Last week my friend Sharon passed away. She was the same age as me and was far too young to die.
Some of you may remember her as I posted pictures of her wedding in Ireland on my blog at the time.
Sharon, my friend Jacqui and I used to work together. Both of them decided to learn to knit and so they both came, at different times, to Liberty to learn. Yvonne was the one who taught Sharon. Sharon was left handed, Yvonne is right handed and so teaching her was no mean feat.
She took to knitting quickly. I don't think that I have ever met anyone who started stashing so much within so little time. Jacqui and I used to tease her saying that she really should finish a project before buying the yarn for the next five projects.
A while later when Sharon came to Liberty, I noticed that her stitches were twisted. It looked quite pretty but it wasn't stocking stitch as it should be. Being me, I blurted out 'Oh you've twisted your stitches!'. I can't tell you how much I wish I hadn't. Sharon was really upset, she'd been so proud of her knitting and was now convinced that it was all wrong.
As far as I can remember, she put her knitting to one side and I don't think that she knitted much from then on.
Then when Sharon first got ill, she decided that she wanted to learn to knit 'properly'. So I took a copy of my "Stitch and Bitch", a pair of bamboo needles and some Cashmerino Aran and sat in the hospital teaching her to knit without twisting her stitches. It was quite slow and hard going as she was already very ill but she got there in the end and knitted a row without help.
She didn't knit after that day, her illness was too far advanced and she couldn't hold the needles or concentrate for long enough.
I wanted to remember Sharon and her knitting here.
Posted by Amelia at May 20, 2007 08:50 PMAmelia, I am so sorry about that multiple message, I don't know what happened and it couldn't have happened on a more unfortunate message. I was not meaning to be insensitive!
Posted by: linda at June 1, 2007 10:19 AMSorry, missed out an 'in' there.
Posted by: Linda at June 1, 2007 09:42 AMI'm sure she'll be knitting Heaven.
Posted by: Linda at June 1, 2007 09:41 AMI'm so sorry about your friend Sharon. In September I lost one of my closest friends and it is hard. I'm glad you have good memories.
Posted by: Theresa at May 28, 2007 04:14 PMI'm so sorry . . . It's awful to lose a friend at any age, let alone a young one. My best wishes with you, and her friends and family, during this time.
Posted by: Ria at May 27, 2007 11:02 PMOnce again Amelia, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend Sharon. Hard to believe how quickly one can go from getting married a few years ago to no longer being with us. My thoughts are with you.
Posted by: Maggie at May 25, 2007 05:25 PMSo sorry to hear about your loss. You remembered her in a lovely way. x
Posted by: Carol at May 25, 2007 02:21 PMSo sorry to hear about your friend Amelia. You have written in a beautiful and sensitive way and I hope you have lots of wonderful memories of Sharon.
Love Sarah
Posted by: Sarah at May 25, 2007 10:03 AMAmelia I knew Sharon too, she was so happy and bubbly, its a tragic story. Sending out cyber hugs to you and to all of Sharons family.
Sharon x
So very sorry to hear your sad news. One of my younger sister's friends died last week too, at the age of 41. She fought and fought and even organised her own funeral, right down to the music and telling everyone via her obituary, that nobody was to wear black but to wear pink at the funeral. If such things can be beautiful, the event yesterdaywas just that.
Posted by: Chris Smith at May 24, 2007 07:37 PMDear Amelia, I was so sorry to read the news about your friend's death. The pain is non the less for it being expected. It was very touching to read of you helping her rediscover knitting in hospital and it must have meant a great deal to her. Her pain is over now. Love, Susie xxx
Posted by: Susie Hewer at May 24, 2007 11:15 AMI am so sorry to read your very sad news. Please accept my sincere condolences, and my love.
Posted by: Emma at May 24, 2007 09:55 AMI'm so sorry to hear about your friend :(
Posted by: Frida at May 24, 2007 09:50 AMIt is so sad to lose such a lovely friend in such a way. Your memories of her will live on, and as Jill as already said, it will mean a lot to her family, and to you, if you can keep in touch with them and share the memories of how much she meant to you.
Posted by: Pauline at May 24, 2007 08:52 AMI'm sorry to hear such sad news.
