Wednesday, January 03, 2007

7!

The title of the latest (and last) Harry Potter book was announced recently. Although there is no confirmed release date yet for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, I've started rereading all the books, just so I can, you know, be prepared and up to date when it finally comes out. And I can't be the only one who is currently shopping for yarn that perfectly matches her Hogwarts house colors, right? (Go Ravenclaw!!!) Why is finding quality gold yarn such a pickle? But all in the name of having the perfect scarf and sweater set to wear to the release party at Powells Books.

Since I first picked up Harry Potter, I was captivated by the idea of the simple and practical magic. No ridiculous sci-fi fairy bullshit. JK Rowling managed to capture magic as humans would actually apply it to their daily lives; ways in which we would use it to aid us and improve our quality of life. Something routine and normal. I've wished many times that I had a magic wand and could perform spells. But the other day I had an epiphany while knitting on the socks and reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in German: knitting is whole lot like magic. I don't need a magic wand, I've got knitting needles. I don't need to say the right words, I can curse alot and threaten the yarn. I don't need to have a recipe, I've got a pattern. With two wooden sticks and some wooly ingredients, I'm somehow able to concoct a finished product. I'm not scientific and if asked, I couldn't explain to you what a stitch looks like or how they all fit together or why it doesn't all just come unravelled. Somehow, it just.......works. Somehow, with two wooden sticks, I am able to tie a long piece of string into a knot so complicated it takes shape and stays that way. I decide what I want the end result to be, I choose the right ingredients and start brewing. If I follow the recipe just right (and try to control my frequent urges to change the recipe) I will have created just what I wanted. Don't ask me how..... its like magic.