Notions Therapy

Day Four (Thursday 15th May): Conversations Between Workers.
Start by writing a few short paragraphs from the point of view of one of the tools you use for your craft. this might be a spinning wheel, crochet hook, pair of scissors or your knitting bag. These first few lines should include a description of this tool’s task and usage. If you are feeling particularly in tune with this item you might assign it feelings.

Then, write a dialogue between yourself and this item. It might describe your relationships, the annoyances that you have felt for this item at some point (or could it have possible ever have felt annoyances with you) and the wonderful work that you have created together.

I decided to put my own spin on this prompt since I neglected yesterday’s. I decided to write as if one my petulant darning needles (they just disappear everywhere, couches, backpacks, you name it I’ve probably lost one in it) was going to therapy.

The scene: A cozy bedroom with slightly purple walls, an armchair with a teenage knitter in it and an end table with a few framed pictures on it and knitting magazines in the side holders. On top of the table, in front of a lamp are a porcupine pin cushion, a stitch marker and a darning needle.

Cleo: Hello everybody and welcome to this week’s Notions Therapy.

Notions: Hello Cleo.

Cleo: I see we have a new face with us today. Can you tell us your name and what kind of notion you are?

Daryl: Hello my name’s Daryl and I’m a darning needle.

Cleo: Why don’t we have everyone else introduce themselves to Daryl? I’ll start. I’m Cleo and I’m a knitter.

Penny: Hello, my name’s Penny and I’m a pin cushion.

Marcus: Hello, my name’s Marcus and I’m a stitch marker.

Daryl: Hello everybody.

Cleo: So Marcus, at the end of last session we were talking about how you felt like your relationship with Nina was on-again-off-again. Care to continue?

Marcus: Yeah, every time she comes around she just leaves right away. Zoom! Onto the next stitch, no time for me.

Cleo: Well, you know that’s how circular needles can be… They’re just going around and around… But they’ll always come back to you. You just have to decide if this relationship is the kind you want. And if not? Maybe get to know the nice stitches to your left and right. Penny leans forward

Penny: You think you have a crappy relationship? I can’t seem to get anyone to stick around. Gesturing wildly A few pins fly out. Everyone ducks. As soon as I get them whipped into shape they leave.

Cleo: Do you think, Picks a pin out of her hair, maybe that you’re being to controlling?

Penny: Yeah I know. Sighs. It’s just so hard to find a nice lace piece these days. Looks pointedly at Cleo.

Cleo: Guilty as charged. I just don’t have the patience for lace.

Daryl: At least you get to be involved with the knitting. I just tie up everybody’s loose ends. Slumps in his seat.

Cleo: You could look at it like that. Or, you could think of yourself as the one who holds everything together.

Daryl: Yeah, that’s true. Sits up straighter.

Cleo: Looks at watch We don’t have a lot of time left, before we end this meeting is there anything you would like to add?

Penny: Knit something lace.

Daryl: With a lot of seaming.

Marcus: In the round.

Cleo: I’ll see what I can do.