A story in a scarf

My friend Wheelwright suggested that I create a design that spoke of forgiveness “in a language that knitters would understand”.
I spent a few weeks pondering design elements, shapes, construction ideas … and eventually it came to me.
There is a seed stitch border – because we all carry the seeds of violence and the seeds of peace within us. One of the Quaker Queries on the Peace Testimony relates to this:

We are called to live 'in the virtue of that life and power that takes away the occasion of all wars'. Do you faithfully maintain our testimony that war and the preparation for war are inconsistent with the spirit of Christ? Search out whatever in your own way of life may contain the seeds of war. Stand firm in our testimony, even when others commit or prepare to commit acts of violence, yet always remember that they too are children of God.

The seeds of war are held in our anger and our grudges and our refusal to let go of injury. We need to seek out those seeds, and put them aside in favour of the seeds of peace.
There is also a knot – anger and hurt feel like a knot inside your chest. The knitted pattern gradually untangles itself, though, as our own inner knots can be unwound when we listen to our hurts and give ourselves time to heal.
The untwisted knot becomes a vine – because when we let go of our anger and choose forgiveness for ourselves and others, we can start to grow again.
Mathanas is the Gaelic word for forgiveness.

Available now on Ravelry