I think I have not shown you this shawl yet, other than a peek or two on Instagram (where the blue is not exactly as it looks in real life — here, the color is more accurately depicted and maybe a little gray for me).
I'm getting ready to go to Seattle for a weekend retreat where I will be speaking about Woman: Beloved, Blessed, and Beautiful: the woman's vocation in God's plan for the world.
This is how I get ready, with some built-in distractions:
… and not counting doing laundry and quickly getting out some spring clothes, since up until quite recently we've still been bundling up… and also not counting trying to get the two bathrooms up and running (but not painted, because that just has to wait a little).
Renovations make me crazy (and perhaps pull me away from blogging a little), although of course they are a good thing. And a necessary thing. But it's easy for me to somewhat despair of ever getting things back to normal, and also there's an anxiety I have about all — all! — my choices that I find paralyzing, because construction seems so permanent.
I mean, it's obviously not permanent permanent, but it is expensive and not really an actual possibility to change.
Decorating is easier for me. In the back of your mind you know you can always switch things up if you've made a mistake. When I say easier, I don't mean that I do a ton of it! Who are these people who are constantly decorating and renovating — how do they have the energy, mental and physical? I have all the ideas and dreams… just not the energy!
But… now I'm thinking of a white laundry room/lavatory with a blue buffalo-check curtain…
Anyway, I did finish this shawl, and I will post details on Ravelry. The yarn is Frogtree Pediboo sock (it might be discontinued, but it's very nice) and the pattern is Holden by Mindy Wilkes.
I've gotten better at keeping lace straight, so this wasn't as hard as it was the last two times, although there are some tricksy parts having to do with the fact that you are mirroring in some places, so suddenly where it's all in groups of five stitches, a “six” is thrown in, which doesn't seem right. But it is. (Also can we be very proud of me that I didn't run out of yarn??)
A while ago my dear son Joseph very kindly gave me this lovely ornament for my hair. I mean, I assumed it was for my hair — I don't think either of us knew about shawl pins. But of course, I had and have quite short hair. I think that maybe he was remembering how my hair was when he was little — very long, actually.
I always felt bad that I really had no use for this lovely silver piece… until now! So thank you, Joseph!
What are you up to?
anne says
Beautiful! Especially with the pin!
Lynn Marie says
Love the shawl, the color is so pretty. My mom told me it was 82 degrees in Seattle yesterday:)
Jill Campbell Farris says
Watch out, Leila! Seattle was HOT this past weekend….record high…EVER!! I don’t think it’s shawl weather over there!
I only live three hours away. Wish I could pop over to see you. Have a blessed time.
Leila says
Jill (and Lynn Marie) — the shawl and the trip are separate 🙂 I’m getting out my warm-weather clothes, I promise. Although there will be AC I bet, so maybe the shawl will come in handy!
I wish I could meet you, Jill!!
Karen says
I, too, live 3 hours away and wish I could come to the retreat and bring all my daughters. Your theme sounds like something Elisabeth Elliott would have spoken about. You are familiar with her books, right? If not, Google her. She was one of my first spiritual mothers from the 80’s.
Btw, you may need that lovely shawl cuz it can be chilly near the Puget Sound.
Emily b says
BEATIFUL shawl!!! And I love the pin from Joseph! All so sweet.
My one request: might they agree to tape the retreat?! ☺️ Would love to hear you speak on this.
Karen says
Me, too.
sibyl says
Yeah, me too!
Mary Ellen Barrett says
Lovely shawl! You may be happy of it on the plane, I’m always freezing on planes.
Have a great trip.
🙂
Lisa G. says
That is beautiful, Beautiful! Good job!! And the pin is perfect with it. I’m so wary of knitting lace. (No lace, Mrs. Bennet, I beg you!)
Abby says
It looks like we’re back to normal April weather this weekend…mid 50’s and rainy. Perfect shawl weather!
Leila says
Abby, I was SOOO looking forward to some hot weather! 50s is the hardest to pack for. Oh well…
Katherine says
Not to further confuse your decorating dilemma, but may I suggest vintage linens instead of buffalo check for your bathroom curtains? When we recently finished our bathroom remodel, I was looking for something to cover our odd-shaped window and couldn’t quite make up my mind what to use in my fabric stash to make curtains. I have quite an impressive stash of vintage linens and realized that a tea tablecloth was the perfect size for the window. It’s usually pulled to one side of the window and only pulled over for complete privacy. It makes me happy to see it being used instead of neatly folded in my collection. Vintage tea towels, bureau and piano runners also make unique curtains. I think it would fit well with your New England home.
I’ll have to drop hints to my sons (who never know what to buy females) that a shawl pin would be a thoughtful gift for Mothers’ Day.
Leila says
Katherine, I actually was contemplating that, as I do have some linens lying around. Also, with only one window you can really go to town with something whimsical! I’m still thinking…
Dyan Schisler says
I know I’m echoing, but the shawl is absolutely beautiful! I’m impressed that you kept the pattern straight. Thank you for sharing your gifts.
Paulam Jablonski says
Very pretty… U made a super easy age of brass & steam shawl and it was quickly confiscated by DD. Oh well… She enjoys it
Edelweiss says
The shawl and pin are both so lovely! I’m tempted to learn knitting. 🙂
Katy says
Lovely shawl and beautiful pin. Do you have a link for your speaking event?
Leila says
Thanks, Katy — here is the link: http://www.likemotherlikedaughter.org/speaking/
Rose says
Leila that is a stunning piece of knitting, I say this as a woman who has been knitting for (gulp!) more than fifty years.
Mrs. B. says
The shawl is wonderful! I think the pattern and the color go very well together, though it might just be my passion for gray blues (and aqua blues…) – but don’t you find that when you buy yarn you have to spend some time thinking what pattern will be right for it? Or vice versa, of course. I just got on eBay a few balls of a beautiful merino-silk blend to make something for one of my sisters – I frogged 3 patterns, frustrated that I did not like what I was seeing, even though I loved the patterns… Now finally the yarn is being made into a Saroyan, because I saw your green one on Instagram, and it hit me it was just the thing to do! I must say it’s a wonderful pattern: a bit of challenge with the leaves, then some respite with the body of the shawl – I like that.
Lucky Seattle ladies…
Leila says
Yes, Mrs. B — the pattern has to suit the yarn and vice versa! And sometimes it takes a while to figure it all out. The Saroyan is a nice pattern, I agree!
Lisa says
What a beautiful shawl – love the color.
And speaking of decorating, paint, and color, I think you might really like something called chalk paint (Annie Sloan). This isn’t for children to write on – it’s for painting furniture/walls -with ease and beauty.. No, I don’t sell the stuff – but have used it and think you’ll like it : )
Ang says
How intricate and what a work of art. Oh to be one of the Daughters in LMLD to have that as a future heirloom. (I never force myself to knit more than squares & rectangles – perhaps some day I can venture. )
Teri Pittman says
It is a beautiful shawl and I notice that I have it in my favorites already, along with a whole lot more shawl patterns! If you need a new project, I highly recommend Piper’s Journey. I think I’ve done three or four of them now. It’s a satisfying pattern and it is a good size to wear.
Next time you head to Seattle, you should let more folks know! I’m in SW Washington and would love to hear you speak.