Friday was hard. A credible threat saw our school in lockdown and I huddled in the dark with my class for three hours. Fortunately, no one was hurt. The weekend was all about recovery for all of us. I used yarn.
For the last few years, indie yarn dyers have been creating Advent calendars with small skeins of yarn. This was the first year I purchased one.
It arrived a few weeks ago. I opened the box to find my 24 minis, a full skein, and a list of colorways.
Saturday morning, I opened my first one.
I had decided to use the minis to knit a cowl called “Land Of Sweets”, which was designed for Advent calendar knitting. I cast it on and knit the eight rows of Day one. I knit another eight rows on Sunday, day two.
Monday morning was hard. I felt anxious before school, and when I arrived. We had a special schedule that started with the class with which we’d had to lockdown. We’d been given a script for a community circle and it worked beautifully. As the day wore on, things started to feel more normal. I had a late meeting after school, so didn’t get to knit my eight rows with day three’s yarn.
Tonight, I have a ticket to go see Tara Westover speak, so I will have to wait until tomorrow to knit day three and day four, which I opened this morning to discover had an extra treat.
I feel better about going to school today. A few kids stayed out yesterday and I hope they found a way to deal with their worry and anxiety so they can come back and start their healing process.
booksandbassets 
What a unique way to celebrate each day of Advent. I had gone through lock down drills when I was still teaching but never had to go through a real one. I can’t imagine the tension caused by something like this.
Mmm… I am a mess of feelings for you right now. I am sorry that you had the stress of a three-hour lockdown. That must have been really tough. I am glad that everyone is safe and it turned out well. And I am really impressed with the yarn advent calendar. Those minis and colorways are beautiful. I’ve never ordered one because I figure I’ll never have time to actually knit for myself during the holiday season, but – WOW! – this inspires me. Which brings me back to the lockdown: what an inspired way to deal with the stress and tension – you are creating a thing of beauty and reconnecting to the physical world. May the rest of the advent season be filled with your beautiful creation.
I am sorry to hear about the lockdown. How scary for everyone involved. Like Amanda, I am glad to hear that everything is okay.
I wish that I was a knitter! That sounds like a great challenge and a wonderful way to take some time for healing!
Thinking of you as you return each day to school. I hope that each day brings you all a bit closer to being able to breath and relax. It is so hard when school is suppose to be a safe haven.
I love the knitting – what a great way to celebrate the season but also to relieve stress.
Thank care and remember to breath.
Love your title and the advent calendar idea! Happy knitting!
Your title pun sent my emotions one way; the first paragraph, a completely different direction. My conclusion: You’re knit of stronger stuff than I. Hang in there, Adrienne.