Posted by: Kathleen at May 24, 2007 07:51 AMTry to remember the goods time you shared. Sharon was a lovely girl, I sat next to her when we went out to dinner in honour of your birthday some years ago. You have been devoted throughout her illness and she was lucky to have had you as a friend. Hugs x
Posted by: Jacinta at May 23, 2007 12:47 PMSo sorry to read about Sharon. I know how you feel as one of my friends also passed away 2 weeks ago. Take care.
Posted by: Ann at May 23, 2007 02:15 AMquelle tristesse de perdre une amie - bon courage
Posted by: vivi's mum (Brussels) at May 22, 2007 03:32 PMSo sorry to hear your sad news of your friend, take care of yourself.
Posted by: yvette at May 22, 2007 09:07 AMIt's always a shock when someone dies, even though you are expecting it. Take care of yourself, dear Amelia, keep in touch with her family so the grief can be shared, and remember her how she was. Love, Jill
Posted by: Jill at May 22, 2007 08:18 AMI'm so very sorry to hear about your friend.
Posted by: Kim at May 22, 2007 12:49 AMIt is so sad when someone so young loses their life. Taking the time to remember them is the best thing to do, because their life is part of your life, and part of the journey too. I think Sharon will always be thankful that you helped her learn something that she wanted to be able to do in her life too, and it is wonderful that you posted about her too. Sending hugs to you and your friends.
Posted by: Sue at May 22, 2007 12:22 AMOh Amelia - I'm so terribly sorry for you and Sharon's family but glad for her that she's not struggling any more. From what you told me in April she must have been a real fighter and she so clearly had a lot to live for, which can only make her loss more painful. Take care of yourself and all the others around you who loved Sharon.
Heather x
Posted by: Heather at May 21, 2007 08:16 PMI'm so sorry to hear about your friend.
Posted by: Steph at May 21, 2007 07:12 PMi'm so sorry - you both will be in my thoughts.
Posted by: melissa at May 21, 2007 06:54 PMhugs amelia... big hugs!
Posted by: stinkerbell at May 21, 2007 06:28 PMI'm so sorry to hear of your loss, Amelia, and that of Sharon's family. Thanks for sharing your memories of her with us--they're such a precious thing when someone has passed.
Posted by: Amy at May 21, 2007 05:27 PMI'm so sorry about your friend!
Posted by: Wendy at May 21, 2007 04:01 PMSuch sad news Amelia. I'm so sorry for you, Sharon's family and all her friends. Sending you lots of love at a very difficult time.
Posted by: Mary at May 21, 2007 03:59 PMLosing a friend is terribly sad and I am very sorry for you and her family. Keep her alive and smiling in your memories...
Posted by: francoise at May 21, 2007 12:34 PMI'm so sorry to hear your sad news, losing a friend like this, is so difficult to come to terms with, especially so young too. My thoughts are with you, Take care Tracy x
Posted by: Tracy at May 21, 2007 11:19 AMHi Amelia, I'm so sorry to hear the sad news about your friend. She was so young and it seems so unfair.
I remember her coming to Libertys and her twisted knitting, which actually looked very pretty.
Condolences to both you and her family.
Jan xxx
Hi Amelia, this is such sad news, it's so difficult to lose a good friend at such a young age, especially in these circumstances, my thoughts to you, her family and her other friends.
Posted by: dawn at May 21, 2007 08:49 AMAmelia.....thank you for posting the link to her beautiful wedding picture, for that is how she will be remembered by your readers !
condolences to you and her family...
Posted by: barbara at May 21, 2007 02:45 AMOh Amelia, how awful for you and her family. I'm so sorry and I'll keep you all in my thoughts.
Posted by: Shanti at May 21, 2007 02:19 AMI am so sorry to hear about your friend. She was so young to die. Take care.
Posted by: Diane at May 21, 2007 02:06 AMOh Goodness me, how terrible. As hard as it may seem remember her as she looks in the wedding photo. She is beautiful. I'm so sorry. Ann
Posted by: Ann at May 21, 2007 01:59 AMoh gosh. I'm so very sorry to hear this Amelia. I don't know what to say, apart from to give my sympathies, and say how sorry I am for your loss. I'm always reminded that there can be no love without the risk of pain, and the pain of a friend being taken so soon is so very, very raw. Please take care of yourself.
anna
x
How sad for you and Sharon's friends. You're right, too young to die.
Posted by: Sam at May 20, 2007 10:29 PMHere *is* a good place to remember her. I'm sorry to hear the sad news, although I never met her.
Hugs.
~x~