How Knitting Helped Me Shape My Writing Life

Chai! Make I yarn you wetin happen for my life…

For 2020, na when I dey jam writer’s block like say na my ex dey chase me with cutlass. I waka enter my grandmother house for Queens becos I no get work, after finishing my MFA. Na there I pick one ball of yarn and needles wey dey gather dust, I never sabi as e go take work o.

I carry my phone jam YouTube, wetin I dey learn from. As I dey try purl, I dey wonder whether my yarn dey play video game, because stitches dey multiply like rabbits for my hand. I learn say e good make person gather vibes, so I enter one virtual knitting circle. Na there I see people wey dey carry different projects, from beginners wey dey try their first scarf to veterans wey dey knit bombastic things.

This woman wey dey rock fine cardigan talk say make you no allow anybody tell you wetin you fit do. Na the project wey sweet you, no matter how wahala e go bring, go teach you how to carry your skills better. I carry her advice for mind o.

I download pattern for fingerless gloves wey too strong for me, but I no fear. I dey watch video like say na my life depend on am. My stitches dey rough, but I no dey vex again. I dey enjoy the process rather than the final work.

When I finally finish those gloves, I dey see glory! E fit small and dey have one thread wey dey loose, but as I wear am go buy bagel, I feel like I dey touch sky. As I dey give my hand warmth, my spirit dey rise too.

Na so I begin to write again, like the way I dey knit. I no dey bother myself about perfection again, I just dey enjoy the journey. I start to take risks for my writing, just like when I dey pick yarns wey dey shine bright.

Fast forward five years later, I dey wear those gloves every winter, and every time I see them, I dey remember the journey. I don move go Texas, start PhD and life don change wahala. I get new pals, get engaged, dey travel far and even teach writing. Crew!

Even when trials show face, Iyawo wahala no go fit stop me. I just dey use that season for my life to remind myself say progress dey come wey we no fit see. I no just dey count my gifts for heart now, e dey move me to become better person.

So as I dey knit new cowl, I just dey focus on my vision and let good tings dey flow. Na so life be, no matter the rain wey fall, we go still find way to smile and create better stories for our lives. E no easy, but e dey worth am.