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An older Black woman knits in her living room as a white Maltese sits tangled in strands of cream yarn among yarn balls. 6 / 26

Grandma Odessa Was Knitting a Little Square. Pearl Was Busy With a Project of Her Own.

AI imagemalteseknittingliving room

Balls of yarn in cream, caramel, and chocolate brown spill out of a wicker basket and across the rug. Grandma Odessa sits in her cozy living room in a moss green cardigan, glasses low on her nose, needles clicking as a little cream-colored square takes shape in her hands. She is smiling gently, entirely absorbed in her pattern. Meanwhile, Pearl has gotten herself thoroughly involved. Loose strands of yarn loop over her paws, drape across her back, and trail away in every direction, and she sits in the middle of the tangle looking up with an expression of perfect innocence.

Pets and yarn are a classic combination, but it is a pairing that deserves supervision. If a dog swallows a long strand of yarn or string, it can bunch up in the intestines and cause a serious blockage, which often requires veterinary care. Knitting needles and stitch markers are also hazards for curious mouths. A lidded yarn bowl or bag keeps the working strand protected, and tidying up between sessions removes temptation. For a long-coated breed like a Maltese, yarn fibers can also get caught in the fur, so a quick brush-through afterward helps prevent tangles of a different kind.

Pearl does not appear to be chewing anything, just sitting in the middle of it all and looking adorable, which is a talent in itself. Odessa will probably need a few extra minutes to untangle her helper before she can finish the row.

Whatever she is making, it is going to come with a lot of love and maybe a little white fur.

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