After getting this shawl kit as a gift (full post details here) I was almost too touched to start it. I just kept looking at it and admiring it for all its beauty. I just wanted to do it justice. But somehow the urge to finish it made me start (does that even make sense?), also it really helped that I loved the color of the yarn. Since October it has been patiently waiting for me to begin. So one day this January I stepped into my closet got it out and was off!
I feel so proud not only of finishing it so quickly but also by how much more I learned! Knitting it made me learn how to add beads with a crochet hook, which was easy, this was the first shawl project I had worked from tip to tip, and also I learned several new stitches.
It makes me feel so happy.
My very talented mom took the photographs for me.
The beads add such a nice little touch, and a subtle heaviness to the shawl. I really love the drape of this yarn. It hangs so beautifully.
The pattern is supposed to mimic waves, and since I have always loved going to the ocean it just makes it that much more special.
Perfect pattern. Perfect yarn. Perfect gift of kindness from Wendy.
Last Friday was the second anniversary of my favorite yarn shop The Tinsmith's Wife out in Comfort. If you have been following my blog for a while you know how much I love going there. The owner Wendy is the best as far as I am concerned, not to mention her amazing parents Susan and Bill. They are kind, sweet, and all around good hearted. They are just wonderful and I really wanted to find some way to let them know it.
So I decided to give them a little gift in honor of their celebration. I had drawn this little sheep knitting (shown above) a bit ago and it just seemed perfect, so after framing it, my lovely mom and I set off on Friday to give it to them in person. Along the way there we got a flat tire, and a very nice old cowboy stopped to help us put on the spare (many thanks Brad!). Once arriving I gave them my gift and I was so excited to see that they liked it! Many hugs were shared and happy tears. It was a very happy moment. They then hung up the picture on the wall, right away! It was so touching.
( This picture is of Wendy and I laughing; and you can even see my picture hanging in the background, photographed by Susan)
Then after all that, Wendy did something extraordinary for me that really touched me even more. She gave me a gift in return. Can you believe I teared up again? It was their special anniversary pattern and hand dyed yarn, that even came with the beads!
The pattern is for a shawl called Eurybia by Melissa Goodale from Stick Chick Knits. The yarn that accompanies it is this deep shade of beautiful green that I really can't wait to work on! It was hand dyed by Hazel Knits in the Emerald City colorway. .
The cup is the perfect size too, and a lovely shade of blue, just the right size for my cups of tea.
This is a moment in my life that I will always cherish. Your generosity is outstanding. I'm so glad I got to be apart of your special and momentous celebration.
I made the Audrey Triple Wrap Shawl, with Madelinetosh Lace yarn in the gilded colorway. This is the shawl that I have been meaning to show you since this past April since I just finished. I didn't manage to take any decent photos of it in the development stage but here it is finished!!! I finished it on June 16th,the following Tuesday I blocked it and today my mother was kind enough to take these photos of me. I just realized how many times I have said finished quite a few times but really I feel so happy. I feel so proud of doing it! It was my first time doing lace, reading a knitting chart, using a crochet cast-on, and also blocking something.
I thought at times it would never be done, but also at times I didn't want it to end. This shawl has gone with me everwhere in these past three months that led to it's completion. I worked on it literally everywhere. I have this strange feeling that as I look at it memories flow back to me of little moments caught here and there where I worked on it, from the moment I cast on in the class at the wonderful Tinsmith's Wife, to when I worked on it along the Guadalupe River while camping, to the times I worked on it sitting at the pool, or the times sitting in the car waiting for Jessica to get out of work, or while driving to the next adventure, or in the doctor's office.
I know it sounds funny but I even think of certain music when thinking about it, since I often listened to my ipod whilst working on it. Ingrid Michaelson, all the possible Camera Obscura songs, Band of Horses, Joni Mitchell, and so many more. For me this is one of the reasons I love knitting and crocheting so much. It would seem as if these little bits of time are trapped inside each little stitch. It is hard to explain to people that don't do either, and actually I don't think I would've really understood until I had done it.
This is by far my largest knitting project as of yet, but gives me hope for more to come and already I have started another shawl! As for the class I took, it was so wonderful. The shop The Tinsmith's Wife is one of my favorite yarn shops. I have to admit that I love coming here, it is a little treat everytime I make it out there. The yarn selection is amazing not to mention the staff. They are always so friendly and down-to- earth. The helped me so much, and are always so kind. I learned so much and loved the one-on-one atmosphere. I will definitely be back for more classes, or to just browse for much needed additions to my stash...heee heee :)
After getting this shawl kit as a gift (full post details here) I was almost too touched to start it. I just kept looking at it and admiring it for all its beauty. I just wanted to do it justice. But somehow the urge to finish it made me start (does that even make sense?), also it really helped that I loved the color of the yarn. Since October it has been patiently waiting for me to begin. So one day this January I stepped into my closet got it out and was off!
I feel so proud not only of finishing it so quickly but also by how much more I learned!
It makes me feel so happy.
My very talented mom took the photographs for me.
The beads add such a nice little touch, and a subtle heaviness to the shawl. I really love the drape of this yarn. It hangs so beautifully.
( This picture is of Wendy and I laughing; and you can even see my picture hanging in the background, photographed by Susan)
The cup is the perfect size too, and a lovely shade of blue, just the right 
