Last spring I made my first lace project for my wedding. It only seems fitting that with the hope of another big event on the horizon, that I knit lace for it. I wanted to make something special for my dissertation chair. She and I met about 18 months before I started my MFA program. Not only has she taught me so much about writing, but I admire her as a human, too. When I think about my ideal job, I usually say to myself "I want to be S." She’s a writer, of course, a teacher, and administrator, directing not just my writing program, but also a successful, wonderful summer writing conference. Despite the frustrations inherent in administration, I find it satisfying. I miss my grant writing job sometimes; I was pretty good at all that admin work. All this is to get at the fact that I want to create something lovely so that S. will know how much I appreciate having her in my life.
I planned to spin yarn for this (sound familiar? Like when I planned to spin my wedding stole yarn?), but spinning is low on the things I put time aside for right now. I’ve realized, too, that I like to spin outside on my deck. I’m not as into spinning inside. Funny, no? Anywho, once I accepted that yet again I wouldn’t reach the goal of spinning for a shawl, I started to troll for yarn just the right shade of turquoise. I favor Sleeping Beauty turquoise (before I moved to NM, I had NO IDEA of how many different types of turquoise there were. Check me out–now I have a preference!) and wanted something similar to that.
At a recent late Friday at Creative Fibers, Judy pulled out a few skeins of Claudia Hand Painted Silk lace yarn. When I saw the turquoise, I was smitten. It took me about a week to cave, but back I went to bring a skein (with a whopping 1,100 yards) home. This stuff is gorgeous! I trolled around for the right pattern and was torn between a few. At last Friday’s Creative Fibers kal, Jen mentioned the Shetland Triangle from Wrap Style. As soon as I saw it, I had my pattern.
So, spring 2008 means lace 2008 for me as I knit this dissertation shawl.
What does spring make you want to knit?
That is going to be a beautiful shawl. Isn’t that yarn lovely? I’ve been eying a skein of it at my LYS.
Spring and what’s his name have me knitting a cardi.
I am not sure what spring makes me want to knit but you just made me want to knit lace!
I think the shawl will be beautiful!
Spring makes me want to knit with bright, juicy colors. Nothing in specific, just with the colors!
Spring makes me want to knit lace too…I have about a million lace projects planned for this summer!
Right now I’m thinking Twisted Flowers socks in either bright yellow or bright green. 🙂 I love the blue for the shawl you have!
I’m feeling the need for lace too! I’m planning a Spring Things shawl. I have to settle on a yarn though.
v pretty color – that is going to be a gorgeous shetland triangle!
This year, spring is making me want to knit my CPH – since I started it in October thinking I’d wear it during the winter. Now that winter is almost over, I want my sweater! ;o)
I love the color! One of these days I will get around to knitting a lace shawl.