One day a while ago I was just randomly and sort of tongue-in-cheek posting on Facebook, and I updated my status to say “I need a drone to deliver me some gorgeous yarn.”
I've been stash-busting and not yarn-shopping (or any other kind of shopping for that matter), and I was clean out of cute kid-friendly (by which I mean little-baby-GIRL-friendly!) yarn. I had finished up my birthday/Christmas crafting (which this post is really about), and really just wanted a quick little project to have in my hands while I am forced to watch enjoy football.
So I just blurted that on to my Facebook page, about the drone.
Turns out I have a super power.
Because right away, several people posted (and private-messaged) me to offer to send me yarn right then and there. And then — they did. (I tried it the next time, substituting “gold” for “gorgeous yarn” but it didn't work. Super powers are tricky to master.)
Dear Elizabeth DeHority sent me all this, after close questioning about all my needs/wants/plans:
I don't know how she found the energy, but she did. A box chock full of woolly goodness! You can't even see all that's in there. (Please say a prayer for Elizabeth! She's going through a lot.)
And dear Wanda and Kathy just happened to be going yarn shopping together, and asked if they could pick something out for me! And Wanda made this fabulous project bag, which you will notice just goes perfectly with the yarn, so I can never complete anything I start with it.
So all that was unexpected and entirely undeserved — a happy side-effect of my loquacity, I think! I did want to thank them here, as tricky and well, embarrassing, as it is for me, because this is not something that happens, really, except maybe to other people. They don't even know me! And I know that these ladies are going to be a little embarrassed too at me showing you what they did.
But I wanted to say, that as lovely as gifts like these are — and they are so appreciated! — what we would love is for you to simply share our brand new address (www.likemotherlikedaughter.org), and this blog or a favorite post of yours, with a person you think would enjoy being with us.
Some of you comment, some of you email me (and tell me that you don't comment but do love to visit), and I know there are a lot of you who silently just join us to read — and that is all wonderful. If you felt moved to do so, we would so appreciate being given the super power of being able to reach others with our collective memory musings on simple living, family, and encouragement.
Anyway, the reason my fingers were itching and I opened my big mouth on Facebook and got embarrassed and then the least I could do was post about it — is that I didn't do a ton of crafting last year. How about you? Did you?
I did make the mittens for the little boys, which was fun. And a few other little things that I will share eventually. But today I want to show you the shawl I made for Sukie for her birthday, which is close enough to Christmas that we got to celebrate it with her when she came up to visit.
You can tell by the photos that I had it done a while ago — you know, during that time of year when that thing in the sky still shines, and those green things still grow… so long ago… can't remember what it's all like…
I had gotten the yarn with Sukie in mind. It's all very purple when you take a picture and post it. And purple can seem silly. But in real life — gotta have purple! When I started, she wasn't pregnant, but now that she is I think it will come in handy!
This is the same pattern, the Holden Shawl, that I used for a shawl for Habou. I had more yarn, so it's bigger, and this yarn is a heavier weight as well. I did a tricot castoff that you can sort of see in that last picture.
The pattern is one that I can sort of memorize a little (or at least, it's self-correcting, as the lace rows have to line up) — so although there is a fair amount of ridiculous, heartbreaking ripping out, it's less than usual. Details on my Ravelry page. I do love knitting shawls and would love one for myself!
Do you have a crafty reveal, now that your gifts are given? I'll have a bit more for you later.
You can still post your link on {pretty, happy, funny, real} — you have until Sunday evening!
Kathy@9peas says
Oh Leila, I’m blushing. You are so very kind to link to me and say thank you publicly, Wanda and I had so much fun picking the yarn out and discussing all things we love at LMLD!
That shawl is divine, I love it!
Neva Hernandez says
So pretty! I always love the look of the shawls but am never sure how to wear them.
Leila says
Neva, I have some pictures of Deirdre wearing the one I gave her last year — I’ll have to post them. So cute! Not old-fashioned at all 🙂 And maybe Sukie will send us pictures of her wearing hers…
Wanda says
Leila, Kathy just texted me and said, you’ll never believe this! Leila mentioned us on her blog”! We are both blushing!
