Each year on September 11, we remember the lives that were lost, the families forever changed, and the extraordinary courage of so many.
But I also remember what happened afterward.
People reached for one another.
Neighbors helped neighbors. Strangers cared for strangers. People gave their time, their resources, and their hearts. In the midst of unimaginable sadness, we were reminded of something important: we need one another.
When I opened Knit Tuck & Purl, I hoped to create more than a yarn shop. I wanted it to be a place where people could come together and feel part of a community. What has grown here means so much to me. We knit together, learn from one another, celebrate each other’s accomplishments, and, most importantly, care about one another. We really, really care. And that is what makes this little shop so special. It’s not the size of the space that makes a community. It’s the people who fill it.
I think of Jane Aronson and Lesley Nemser, whom I met when I first opened the shop. Jane and Lesley have knit countless blankets and garments and donated them to people in need. Stitch after stitch, they give their time and talents simply to bring comfort to someone else.
As knitters, we know what goes into something made by hand. When you give it away, you are giving more than yarn. You are saying, “Someone is thinking about you. Someone cares.”
And caring doesn't have to be complicated. Check on someone. Ask how they're feeling. Ask how you can help. Listen. Give your time. Sometimes the smallest gesture can mean more than we realize.
Twenty-five years later, perhaps one of the most meaningful ways we can honor September 11 is to remember that lesson: take care of one another.
It is a lesson I see reflected in the community at Knit Tuck & Purl, and one I hope we will always carry with us.
One person. One act of kindness. One stitch at a time.
With love all my love,
Laurie Williamson
Knit Tuck & Purl
