Jewel Moore

Rainbow Sweater

Yarn over, insert hook into next stitch, pull up loop. Pull through two loops. Pull through two loops again. Repeat two more times. I silently follow my pattern, translating its shorthand in my head to complete the chains and double crochets to transform balls of yarn into beautiful crocheted projects. Once I memorize the pattern, the movement of my hands is almost automatic and my mind can focus: on my music, on the TV, on the tutorial I am watching for class. I cut the yarn to transition to another color and my project becomes more vibrant. My pride grows with my project. When I cut the yarn to bind off, the sense of accomplishment I feel is unparalleled. I perform my self-congratulatory ritual—cutting the yarn, tightening the knot, and holding up the complete-but-still-unfinished project—before I sew in the hanging threads, snipping the excess length from the longer ones. The scissors signal the finality of my actions. I can decide to rip out earlier stitches, to add length, or to make any change as I am working on my project, but scissors are the only tool that can permanently transform my project. They allow me to add color, transition to the arm of a sweater, and to bring my project to its finished state.