate's turn to blush. "It was nothing."

"I'll hear none of that. It's my favorite one."

I look down and smile, adding row after row to my scarf. I have little to add to Kate and Ryan's conversation. It's hard to talk to someone while looking down the whole time and counting in my head. They don’t seem to mind. Hopefully Kate can tell I'm enjoying my work. I eventually set it aside to help her with dinner while Ryan sets the small table by the pool. This time, I’m a more active participant during our meal.

"How was work?"

"Good. Not very busy," he gestures to the sky. It's somewhat overcast.

The sky is dark gray with heavy clouds that threaten rain. "Did it rain?"

"Not here. Closer to work, yes."

My first day without sun in Florida. It certainly fits my mood. I clear the table then go back to my scarf. There is something in the repetitive needle, loop, pull, count that soothes me. Kate and Ryan stay at the table, chatting over wine and occasionally looking over at me. Before long, the scarf is the length of my arm. I stop and proudly hold it up to show them. Kate comes over to sit by me to inspect it. I hold my breath, fearing she will unravel it again. Instead, she calls me a natural and hands it back to me.

Ryan excuses himself not long after, and we go inside. I stay up, working on my scarf. There is something thrilling in taking loose string and making something tangible with it. I can wear this, maybe not often in Florida, but still. I am making something I can actually wear. After getting up to go to the bathroom, I’m surprised to see how late it is. Setting my project aside, I go to sleep. I had not known how tiring knitting could be. That, with the late hour, gives me little trouble sleeping.

The scent of coffee wakes me the next morning. I look out the window. It's still gloomy, but I can see a hint of sun trying to break through. I wash up before heading into the kitchen. After pouring myself a cup of coffee, I join Kate by the pool. Kate had made a plate of fruit and cheese with a loaf of pear bread on the side. There is plenty for the both of us. I thank Kate when she hands me a smaller plate.

"Did you stay up knitting?"

"I did. My scarf is almost twice