Touching the Past

Due to an abundance of coal, oil and other minerals in the area, Gillette, WY is booming town. Because housing is so tight, workers, today, often live in campers and families live in motel rooms. It was no different 38 years ago when I was assigned to complete eight weeks of student teaching in Gillette. I knew housing would be a problem, so I contacted the church to see if someone in the congregation would be willing to rent a bedroom for eight weeks. Mrs. Cannon, an elderly woman, graciously invited me to live in her home.

Mrs. Cannon was an accomplished knitter, and knitted doilies (the first I had ever seen) were displayed everywhere in her home. It wasn't long before she gave me the confidence to start one of my own. When I didn't have school obligations, Mrs. Cannon and I would knit together in the evenings. She was so proud when I finished my first doily (pictured above). It was my first experience with double-point and circular needles and even knitting lace.

I vowed to knit another doily, but for one reason or another, it didn't happen. Over the years I searched for knitted doily patterns and even downloaded several patterns I found online, but they became "someday" projects and never materialized. You can find some beautiful lace doily patterns here or shawl patterns like this beauty. Note the additional pages listed to the right of those pictured.

Someday, I hope to make this Spiral doily or this gorgeous Heirloom doily.

Last year, when I saw this book in Hobby Lobby, I decided I had to knit one of the easy patterns by the end of the year. I think Mrs. Cannon would approve of my efforts.

I've made great progress since this photo was taken, and now the edging is beginning to intimidate me. You see, I don't crochet and all of the projects in this book have a crochet bind-off. Since I am inept with a crochet hook, I am searching for an edge that can be knit.