You Ain't Got A Thing If You Ain't Got That Swing.......

I have become obsessed! I have started a new project, Flamingo Wings, using a pattern I found on Ravelry called Wingspan. On Pinterest there are examples posted of all the different Wingspans created by different people. They are breathtaking! One of my favorites uses a technique that I have never heard of before called Swing Knitting. I can't seem to find any info on it except for a workshop book to purchase on Ravelry. I am going to ask our master knitter at Motif if she knows how to do it. Hopefully she can teach a class if she does.

My obsession is two-fold. I am obsessed about finding out how to do Swing knitting, and I am obsessed with this pattern, Wingspan! It is fun! Here is my version:

I am using Pagewood Farms Verano yarn. This picture was taken yesterday morning when I had just started the second triangle. I started the third one this morning. I am already planning future wingspans using novelty yarns and sock yarns and contrasting yarns, etc. This is a very addictive pattern!

This past week I finished my Voodoo Magic Shawl, so named for the gorgeous yarn I used to knit it, Voodoo by Creatively Dyed Yarn. It was also a fun knit. I actually started it last fall, but put it aside for a while and recently picked it back up and finished it in about a week.

This picture doesn't really do the beautiful colors of this shawl justice. I have asked my cousin Graham if he can give me some pointers on how to take better pics of my finished projects. He is a very serious amateur photographer.

I usually post pics of my finished knitting projects on facebook. I have been asked many times if I sell my knitted items. People just don't understand when they ask you to knit them something and you say "no." They always say, "Well, I'll pay you!" How do you explain to them that they couldn't possibly afford it! My knitting time is absolutely priceless to me. I don't knit to sell, I knit to destress and relax and unwind. The more stressed I am, the more I knit. (It is much cheaper than a therapist!) How do you put a price on that???

Tempus Fugit

Occasionally in life there are moments that make you stop and realize just how fast time really does fly by. They stop you in your tracks and almost take your breath away with shock as you wonder where have all those years gone???  One of those moments happened recently to me.

My Mom called me in tears one evening last December to tell me that an old high school friend of mine had just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. What????? How could this be??? Candy is only a month older than me, she is still young, healthy and active. There must be some mistake! I clung to this hope of a mistake for a while, but that came crashing down when an exploratory surgery in late
December confirmed the doctors' diagnosis. I was devastated.

We moved from New Jersey to Virginia in the second half of my freshman year of high school. There is nothing worse for a teenager than to be uprooted at that age from their friends and all they have ever known growing up and transported to a totally different high school, much less state. I hated it. It was like moving to a foreign country.  I had a very hard time adjusting. I was different. I was called "Yankee" (I wasn't aware the Civil War was still going on! I had learned from history class that it had ended long ago.) I was teased for my accent and I felt like I didn't belong, the ultimate disaster for a teenager. That summer I retreated into my room and immersed myself in books. Luckily for me in that same summer, a thin, long blond haired girl from up the street named Candy took the initiative to extend the hand of friendship to The New Girl. We became fast friends and for a while were inseparable. Eventually our studies took us in different directions and different classes. We eventually grew apart and lost touch after high school. Throughout the years, I heard about her from Mom who is still friends with Candy's Mom, Judy. I knew that she had moved to Japan for a while and that she had come back to the US a few years ago and was now living in Va. Beach. It didn't really seem like that long ago to me that we were in high school. Until that phone call. As I stood there in shock the realization of just how many years had gone by hit me full force. Where had all those years gone??????  Shock. Confusion. Anger. Disbelief. Horror. Fear. Sadness. I felt them all. I also felt helpless. There was nothing I could do! Or was there? Much as I wanted to reach out and cure her, to wipe the terror from her life, I could not. But I could let her know how much I cared. As I had during just about every turmoil in my life, I turned to knitting. I picked a beautiful shade of yarn of the softest yarn I could find and I started knitting her a prayer shawl. I also asked Mom to find out if she would like me to make her a rosary in her birthstone colors of peridot. She did. So I made her one of those, too.

Mom told me that Judy had brought Candy home here to Lynchburg from Va. Beach for Christmas. She was due to start chemo treatments in January. I bought a "thinking of you" card and mailed it to Candy and gave her my phone number and told her to call me if she needed anything or if she just wanted to talk. She responded the day she got the card. In mid January, Mom and I went to go see her. I took her the rosary. She read the Praying the Rosary instructions that went with it and smiled and said, "There is a lot here that this old Protestant girl can understand! It's not that different after all. I don't believe that there are separate entrances in heaven for the different religions." Neither do I.

Candy's Rosary

During that visit, it was just as if those years had never flown by. Just for a brief moment in time, we were once again those carefree teenagers with our whole lives in front of us and not a care in the world. She certainly looked much the same as I remembered. She still had those beautiful long, blond natural curls I had always envied. My hair is very dark and very straight. And she still had that naturally slender, athletic build. For me, weight has always been a struggle. So I had always envied her that, too. During that visit, I could almost convince myself that nothing was wrong. She was fine. Almost.

