Friends and family often comment on how much knitting I do. Maybe they think I sit around all day knitting while the kids tool around the house unsupervised. I’ll admit that I do knit a lot but usually not during the day. I’ll get up early, brew a pot of coffee and knit until the Mag wakes up. Sometimes I get twenty or thirty minutes of knitting time, sometimes on the very good days, over an hour.
Then I always knit at night for a while. Early bedtimes = more knitting time (and happier kids, but I digress). Sure, there are times during the day where I might sit and knit for a few minutes, but usually nothing more than a quick break between cleaning or washing or playing or reading or wiping.
Unless I’m this.close to finishing a big project. Then I’m the rule breaker.
It was last Tuesday when I spent the day knitting. Sure, I cleaned the house and read books to the kids, and prepared meals. But the focus was knitting. I knit every spare moment I could find.
I just had to get the lump of yarn…
…off the needles and pinned out…
…and call it done.
It’s a strange thing, isn’t it? You have been knitting on a fun project and the end is nearing so you speed up. You can’t wait to cast off that last stitch, grab the thing firmly with both hands, shake it a few times and hold it up for all to see. Glorious feeling. Finished!
But wait for the sadness, because surely it will come. Not groundbreaking sadness, but still. It’s a little tug in the back of your mind that tells you to pick up the thing, try it on a thousand times, show your husband again, squish it, fold it, take pictures of it for your blog, try it on a different way this time because you don’t want to be all done right yet.
I’m over it now. I knit it, enjoyed it, and now I don’t even know where the darned thing is. Something new will come and I’ll start the cycle over again. Man, I love knitting.
Pattern: Leaf Lace Shawl by Evelyn Clark for Fiber Trends (S-2010).
Yarn: Araucania Nature Wool, color 27. 2 skeins.
Needles: US 8.
Start: June 30, 2007.
Finish: July 11, 2007.
Finished size: 67″ across top, 28″ deep. I completed eight repeats of chart 2 to get this size on size 8 needles and used only 2 skeins of the Nature Wool.

And for the record, I am still not a shawl person.


















28 responses so far ↓
Ashley // July 17, 2007 at 10:09 pm |
Wow, that is really beautiful–it’s the perfect color yarn for that pattern!
twinsunplus1 // July 17, 2007 at 11:33 pm |
That turned out great. You’ll meet someone who needs that shawl. The color is really nice, it shows the lace pattern off so well.
Congrats!
Peggy // July 18, 2007 at 1:11 am |
It’s beautiful! I love your self portraits, the wool even matches our eyes… but I imagine that was unplanned.
And I completely agree about knitting- knit like crazy until it’s done, then applause, then who cares? there’s something else to knit!
Leslie // July 18, 2007 at 7:52 am |
It’s so beautiful! You really flew through this project. I love the color and it looks great on you!
Kristy // July 18, 2007 at 8:41 am |
Beautiful! What a great job. I love the picture of the little admirers standing above the blocked shawl. That’s so cute.
Nella // July 18, 2007 at 11:32 am |
“What’s her chin in there for??”
EsotericKnitter // July 19, 2007 at 12:59 am |
Wow! Great piece. I love the last pic, the green makes your eyes just pop. Gorgeous!
nova // July 19, 2007 at 11:31 am |
It’s fantastic!! I haven’t seen this done in worsted before, I really like it! And the color lends itself pefectly to the pattern. Gorgeous work….on to the next!
JulieFrick // July 19, 2007 at 4:29 pm |
That is utterly gorgeous! And I think us non-shawl people are the perfect candidates for making these in heavier-than-called-for-weight yarn. Then it’s more of a cross between a scarf and a shawl. Much more acceptable!
tiennie // July 19, 2007 at 6:51 pm |
Oh my! That is gorgeous!
Jen // July 19, 2007 at 7:44 pm |
Beautiful! Look how it blends with your eyes. Very lovely.
Jenn // July 20, 2007 at 12:35 am |
It looks so beautiful!
Blocked « Land o’ Sunshine // July 20, 2007 at 9:25 am |
[...] the Knit Night, there were some fabulous FO’s. Mandy had her leaf lace shawl which is some major green goodness–it is even better in person. Cindy completed the [...]
merete // July 21, 2007 at 3:49 pm |
this is so great. it matches your hair, eyes and skin so wonderfully well. and the cheerful yet muted green colours are so great. wow.
teeweewonders // July 22, 2007 at 5:53 pm |
You know what? I’m such a shawl person, and I don’t mind at all if you send it to me… (”,)
The shawl is gorgeous and suits you. Maybe you should keep it after all!
Katie // July 22, 2007 at 9:41 pm |
Gorgeous, Mandy! The color would really bring out your eyes, should you choose to become a shawl person at any point in the future. =)
I really hope I get my knitting fever back soon. I’ve missed it, I know it, and yet I can’t seem to make it return.
Devon // July 23, 2007 at 12:47 am |
That is lovely. The color, the pattern, just perfect. I know what you mean about not being a shawl person, but for some reason I am feeling the pull after seeing yours!
earthchick // August 4, 2007 at 4:00 pm |
I love everything about this post.
Beautiful, beautiful shawl – brava!
Chelsie // August 9, 2007 at 1:14 am |
Such an exquisite color, pattern and finished product! It looks like a shawl woven of fine leaves for a fairy or wood nymph.
It’s amazing!
Sorry for the late comment, but I was being on my blog reading. I couldn’t pass this post without an exclamation! Beautiful work!
elizabeth // August 15, 2007 at 5:59 pm |
Congrats on making Yarnival! Your shawl is fabulous and looks great as a scarf too!
BeadKnitter // August 15, 2007 at 6:18 pm |
What a gorgeous shawl! You did a wonderful job on it.
I know what you mean about that little bit of sadness at the end of a project. I get it too.
nubiancraftster // August 15, 2007 at 8:40 pm |
Found you through Yarnival and I love the shawl! I can completely relate to your story minus the kids :O)
Great Job!
hats « zigzag stitch // August 16, 2007 at 10:46 am |
[...] My Leaf Lace post was in Cara’s recent issue of [...]
Christine // August 16, 2007 at 2:04 pm |
I’m usually not a shawl person, either, but that is lovely. Cara (Yarnival) is right, it goes so great with your eyes. I also know what you mean about the little bit of sadness at the end. You describe it well.
Kim // August 17, 2007 at 7:59 pm |
I came for a visit via Cara and I just wanted to say your shawl is absolutely beautiful! It matches your eyes perfectly!!
projektleiterin // August 18, 2007 at 4:51 am |
I love green and with all the suble shades the shawl looks awesome!
Christine // August 21, 2007 at 10:51 pm |
Ooooooooh… that is just AMAZING! I love the yarn and the color – fantastic!
ilovemypublicist // August 23, 2007 at 10:06 pm |
your work, your site, your photos, your children are just beautiful.