It started when I spotted some skeins of mossy-colored yarn for sale at Wool Worth in Callicoon. “Hmmm, I think I’ll try knitting,” I said to myself. “Or I’ll just buy this and never use it and then eventually give it away. Probably the latter.” 

And then, after making my purchase, I realized that I didn’t know how to knit, and even worse, owned no needles. And so, I took lessons, a group class, with Leila at Wool Worth, a cozy, colorful shop that harkens back to better times. She provided the needles and ‘practice’ yarn as part of the course.

Leila is a patient and experienced teacher, and I am an unruly and very impatient student. And when she mentioned that some of her sweaters took up to 30 hours to finish, I began wondering if I had that kind of time especially considering how much of it I spend in doctor’s offices. 

“Waiting rooms are a good place to do knitting,” advised Leila. I refrained from telling her that there is no wait at the chemo infusion facility. It’s like a factory. And while I’m getting an infusion, I can’t imagine moving my arms. However, I did discover a time that’s been working for me, and that’s midnight because often, for nights after an infusion and coming up to scans and doctor’s reports, I have trouble sleeping and so I have become The Midnight Knitter.

You may recall the Allman Brothers song, The Midnight Rider? Written by Robert Kim Payne and Gregg Allman, it’s one of my favorite.  And it goes like this…

Well, I’ve got to run to keep from hidin’

And I’m bound to keep on ridin’

And I’ve got one more silver dollar

But I’m not gonna let ‘em catch me, no

Not gonna let ‘em catch the midnight rider

And I don’t own the clothes I’m wearing

And the road goes on forever

And I’ve got one more silver dollar

But I’m not gonna let ‘em catch me, no

Not gonna let ‘em catch the midnight rider

And I’ve gone by the point of caring

Some old bed I’ll soon be sharing

And I’ve got one more silver dollar

But I’m not gonna let ‘em catch me, no

Not gonna let ‘em catch the midnight rider

To the same tune, my parody, The Midnight Knitter, goes like this…

Well, I’m gonna knit until I’m sleepin’

Restless hands will keep decreasin’’

And when I’ve one last silver stitch in

Sleep’s gonna come to catch me, yeah

Yeah, sleep’s gonna come to catch, the midnight knitter

And I will knit the clothes I’m wearing

Herringbones and ribs forever

And when I’ve one last silver stitch in

Sleep’s gonna come to catch me, yeah

Yeah, sleep’s gonna come to catch, the midnight knitter 

And I’ve gone by the point of caring

If my rows are good for sharing

And when I’ve one last silver stitch in

Sleep’s gonna come to catch me, yeah

Yeah, sleep’s gonna come to catch, the midnight knitter

I’ve yet to finish a sweater, but then again, I’ve only just begun. (Hmmm, I’ve Only Just Begun could be another parody). And in the quiet of the night, I’m actually enjoying knitting even though I swore time and again, during class, that I would “only do this once!”

“You never know,” Leila kept saying while I cursed my way through knit one, purl two. “I’m just sticking with knit one,” I told her. “Well that means you’ll have a…blah blah blah every blah blah blah blah,” she replied, and obviously I didn’t catch what she said (something about a stray purl?) because my response was “Great! I love a blah, blah, blah.” And now, The Midnight Knitter, dreams of different sized needles, all kinds of stitches, and an array of colorful yarn as she drifts off to sleep.

RAMONA JAN is the Founder and Director of Yarnslingers, a storytelling group that tells tales both fantastic and true. She is also the roving historian for Callicoon, NY and is often seen giving tours around town. You can email her at callicoonwalkingtours@gmail.com.