We knitters know that being without yarn is the ultimate crisis! Besides that… We just love you. :))))
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to bless you after all your words have done for us.
Diane says
How lovely – and yes, purple is a requirement for happiness. Crafters in general are some of the most generous people on the planet. I’m salivating over that multicolor yarn, and I don’t even knit!
After a determined effort to reorganize and clean up the sewing studio, I’m back in there on a regular basis. You know what? It makes me much more even-tempered on a day to day basis, even at work (where it is the crazy time of year). Something in the act of creating just draws us closer to the Creator, you know?
Lisa G. says
That shawl is fabulous – so pretty with the ruffles.
Patty says
Your shawl has inspired me to become brave again and press on with the Henslowe I started several months ago. I start it, I carry on, drop the lace, rip back, do over, drop the lace, rip back, do over using a lifeline!, drop the lace, rip back to the lifelife, drop it again, and set it aside until I can look at it without wanting to cry. I have one more lace repeat, I think. Must be brave, and persevering. Once again you’ve been inspirational.
briana says
I am still knitting presents. Lots of birthdays in January here.
Question, you have an old house. Do you have radiators? I do and though they are supposed to be ‘wet heat’ my house is SO DRY that just everything is going snap crackle pop. I’ve put some pots of water on the radiators to see if I can help the moisture along, but it’s not working so well.
Do you have any ideas before we turn into tumbleweed?
Kate says
I’m in the middle of a purple shawl!! It all started when I snagged a BAG of wool yarn at the thrift store for $2. It had about a dozen balls of a brand of 100% merino wool that normally sells for $9 a skein. The thrift store gods don’t often smile on me like that. Next best thing to having yarn Super Powers.
Catherine says
Lovely, lovely shawl!! And I rave to everyone I know about LMLD!!
Jennifer says
Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.
Mamabearjd says
Last weekend I made about 15 things (gauze swaddle blankets, burp cloths, crib sheets, changing mats) for number 5, who is due in 6 weeks. I think I want to try and make new duvets for the other kids before he is born, though I had originally planned to do each child an easy birthday quilt this year. Nesting much?
Love the shawl. Love the new blog design!
Lisa says
Beautiful shawl. I have a very similar crochet pattern that I planned to make for my Mom. I bought it, um, a few years ago. I really will make it one day. How wonderful to receive all that yarn! I’m sure they feel it’s the least they could do with all the wonderful wisdom and LAUGHS we get from you. You make me laugh right on out loud some times. I have nothing to show this year. I used to make all the gifts I gave but now that I am working full time, I rarely seem to get anything completed. (or quite possibly even started). I came home from work today to find your website still open. Sorry if I’m messing with your stats!
Jennifer G Miller says
The new site is lovely….I have plans to upgrade mine, too, but I know it’s such a headache!
I love the shawl. Purple is a must, and a purple shawl has been on my next to make for me after I finish some gifts. But the yarn situation is a bit tricky with a tight budget, so many people to make gifts, and so little time?
Colleen Strandquist says
The shawl is so pretty. I always want to knit more complicated things and then I get lost in the instructions. I did learn to do a cable once. I knit what we call “sockums” in our family, and scarves and mitten. I knitted a vest a long time ago(the cable) and started a sweater but got bogged down in the finishing of he neck. I love the pretty wool yarns. I really like the name of your blog, “like mother like daughter” although I have only 6 sons, I do have lovely daughters-in-law and granddaughters!
Leah says
It has been a couple of years since I’ve really crafted (outside of the innumerable craft-stick and construction paper masterpieces I work out with my sweet little boys as part of their homeschool…my 7 year old doesn’t think we can let a day go by without a project. That’s what I get for minimizing the toys they have and not owning a TV.) My big craft has always been sewing, but my girls are too big for me to make cute, tiny dresses for (16 year olds don’t really go for the “princess” look) and my sewing machine is in desperate need of repair. I can do nothing with yarn, in spite of my grandmother teaching me how to knit before she passed away two years ago.
Yarn stuff (knitting, crocheting, I dunno…macrame?) is on my list of things to try much harder at in 2016. We’ll see if that happens…