January 24, 2006
Drumroll, please.
The shawl is blocked, and I can finally say it is finished.
The finished measurements are 115cm (45") square. It's in fingering weight yarn on 3.5mm needles, and used 1400 metres (1530 yards) of yarn.
I do intend to eventually make the pattern available, just as soon as I work out how to write an understandable pattern and how to use the knitting font to make charts.
A few days ago, Ailsa made a post about why she blogs, and today the Yarn Harlot made her blogiversary post, and she also mentioned the virtues of blogging (and knitting) friends. Isn't it funny how one thing will get you thinking, then all of a sudden, whatever you were thinking about is everywhere?
Anyway, today I received a belated Christmas gift from Jill, who was my first real online knitting friend, and this really topped off my thinking.
Glass knitting needles. (Sorry for the crappy pictures) Aren't they gorgeous? I will probably not use them, I'd be terrified of breaking them (and also of cutting my knitting if I did break them!) They will be displayed somewhere prominently, but I love them.
I don't have a great many "real" friends. Emily started a new school last year, and as it's High school, all I do is pick her up, I don't have much to do with the other parents. As for dancing, the bitchiness and competiton and bad mouthing doesn't interest me. I used to listen to it, and believe it and let it get me down, now I just avoid them.
None of my friends are knitters. The only people I know in so-called real life who knit make novelty scarves and not much else. To each his own, but for a long time I wondered where the other people who like to knit garments and use wool and alpaca and order copious amounts of yarn from the internet were. For a long time I didn't knit, I have no local yarn store, and the crap that was available didn't interest me.
Three years or so ago, I started knitting again and looked for knitting on the internet. Yarn! Tools! Patterns! Accessories!
Knitters!
No-one I know in real life would ever think to give me glass knitting needles. (No offence, DH!) DH is happy to buy me knitting related gifts, but I have to point out what I would like bought for me. Mind you, I would be exactly the same if I wanted to buy him a computer game.
It is such a pleasure to know people now with whom I can discuss yarn and patterns and gorgeous knitting accessories. People who understand my obsession with yarn, and don't ask "Why?" when I'm knitting a sock. People who don't look at me like I'm insane when I buy another knitting book or order yet more yarn from the internet. It's truly a pleasure to go to Stitch and Bitch and spend an afternoon with knitters.
On the whole, the vast majority of people I have met (both online and in the flesh) through this blog have been wonderful people, who I'm glad to call friends.
And who can admire glass knitting needles without asking why.
Okay, I'm over the sappy shit now :)
Comments
I'm glad you're here, glad you chose to blog, so I could [cyber] meet you and be inspired by you and one day hope to knit with you in the flesh. Nice sticks too, btw.."straight to the pool room"
Posted by: Rachael at January 24, 2006 08:15 PMOh, I am with you girl! I understand completely! I almost never discuss with my friends what I am knitting ever for fear that they will requst I knit them something/ they do not understand/ they think I am crazy. That is one beautiful shawl!!! I am in awe of your talents
Posted by: Nathalie at January 24, 2006 09:29 PMThat is such a gorgeous shawl and gasp you designed it? Wow! Most of the knitters I know are blog friends too, so I can identify with what you're saying here.
Posted by: erin at January 24, 2006 10:38 PMThe shawl is beautiful! If it were mine, I would have a hard time giving it away...at least you still have pictures and this blog to remember the process.
Posted by: wool winder at January 24, 2006 11:34 PMLovely Baby Shawl!!! It's just gorgeous! Well done.
Such pretty needles. How thoughtful. I totally agree with your thoughts. It was the internet that hooked me up with knitters in my area, now we have a huge group. It's so good to get together with like minded people.
Such a goregous shawl and lovely needles! I wish you lived a little closer--Gracie, Em, me and you could be real life friends!
Posted by: Kathleen at January 24, 2006 11:52 PMI like how your baby blanket turned out. It is beautiful.
Posted by: Chery at January 24, 2006 11:53 PMI never knew how many knitters there were out there my age-ish, until I went online! I'm probably one of the youngest members of the knitting guild I'm in, and most of the other members are 50+ (some 70+), so it's nice to see other people close to my age out there knitting!
And it's been a pleasure to "meet" you! ;)
Posted by: Cathy at January 25, 2006 12:17 AMThe shawl is GORGEOUS!!
Posted by: margene at January 25, 2006 12:47 AMSing it sister! I blog for the same reasons--I love reading what everyone is up to, joining KALs and talking about stuff that is fun for me (spouse has no interest, no surprise there.) I do go to a knitting group and now that they blog too, I keep up with my knitbuds that way. Its amazing!
You said it all so well.
Posted by: suzanne at January 25, 2006 02:25 AMSappy shit is always good shit. :) What a great and thoughtful gift.
The shawl ... ohmygosh ... the shawl is beautiful. I don't know if I have the skill, yet, for something of that lace magnitude, but I can't wait for the pattern. OR maybe you should write out the pattern and try to sell it ... I don't know how such things work, but I'm sure there are many people in the knitting world who would agree that your shawl pattern would be worth a purchase. :)
Have a great day!
Posted by: Samantha at January 25, 2006 02:45 AMThe shawl is gorgeous! I'm having a serious knit envy attack. You do great work, lady.