Candy and Judy returned to Va. Beach the next week to begin chemo. I continued my knitting on the shawl that was 2/3 of the way finished. As I knitted it, I thought of those two teenage girls and cried. I poured all the love, hope, prayer, good feelings and intentions and all the positivity I could into those stitches. In each and every stitch was a memory, a prayer, a hope, a dream. Now, I have this odd habit. Whenever I knit something that takes me a while, I become attached to it and I name it. The shawl started out as the Prayer Shawl, but as I knitted it, I realized that the beautiful blending colors reminded me of a kind of old fashioned candy that we used to have when we were growing up - ribbon candy. Thus the shawl's name became Ribbon Candy Shawl. Especially appropriate for someone named Candy, after all!

Ribbon Candy Shawl

Judy and Candy returned to Lynchburg the following week and Mom and I went once again to visit and take her the Ribbon Candy Shawl. She loved it and she really loved the name. She and Judy now also call it by its given name. Before they returned from Va. Beach, Judy had told Mom on the phone that Candy was losing her hair due to the chemo. I make chemo caps for the cancer patients using one of my all time favorite chemo cap patterns, the "No Hair Day Hairy Chemo Cap." As the fun fur fad has faded over the last few years, I had taken advantage of all the balls of it that I could find in the dollar stores and I have amassed a rather large stash of it for these really cute chemo caps. I took all of the colors I had with me to show Candy so she could pick out one. She chose a variegated purple color. Appropriate since purple is the color for pancreatic cancer. Candy still did not look that much different. Her long hair had been cut into a short chin length bob that was really cute on her with her curly hair. It didn't look thinner. But then she showed us how fast it was falling out. "Watch my parlor trick," she said as she ran her hands through her hair. She held her hands out and between the fingers was a great deal of hair. She was due to go back to Va. Beach the next week for more chemo. Judy said they would return to Lynchburg in 2 weeks. I told her I would have her "No Hair Day Hairy Chemo Cap" ready.

Candy's No Hair Day Hairy Chemo Cap

http://www.headhuggers.org/patterns/kpatt10.htm

Two weeks ago when I saw Candy, I could detect the toll that the chemo was taking. She was now painfully thin and fragile looking, and her hair was noticeably thinner. She went back the following week for the last of the chemo treatments and she is due this week to have CT scans and other tests to find out the status of the cancer. From there, they will decide on the course of further treatments. Next on the list is radiation treatments.  When those are finished, Judy plans to bring Candy home to Lynchburg to stay.  When that happens, I plan on spending some more time with Candy. Mom and Dad and I plan to take her and Judy to the beautiful Awareness Garden dedicated to cancer patients and their families and anyone touched by cancer. http://www.awarenessgarden.org/awg/.  There are lots of places I want to take Candy to see when she is feeling up to it. She has been away from Lynchburg for a long time, and much has changed. But the friendship we shared as teenagers did not change. It did not fade away and die. I realize now that we are, and always have been friends. I have a feeling I will be spending a considerable amount of time with Candy for another reason.  She told me when I took her the chemo cap that she wants to learn to knit so that she has something to do while she recovers. She said that she really wants to learn to knit chemo caps for others patients going through the same thing she is going through. It is a request I am more than happy to grant. After all, what are friends for? And I have plenty of fun fur to share! I hope knitting brings Candy as much comfort and joy as it has me throughout the years. It seems fitting to me that knitting has created a bridge for us to cross the very fabric of time itself to reach those teenage girls we thought we had lost so long ago, only to discover they have been in our hearts all along. 

"FO's" and A Gathering of Knit Wits

First, the FOs:

The Magical Mobius

The Aloha Virginia Tech Scarf

I am still working on the I cord necklace.  I wanted to make an I cord long enough to loop around twice, but alas, it doesn't look like there will be enough yarn for that, so I will have to settle for one loop.  I hope to finish knitting the cord today and then dig through my beading supplies for the perfect clasp to finish the necklace off. And I think I have the perfect glass pendant to use.  I would like to have it finished in time for The Gathering of the Knit Wits that will take place after work tomorrow.  Last Friday, Robin, Ronni and I had such a good time at Motif that we decided to meet this Thurs. after work (the one day that Motif is open past 4 pm).  Ronni is taking the Magical Mobius class and Robin and I are bringing our knitting along to cheer her on.  Bonnie and Ronda are also planning to come along.  I am going to bake a pan of chocolate chunk brownies for the occasion.  Last week when we were in Motif, another customer brought in some homemade zucchini bread which Karen shared with all of us there.  She joked that bringing in food was one of the new "rules" for sitting and knitting.  I thought it sounded like a pretty good rule, so I decided it would be "my turn" this week.  Maybe we can start a Thurs afternoon tradition this way.  Sounds like a fabulous way to unwind after work to me! 

Now, what shall I knit at The Gathering?  The choices are:

1. to start the Katia Triana lace scarf,

2. to continue working on my Ella Mae lace merino socks that I started when my cousin Cynthia was visiting

last month  

or

3. give up trying to resist the Siren Call of the Magical Mobius and start another one in a lovely sparkly yarn

The Sparkly Magical Mobius choice is currently in the lead!

