a travelin' shawl

An American classic - born in the east and getting ready for her trip out west...

She's a beauty - freshly photographed after leaving the salon where quiet soaking and rinsing and patting into shape took place.

She took her sweet ole time drying - languishing on a puffy towel for four days.  ENOUGH, said I!  Let's get this show on the road!  Get in the box and get ready for flight!  Someone in Oregon needs your soft embrace.


I've made three Mara shawls.  The once detested garter stitch has become a staple, a go-to stitch.  When I knit in this form I feel closer to the Great One - Elizabeth Zimmerman, who knew a lot of everything knitty.  She understood the inherent beauty of this stitch - an under achiever with a proclivity toward greatness - misunderstood and too often overlooked.  You might want to revisit the garter stitch when creating your cotton wardrobe.  It can perk up those yolks which tend to sag.  And more.


Last Sunday my BFF and I attended our first "Meet Up" of the Twisted Stitchers group - a local knitting organization who get together monthly to, well - eat and knit!   Patty and I had decided that we needed to get out more, what with her working 24-7 and me hunkering down every night in solitude with my projects.  It was a lot of fun to have brunch with a small group of INTENSE knitters.  Hard core knitters.  The versatility is what draws me in.  The laughter and creativity coupled with unabashed JOY in knitting will keep me coming back.


I'm not going to name names.  But one of us knits chickens.  Adorable, irresistible chickens.

They were the talk of the brunch crowd - gathering admiration from the wait staff and knitters alike.  I wanted to grab them all up and make a dash for the door!

I mean, seriously.  Did you ever see cuter tail feathers?  Imagine a small flock of these intermingled with the Easter basket goodies?

Here is a peek at another piece which is so beautiful, but unfortunately marred by my amateur photographic 'skills'.  I want to procure another photo session with natural lighting because this piece is really special - really deserving of its 15 minutes of fame.  I'll leave you in suspense over it for now.


Life just keeps getting more and more challenging.  I've not been able to bring my blood pressure down on my own accord and medication is now required.  This is hateful, despicable stuff.  Depressing, and there's a medication for THAT and when the top of my head feels like it will certainly explode, there's a little pill for that one, too.  Hurry Spring.  I need to wander out into your majesty and busy myself with tasks that will bring forth beauty and perhaps better health.  This winter has been enormously difficult in more ways than I can count.

But look at this work. It indicates the presence of grace  -  does it not?  The Andean glaciers may be melting, but we have  - THIS.  The knitting is something that makes the journey bearable.