At long, long last...
It’s finally finished – the Shetland Garden Shawl.
It’s my first ever big lace piece, and the first piece I’ve ever blocked properly, so although I’ve read all that everyone one says about the magic of transforming a pile of laundry into a magical piece of delicate lace, I was beginning to get scared. TBH I was beginning to get very scared. It was looking tiny. And I wanted to knit a shawl, not a capelet.
But would you know it? They’re all right – lookee here:
Before:
and after:
Laundry to lace in one magical step. It’s at least twice the size, and so ethereal that it’s very difficult to photograph.
I am very excited about it, and it needs to be exciting. I’ve made it for… well, I’ll call her my godmother. She’s not my godmother, Quakers don’t have godmothers, but apart from that detail she has fulfilled that role for me throughout my life. For starters she’s called Anne (my parents assure me that I’m not named after her, although the we intentionally share the same spelling – I’m more than happy to be named after her). Then when I was a teeny wee thing just a few days out of hospital, my mother got in a bit of a flap about whether or not she was producing enough milk for me. Anne came round and sorted her out – I was weighed (I believe a spring balance was used!), fed, then weighed again – the only difference being the quantity of milk I’d consumed – somehow I was 6 oz heavier 
She has always been “Big Anne” to my “Little Anne” – even since I’ve overtaken her in both height and girth. (Which is the reason why I love the soubriquet “Big Ruth” for my “Little Ruth”’s godmother.) I stayed with her and her husband (another John) one summer, and there met my first boyfriend (who lasted just a year – my first non-successful long-distance relationship) – and helped to choose the wool for her to knit me a purple jumper. Yes, she’s a knitter, she’s an extremely good knitter – probably the best knitter I know. And she’s a spinner.
Another time she gently listened while I sounded off about my 3rd boyfriend’s very Baptist views on salvation. (I was by this time a lapsed Quaker – I didn’t go anywhere on a Sunday morning, but if I had, it would have been to Quaker Meeting – C’s views on this were rather uncompromising.)
We took Adam to see her when he was about 6 months old. By then she had left her house in Barnard Castle and had moved to sheltered accommodation in Abingdon, just south of Oxford.
British readers may be able to see where this is heading. It’s been raining in Britain. It’s been raining a LOT. Particularly in that part of the country. There has been flooding – a couple of nights ago, Anne was woken at 2am by a knock on the door – she had 30 minutes to get herself ready before they were going to come back and evacuate her.
She’s relatively lucky – apparently there is “only” about 6 inches of water in her bungalow – her carpets are destroyed, but quite a lot of her things will be retrievable. She also has a daughter living nearby with whom she can stay, so she’s comfortable, albeit stressed. It will be weeks, if not months, before she can return.
So I’m glad that this is ready only now. I’ve been chiding myself for not getting on with it faster, but maybe now is a good time for an unexpected gift to arrive.
And, just because, here are some more photos.
21 comments:
It’s absolutely gorgeous! What a wonderful gift.Chris () (link) - 24 July '07 - 21:29
What a beautiful shawl! It would be a wonderful gift under any circumstances, but especially so given the situation. We have been following the news closely – my husband is from the UK and we have many friends there. I hope that Big Anne is able to get things sorted out quickly – and in the meantime, she has a gorgeous shawl made with love to wrap up in.Tracy WW () (link) - 24 July '07 - 22:01
That shawl is stunning. And my heart goes out to Big Anne; what a fright that night-time knock must have been!rosie () (link) - 24 July '07 - 22:36
Absolutely beautiful, so delicate and a gorgeous colour. I think Big Anne will be delighted, especially when she needs something to cheer her up most, perfect timing.I have a sister in Worcester and a brother in Glocester, but as yet, both have been lucky. My sister got stuck in Malvern Friday night and had to stay in an hotel, but got home Saturday, (they had thought it would be Tuesday!) I think my brother may have lost his water supply, but they have electricity. So, very lucky by comparison x
Louise () (link) - 24 July '07 - 23:21
Lovely shawl!Mary-Lou () (link) - 25 July '07 - 00:33
The shawl is wonderful – I love the way lace is transformed by blocking, it’s like alchemy. Hope your “godmother” is ok, I’m from Didcot originally so have lots of friends living in/around Abingdon and it doesn’t sound nice. I’m a bit further downstream on the Thames now and we seem to escape the flooding by dint of having wonderful flood meadows for the water to escape to.Wendy () (link) - 25 July '07 - 00:59
You did good! It’s fantastic!!Becky () - 25 July '07 - 02:54
LOVELY SHAWL!you did great job!
Anyway… I just start my“Knitting Video Cast” you can check it out and see what you think about and Comment me!
Thanks!
Charles
Charles 'The Knitter" () (link) - 25 July '07 - 09:28
The lace looks fantastic and will make the perfect gift :)Nic () - 25 July '07 - 11:17
Seems like Anne is the perfect recipient for your first big lace piece. It’s wonderful and she will love it, I’m sure.Carole () (link) - 25 July '07 - 13:43
it’s a piece of beauty! Absolutely stunning. I love the windy picture in the middle!marie () (link) - 25 July '07 - 20:15
very impressive!pixie () (link) - 25 July '07 - 23:09
The shawl is gorgeous! Isn’t it amazing what blocking can do? It gets me every time.And just “awww” about Big Anne and Little Anne.
Carrie K () (link) - 26 July '07 - 00:30
What a beautiful shawl and story, seems like perfect timing!jessica () (link) - 26 July '07 - 06:47
Anne ~ that is such a stunning shawl and you’re so very talented…..i’m always in awe of your knitting…...all i can say is WOW!!!!Awwwwwwww about Anne too ~ my dear friend lives in Malvern and although he didn’t see any flood water in his house his area was hit pretty bad.
Denise xxxx
Denise Sankey () - 26 July '07 - 11:20
What an absolutely beautiful shawl – I love it so much – what a thoughtful gift – I am sure she will adore and cherish it – you are very talented indeed – I wish I had the courage and concentration to tackle lace – alas – lack of sleep means it will have to wait a while.Becky () (link) - 26 July '07 - 16:36
Oh wow, it’s beautiful! And sounds like it was finished with impeccable timing!Daisy () (link) - 26 July '07 - 21:11
Beautiful shawl, a perfect gift. I never cease to be amazed at the difference blocking makes.Gemma () (link) - 27 July '07 - 02:07
I’ve been looking at this daily (had it kept in my bloglines) – it is SO lovely. Can I have one? heh hehDonyale () (link) - 27 July '07 - 04:53
Wow, that shawl is amazing!!!I hope the other Anne is okay. That shawl will certainly brighten her day, week, season!
jessie () (link) - 29 July '07 - 04:07
Anne, the shawl is beautiful. Would you mind sharing where the pattern is from?Thanks! – Michaela (who used to live in Wimbish near Saffron Walden a lifetime ago!
Michaela () - 25 May '08 - 15:43
