I may never knit for myself again!

A couple of years ago, my mother-in-law moved into a nursing home. She suggested that I knit a few things and then she would see if anyone there would like to buy them, with the money going into Ray's account. We started with baby clothes; that may sound strange for a nursing home, but most of the residents there have large families that continually produce children, so there were plenty of takers for the little jackets and bonnets I sent over.

My mother-in-law has diabetic neuropathy. Her feet have swolen and are often cold. Shop-bought socks are too tight across the opening and dig into her ankles, so I said I would knit her a couple of pairs of socks myself. I knit fairly lose anyway but the openings are not at all tight.

People see my mother-in-law's socks because they are bright colours. I knitted a pair for the lady who has a room opposite my mother-in-law's for Christmas this year, as Candy is such a sweet lady and always pops her head round the door to say hello when I visit. Candy's socks were purple with mint hearts around the top.

Earlier this year, my dearest friend died. She was also a passionate knitter and had several pairs of hand-knitted socks that her husband and I agreed could go to the nursing home for the residents.

Today I got a letter from my mother-in-law. We talk on the phone every 10 days or so, but we also write conventional letters as well because it is too expensive for her to call me overseas. In her letter, she asks if I can knit the multi-coloured socks like the ones we sent from my friend, and has gven me a list of new colours that people at the nursing home would like their socks to be in. I knit them on double-pointed needles and we sell them for $5 which covers the yarn, and I'm really pleased that I can make something that so many people are finding useful.

It just means that I may never have the time to knit anything for myself ever again.