Knitting in the Bath
Two nights ago I dreamt that I was knitting in the bath.
This is not something I’d ever thought about doing in my waking life, so I wondered what the dream meant. A friend suggested that perhaps I needed to relax - and this was my brain’s way of combining two of the most relaxing activities it could think of. Which makes sense …except that I am not really a bath enthusiast, and don’t find them particularly relaxing. Wet, messy, boring, prep and clean-up intensive - yes. Relaxing -not so much.
Still, curious as to why I had this particular dream, I decided to try and figure it out by recreating it. Last night was that rare occasion when my daughter was away at a sleepover. And so I ran a bath, grabbed my knitting, and opened my mind to profound self-discovery.
Notes on Knitting in the Bath…
Okay, so firstly it can be done. You need to plan the logistics strategically:
. Prior to getting in, place the knitting just outside the bathtub, where you can easily reach it from within.
. Prepare a hand-towel or two, placed in the same location.
. Get into the bathtub, do all the bubbly/soapy things. Then once you are settled in and ready to knit, wipe your hands dry using the towel.
. Reach for your knitting and proceed to knit - with the project hanging to the outside of the bath tub. You will likely need to twist your torso a bit to accomplish this!
. If the bath requires your attention, set the knitting down in its designated place outside the bathtub, deal with the bath stuff, and then dry your hands on the towel before picking up the needles again.
Basically you just need to make sure that your hands are dry, and that your project does not get into the water. It is doable.
But of course ‘doable’ does not mean enjoyable. And I cannot say I found any benefit from combining the two activities. The knitting distracted me from the bath. The bath distracted me from the knitting. And maybe that was the meaning to my dream.
Not everything can, or should be multitasked.
Sometimes One Thing at a Time is the more relaxing and helpful approach.
