You can always take up knitting ..... by Eileen Padmore

For decades my secret passions have been knitting and crochet. Not secret because I'm ashamed – more to do with growing up in a post war society that regarded knitting as only carried out by the desperately lonely or unfulfilled.

You've heard the knitting jokes:

'What will you do with yourself when you retire?'

'Lots, but never fear – I won't be sitting at home, knitting!'

Once it came from the pulpit via a curate who was urging the young to use their skills in service. He said, to a round of sniggers:

'Don't worry.  I'm not suggesting you take up knitting.'

Now, there is a resurgence of interest in handicrafts across the generations. I know because I've been in demand to teach family and friends. But I had no idea that God delights in all creativity and can use it in his service.

Then, on retreat, the gentle voice got through at last with the name 'Dorcas'. It persisted ...... 'til I looked her up. And there she was in Acts 9, stone cold dead in an upper room surrounded by wailing women who were showing each other all the things she's made for them.

Was I being prompted to make things for others?  Unlikely in this age of cheap machine made multi-production. What then? A year later the answer came when I found a beautiful book of prayer shawls in my favourite wool shop.

My new ministry started with a shawl for lovely friend Jean, riddled with rheumatoid arthritis and in constant pain. I prayed as it took shape from scraps of yarn and a design in my head. Not only did she completely understand the Christian symbolism, but was overwhelmed by the warmth and love. Her comment through tears: 'I feel I'm being hugged by God!' A few months later she died but not before explaining the symbolism to her non-christian family.

I found that in a variety of shapes, sizes and designs, shawls can comfort people during acute or chronic illness, hospitalisation, bereavement – and are great for celebrating birth, marriage and anniversaries. Nearly everyone can relate to prayer.

Now, others have joined me to create 'prayer shapes' accompanied by Bible texts and prayers.  A local hospice chaplain puts them in the chapel where demand by staff, patients and relatives tends to outstrip supply. They are also shared with our daily contacts and used in the local House of Prayer.

Since childhood, I've been fascinated by colour, texture, shape and design but had no idea these could be used in Christian service. Our creator lavished an extravagance of variety on his handiwork. We are 'fearfully and wonderfully made' in his image. Creativity is in our DNA.

This has been a transforming journey for me as well as a blessing for others. What a revelation to find that the master craftsman delights in such things and can use them alongside our writing, for his own purposes.

NB:  Like to know more? Here is the link to my brand new website/blog Benedict Unravelled: Reflections on a prayer shawl ministry



    Eileen Padmore has retired from a life spent in health care and academia, having worked in Sierra Leone, Zambia, Eire and Northern Ireland (in the troubles) as well as inner city Birmingham and Leeds. She has had articles published in Woman Alive, Christian Writer and contributed to the popular ACW Lent Book. Married to a professional musician, the family includes a feisty springer spaniel and a large African tortoise.

Comments

  1. Hello, Eileen. Your new blog has been well worth waiting for. I shall add it to the ones I follow and read. :-)

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  2. Love this, and will take a look at the Blog too. I wish I was better at knitting (my mother was a knitter and knitted socks for all the males in the family!) but could not do crochet so I didn't learn that- maybe I should try to teach myself now. Knitting is a great pursuit when getting over serious illness - I found after an emergency op and sepsis my concentration was very poor, but knitting a blanket made of squares, and then a hat, for an expected grandchild really helped my brain to get functioning again. Knitting is certainly not a wimpish activity, it engages our brains working with eye-hand co-ordination and some patterns are very complicated, and all are mathematical! And all that reflects God, who has designed such wonderful creatures and plants etc.

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  3. Thank you Susan and Claire. Yes, knitting and crochet combine art and mathematics. Its the latter that lets me down!

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  4. That's brilliant! I need to put you in touch with "the Knitting Granny", the lovely Diane McDonald, a retired vicar's wife who knits animals to help a local charity.

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    1. Thanks Ruth. The knitting Granny sounds interesting ......

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  5. oh my I tried to learn how to knit, but to no avail. I was all thumbs and clumsy. But making baby quilts I find soothing and comforting especially now. I believe every baby deserves his or her own quilt and I make them no larger than 3 feet by 3 feet so that they can drag/carry them where ever they go. Your pieces are amazing. Thanks for sharing them and your thoughts with us.

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    1. Yes, I led a group called 'Loose Threads' for a while, expecting people to share my vision - but everyone did their own thing. Some did twiddle muffs for the demented, others trauma teddies and then there were the neonatal squares. My midwife niece is asking for rainbow hats for newborn now. Crafting seems to have caught on!

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