The "Smallest" Skein of Yarn

I finished binding off the Magical Mobius last night.  I love it!  It turned out long enough to wrap twice around my neck.  I was playing with wearing it different ways and I think the way I like the best is with the twist in the middle of the upper loop.  I might have had enough yarn to go around once more, but I decided to play it safe and stop where I was.  With the leftover yarn I think I will make some I cord bracelets.  There are 2 fiber types left, one is sparkly and the other is soft microfiber so they will make pretty bracelets.  Or maybe I will make a long I cord and use it as a necklace, long enough to wrap twice around the neck, and hang one of those glass pendants on the shorter loop.  Hmmmmmmmmm..........  Possibilities! 

So, what to knit next?  Why, this of course:

It is a ball of Katia Aloha in Virginia Tech's orange and maroon colors (color 302).  I thought that it might make a cute little scarf (or boa) for my niece Megan to wear to football games.  She is leaving for her freshman year at Virginia Tech in about 10 days.  This is without a doubt the "smallest" skein of yarn I have ever bought - a mere 7 yards!  The boa is knit on size 50 knitting needles. With only 7 yards to work with, this should be a really quick knit - if I can get the hang of knitting with those clumsy telephone poles!

And after that?

I am going to try this yarn for the first time.  It is a test knit for possible Christmas presents.  I like playing with the fun and unusual yarns.  This should be another quick knit. 

Beyond that..............  Wait a minute.  Did you hear that?  I think I hear the Siren Call of the Magical Mobius calling my name!   It is saying, "Liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiisa.............how about another Magical Mobius......... a shorter one..........only one loop.......... all one color this time..............made out of a yarn with a little metallic sparkle............."

WARNING! Knitting a Magical Mobius is Addictive

The Magical Mobius in Progress

This is the result (so far) of the Magical Mobius class.  They warned me at Motif that knitting these can be addictive, and they were right!  I am already planning my next couple of Mobii (Mobiuses?).  Also at Motif was this intriguing yarn:

Looks like a great Christmas present project!  (or 2 or 3!)

It amazes me how fast 2 hours can go when you are having a great time.  The class flew by and I enjoyed it and meeting new people and knitting with a group.  Knitters are the nicest people!

Magical Mobius Knitting Class

I will be headed out in the 99 degree heat in just a little while to go to a knitting class at Motif, the Magical Mobius class.  The lady that owns Motif took a class from the one and only Cat Bordhi to learn how to knit the Magical Mobius, and just started teaching this class this summer.  I have been trying to take one of Karen's classes (especially the entrelac class) for a year now and this is the first one that I have been able to work it out so that I could go.  I got Tanya to work for me today.  I am hoping that Robin manages to come, but that is iffy since her son is mowing grass for relatives in Salem this morning, and they have to come all the way back. Ronda is supposed to come - Bonnie is coming in to work early for her today so, but she will just be coming in squeaking under the wire before the class starts at 2pm.  It goes from 2 to 4.  Yesterday after work I went by there and chose my yarn and paid for my class and of course, had to use my sock coupon!  For socks I bought these:

love the little bit of glitter in this one!

love Noro anything!

and for my yarn choice for my Magical Mobius class, there is this:

glitter and fluff and ribbons and fabulous!

I am really excited about the class!  I hope Robin and Ronda can make it OK.  I enjoyed sitting in the shop after work yesterday.  It is such a nice and quiet and relaxing environment, so much different than the one I had been in all day long.  I wouldn't mind making a habit of stopping there and knitting something after work on Thursdays for a while.  Unfortunately, Thursday is the only day that she is open past 4pm.  I have been trying to convince some people at work that we should go somewhere like B&N or Givens Books or somewhere with a nice quiet coffee shop and sit and knit one day after work, but everyone is so busy.  Maybe when the weather cools off and vacations are over and the kids go back to school.  I think I'm going to head over there a bit early.  Gonna soak up some more of that relaxing atmosphere!

What's the purpose of that?

Good question.  One that has been bothering me for a few weeks now.  It all started with Oprah.  Or, rather the end of Oprah.  During the big week (at least) long Bruhaha surrounding The Last Oprah Show, I happened to see Dr. Phil one night on World News at 6:30.  He was discussing how he was going to make it his life's work to be sure that everyone found that one thing in life that they really get excited about, their "Life's Purpose." The "One Thing" that makes them excited to get up in the morning and is "The Spark" that makes life exciting.  Dr. Phil's advice was to find that one thing that you really want to do, and start taking steps to make it a reality. I paused during my dinner preparations to ponder this for a minute and was hit with the sudden realization that I do not have this "One Thing."  Oh sure, I have lots of hobbies I enjoy, lots of things I like to do, but that "One Thing" that makes me get up in the morning excited about life?  What IS that?  I don't know.  And worse than that, now I realize that I don't know!  Ok, so now I am aware of a previously unknown "void" in my life, how do I go about finding "That Which Will Fill The Void?"  Thanks a lot Dr. Phil!  I didn't even realize I was "incomplete" until you told me I was!