La Conner Weekly News - Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper

Monday I was watching CBS morning news and they did a short piece on a group of quilters in Mississippi carrying on the traditions of creating stories through quilting. It got me to thinking about the traditions we have learned being lost.

Many of us have learned from family to create, whether it be quilting, knitting, woodworking, sculpting, beading, pottery, blacksmithing or other “from the heart through your hands” creative endeavors. Those of us that are lucky enough to be able to carry on these traditions have an obligation to teach our younger population. Many of us are retired and have the time to devote to our hobbies but we also have the time to “spread the word” how these hobbies can be therapy and very satisfying.

I, for one, am available any time to teach knitting and offer support to new knitters. I would love other people to volunteer in some way to do the same with their craft. Please don’t let the traditions of our ancestors be lost. So much can be learned and taught through craft, both by the student and the teacher.

Linda Peterson

La Conner