Blogging and Babies

Conner Trew

Not an easy task taking care of babies and finding time to blog! Having traveled to sunny Florida to assist my brother-in-law and wife with their new twin babies and bringing plenty of knitting projects and my laptop I find that just checking email is a challenge.

The twins are just precious, one month old tomorrow, a boy and a girl. He is a big eater and burper, she, much more ladylike, eats with a little kissing sound. It's amazing how fast it comes back to you: the jiggling, patting, walking and bouncing. All to get a baby to sleep! I have been helping with Sienna, their three year old also. She is very sweet and easy to entertain.

Kayla Trew

It is super hot for me here in Florida. In checking the weather back home I find that the cold has finally come to Benson. High's around 40 and snow on the way, while I sweat in 75 degrees. Thank God for air conditioning! While you may be envious I tell you it is not all too comfortable when you are not used to the heat and humidity any longer.

Mark and Marissa have a comfortable house, with lots of fruit trees in there yard. Pineapples, bananas, mangos, oranges and advocados all for the taking by stepping outside. Amazing! I am sure my two weeks here will go very quickly but I do look forward to being home even if it is freezing!

Knitting Nite

Thick yarn, big hooks and an easy pattern were the order of the night at Swift Weaver's as 8 girls scouts and their 2 leaders stopped in to learn to crochet. Making a super chunky cowl neckpiece seemed an easy-to-do project for the girls and many of them caught on quickly. It is always a joy to be able to pass down the crafts to a new generation.

People have always knit or crocheted for many different reasons beyond just producing garments or giving gifts. There is a satisfaction in a job well done, surmounting a new or challenging project, learning a new technique, creating something beautiful, keeping busy, giving to charity, relaxing the mind, exercising the joints, and gathering with others. In this day and age it is so easy to be busy, busy, busy. Knitting and crocheting allow us to be "busy" in a relaxed way, recharging the body and spirit.

We have a dedicated group of knitter's who meet every Tuesday afternoon from 1p.m. to 3 p.m. here at Swift Weaver's. Originally the group began by knitting helmet liners for the men of the armed forces from our area who were to be deployed overseas. Over 600 hats were knit by the women of Benson and the surrounding area. It was amazing! Not having had enough of hats, they turned their attention to chemo caps. Inspired by different patterns and yarns many hats were made and donated to our own hospital here in Benson and also to Rice Hospital in Willmar. Some were and still are given out here at the shop directly to patients or relatives. A need for hats for dialysis patients at the hospital in Willmar has presented itself and we will be knitting for that cause in the coming months. Anyone wishing to participate may stop by Swift Weavers's for yarn or patterns. Don't knit or crochet? Donations for yarn purchase are also accepted.

What are your favorite reasons to knit or crochet? We'd love to hear from you!