Some deaths hit harder than others. Usually it’s a tough loss for me when I feel as though someone has contributed an enormous amount to this life.

A Tough Loss – Rest In Well-Deserved Peace Fredda

It was over 20 years ago. I got to know Fredda Peritz through my blog. The blog was only a few years old at the time and Fredda had been one of the early adopters of QueerJoe. She was also a big supporter of getting Franklin to Rhinebeck for his first time. In 2005, Fredda was in the process of creating an online space for knitting patterns called The Knitting Vault. It was two years prior to when Ravelry would launch, so many designers (me included) started marketing and selling our patterns there.

Fredda lived in Albany, New York and I was working up in that area. She arranged to meet for lunch (or coffee maybe?) and she also invited Lucy Neatby. I can’t knit and socialize at the same time but Lucy sure could. She was working on a bias-knit scarf with beads. The beads on one side of the scarf displayed on the horizontal and the beads on the other side displayed vertical. Fredda and I were both quite amazed that Lucy could knit this garment while actively engaged in the conversation. I share this example of Fredda because it reminds me of the joy and support she had for a community I loved. She was really quite extraordinary.

Fredda’s daughter Tania wrote to me yesterday to let me know that she had passed on June 19th.

Goodbye to a Remarkable Person

I have a theory about death and the afterlife. In short, I think the essence or energy of every living being goes back to the universe when they die and one universal law is that there needs to be an overall balance. So when the universe needs more wit, intelligence, sanity, humor and love, it takes someone like Fredda.

While I still have a hole in my heart where her love and support once was, I know I can always call on the universe to regain balance when I need to, and Fredda’s energy will be there.

Part of that return to the universe includes returning fiber-work.

Current Knitting/Spinning

In addition to continuing work on the sock with handspun yarn, I also started spinning some more bulky yarn.

I’m getting close to turning the heel on the sock and still loving the helical striped fabric. The spinning fiber is a very darkly dyed merino roving (black, navy and some light grey). I’m debating on whether I’ll ply it with a completely different color or stick with the deep midnight color throughout.