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I was somehow roped into this whole business nearly 2 years ago by an acquaintance who was wearing a beautiful poncho I admired. She told me she made it and next thing I know I was sitting with her in the Designer Yarn shop on Tico. There I was with a ball of alpaca fur and a pair of beginner knitting needles that were so big I could have used them as crutches. She demonstrated for me and I was so envious. Her hands and fingers moved delicately and gracefully and churned out a beautiful pattern in no time. It was like I was watching a perfectly choreographed dance. Despite her encouragement and tutelage, I was an abysmal failure. My hands and fingers jabbed, mangled and twisted. She watched in horror. I kept it up, though, returning each week, with dropped stitches here, missed stitches there. I missed a week with her and could not figure out how to get off the needles, so I kept on knitting. I eventually ended up with a hideous four inch by ten foot long scarf. I still wear it like a red badge of courage.

I’d like to think I have excelled at the craft since then. The real reason I knit, though: it quiets the mind. It’s very relaxing and contemplative. I guess it’s a form of meditation, which makes for a perfect fit in Ojai, although I have yet to try the real thing (that’s a whole other article - someday).

A group of friends starting up a knitting circle recently and I absolutely balked. I’m sorry, but as the archetypal anti-Martha, I just could not see myself in this seemingly stereotypical homemaker role, cackling and crafting with a bunch of Martha’s. I relented and showed up last night with a ball of yarn and needles. I think someone even remarked, “Lisa, those needles are HUGE!”

By eight o’clock, a half dozen of us were gathered around in a circle, wine flowing, hors d’oeuvres passing and just knitting like banshees. I forgot how to get my project started, so a friend helped me “cast on.” Conversations ensued, the tenor falling somewhere comfortably between “Sex and the City,” and “The View.” I soon realized I was in the esteemed company of a group of dynamic and brilliant women. Whatever was happening with the needles was so insignificant. Girl power was building up inside me. We are WOMEN and we KNIT.

If you want to start Zen Knitting, head on over to Ben Franklin on Maricopa Highway, or to Designer Yarns on Tico. Just make sure someone shows you how to get off the needles!