It never ceases to amaze me how many great knitters are out there in this world, of all ages and genders and backgrounds. Some years ago, the "pundits" were predicting that computers would dehumanize society. Wrong! Instead, the Internet has allowed us to communicate with like-minded souls all over the world, finding common ground. Most of us would never have had the opportunity to talk with one another without this tool.
Posted by: AuntyNin at January 25, 2006 03:27 AMI'm so glad that we became friends. You were my first online knitting friend also and I've enjoyed each and every one of our exchanges. Thank you for listening to me during my ups and downs. I couldn't ask for a better friend, even if we are miles apart. All this because of some sticks and string :)
You did such a wonderful job on the shawl. I would have a hard time giving it up.
Posted by: Jill at January 25, 2006 05:16 AMAbsolutely gorgeous shawl! I agree with you about the reasons for blogging. I've 'met' wonderful knitters from all over and seeing what they're doing is a constant source of inspiration. I can also vicariously visit places too. Like your Aussie beach pics - gorgeous! I moved to the UK from Australia 9-ish years ago and miss Oz lots. But! I can keep up with what's happening just by visiting my ginormous bloglines list. :-)
Sue
Posted by: Sue at January 25, 2006 05:21 AMIt is incredibly beautiful! Congratulations on such a wonderful FO.
Posted by: Nanette at January 25, 2006 08:31 AMI am so glad to be a cyber friend and a real live knitting friend (Stitch N Bitch Wollongong). Your work is so inspirational.
I think we all have the same kind of friends, who just don't get it, they think we are mad or something. But who cares we know what it it to knit, to love yarns, to love knitting books/magazines, to love different knitting needles.
The glass needles are awesome, last year there were some antique glass needles on ebay, I did bid, but got outbid, they went for around $45 dollars I think, I would have been like you and found a special place for them, I would have been too scared to knit with them, hell look at what I do to my bamboo needles, let alone let me loose with glass needles.
Posted by: ANnie at January 25, 2006 08:44 AMYour shawl is monumentally beautiful! I saw those glass needles at an LYS and thought they were so pretty, but like you was afraid I'd immediately break them. I'm sure they are tempered so they really don't break easily, but still...
Posted by: Jane at January 25, 2006 10:51 AMThat shawl has left me speechless. I'm in awe.
And yes I totally agree with the reasons for bloging and the bonds it creates. I love the connections and the wordless understanding of the love of yarn and everything knitterly.
Your shawl is absolutely amazing! That is a work of art.
Posted by: Liberty at January 25, 2006 04:03 PMI too love the sappy shit,your blog was the first Aussie blog i found, and after a year i still keep coming back everyday to check out whats happening in the world of Donna.You are a inspiration to me, and i hope you keep blogging for many years to come.
P.S The shawl looks amazing.
Hey, STUNNER shawl, mate! Really well done!! Congrats, and what a shame you're sending it to Brissy, where it'll probably be too hot for it to be used. Then again, that might preserve it for posterity!!
Posted by: Karen in Melbourne at January 25, 2006 09:16 PMWow your shawl is brilliant. I love the glass knitting needles, I'd be the same in not using them - I'd hate to break them.
Posted by: Heather at January 25, 2006 10:11 PMYour shawl turned out so beautiful!! and so are the glass needles, I'd probally have to put them in a vault, they'd get broke in my house..lol...
The shawl is AMAZING!!! Truly beautiful. And I too am glad you blog - even if we can't (read I cant) discuss knitting related things.
Posted by: Shannon at January 26, 2006 01:03 AMYou know Dona, it just occurred to me that would this shawl meet the requirements of the shetland shawl category for the Royal Easter show? You'd be a blue ribbon winner for sure!
Posted by: Nathalie at January 26, 2006 09:50 AMYou have summed up exactly how most of us feel, we can have wonderful friends but they don't share our love of the needles and yarn, so it is through our blogs and forums that we meet fellow minded people with whom we can share our love of yarn, needles, patterns etc. and not be looked at a little strangely when we get sooooo excited when we find that pattern we were after or finish that WIP that has been sitting in our WIPs basket. And you dear girl continue to inspire us with your beautiful work, you truly deserve those lovely needles.
You're right on the money there sister. One of my best friends curled her lip when I told her I was knitting a sock. "A sock."(pause for effect)"What for?" And hardly any of my non-knitting friends even know about my blog.
My mother and sister think my knitting is an eccentricity - my sister even asks me to put it away if I knit while we're talking "it gives me the shits" she says.
I'm really glad you make the journey to snb - it's got such a good vibe there, I love it.
AND, that shawl looks good on the net, and even better in real life. There's NO WAY I'd be giving it away.
x
Snap, Donna!! I have many friends, but only a couple IRL who knit (not counting my mum and my nannas), but they're 'not like me', IYKWIM. My 'serious' knitty friends are all online, and I love it. I love having like-minded people to chat to, and read their blogs and pick thair brains about various things. It still freaks me out sometimes that I have more in-depth and personal conversations with some people I never have and may never meet IRL, and that some of them live over the other side of the world to boot!!
I'm liking the sappy shit! And lovin the Namaste Needles (do you KNOW how much they cost?), and I Love that you come to SnB and I LOVE that you are part of Our Tribe....and I LOVE that I can text you in Woolies to answer my knitting questions....
Posted by: Donni at January 24, 2006 07:09 PM