Laminaria

Presenting... Laminaria!

Laminaria - Elizabeth Freeman

Misti Alpaca - Hand Paint Lace #14

Addis Lace Needles - US5 or 3.75mm

70" x 37"

For Mary

My first Estonian Lace project. Everything about this shawl fascinated me and I am totally in love. Lots of squealing and happy dancing once I got it pinned out - see how it's a chevron block?

This shawl has it all! Grace, elegance, flow, challenging & rewarding pattern, and the color really does look like it's from the sea.

I have my trust issues with alpaca and was nervous that a tear would appear while blocking, therefore, Kamati wasn't allowed anywhere near it. I told him, "No hoofs or horns!" Yes, non stop chattering, then pouting resulted. ;)

I love this so much that I'm going to make another one for myself out of my precious Alpaca with a Twist (alpaca & silk) that's a dark red. The pattern should show up clearer with a solid color.

Trip to Morocco

So, now I'm working on Magic Carpet Ride by Susan (A Few Stitches Short) with beads. Yarn & pattern kit from Kim (Woolen Rabbit.) My rabbit's label says it's name is Smoothie, which is appropriate, since the yarn is smooth.

The dye job has such depth, that it looks like it has silk in it, but it's merino. The color (Moroccan spice) looks like paprika.

Marie - owner of Main Street Yarn

Okay, long story about me. :)

So, a year ago, I went to Main Street Yarn in Mill Creek for their annual sale. I went to pay and Marie looks at me over her glasses and says, "You're a fabulous lace knitter, aren't you?!" I nervously giggled and asked what made her think that? She said, "I hate to admit it, but I was watching you! You went straight for the lace yarn, picked out all my favorites, then did a quick walk through the rest of the shop. Nobody buys that kind of yarn unless they're fabulous!" I was speechless. She asked me to bring in something I'm proud of (not to be confused with something that you like, but there are problems with, blah blah blah...)

I showed her my Leaves and Trellis shawl - Zephyr-Aegean from VLT. She pranced it throughout the shop, showed all her workers and friends and left me to entertain her class. She came back and said, "oooh, look at me! I'm holding it like it's something precious! which it is! We were going to hold a lace contest, but you would win because you would be the only entry." Again, I was speechless and thinking, little does she know, but I wouldn't enter a lace contest!

She asked me if I wanted to display my lace in her shop. I told her I give everything away and the one she's holding is the only one I've kept. She told me that I could display my work for as short as a week if I wanted. I told her I would think about it.

I was in denial. Every time I walked in her shop, she would say, "Hey! You got something for me?" I would be looking around wondering who she was talking to! :) I had my blunder (unst) and got distracted with sweaters and gifts. Then 2008 rolled around and I was thinking about my life. Wooly could tell something was on my mind and called me out. I told him about Marie's offer to display my shawls. Wooly told me that it's an extreme honor to be asked to do that, so I had better get off my ass and make her some shawls. (Don't you love him?!)

I decided my deadline was the sale in April and managed to make Simurgh and Wing o Moth to take along with Leaves and Trellis. I liked that I had a variety of shapes, yarn & methods - something for everyone.

4/4/08 rolls around, and I walk in thinking I'm going to drop them off, shop and be gone since they're busy. I walk up to Marie and tell her I've got something for her. I made her day. She says, "We're going to do a Tah Dah!" I'm looking for an exit. Marie says, "Michele, follow me!" I say, "You know you're killing me, right?!" She says, "Yep, but we're doing an 'oooh & aaaw!' " So I follow her across the busy store to a table full of women knitting (a class). She stands at the head of the table and announces, "Okay, we're doing an 'oooh & aaaw!" Everyone's excited. I'm standing next to Marie, bending over trying to make myself look small. Then I feel the blood rush to my face, so I stand up and put my hands over my face (Brigitte - I swear it was paybacks for laughing so hard at Atticus' vet visit!). Marie's still talking and has everything out of the bag and is showing Leaves and Trellis. Then she pulls out Simurgh and announces that I knit it in a week - which totally snapped me out of my panic attack! I said, "What?! Marie, wasn't it a year ago that you asked me to bring in something!" So, then I help hold Simurgh and Wing o Moth, then tell Marie I'm going to shop now. She corners me later and says, "You know me, I'm going to do a perfect display... did you see that lady touching your shawl? I wanted to yell out 'NO TOUCHING!!' "

See, Marie 'gets' it! They are precious... that's why I love her and trust her with my babies!

Oh, and hooray for me for getting off my ass and taking advantage of an opportunity! :D

The Laminaria I'm making for myself will be the next one I take to Marie... chevron, Estonian Lace...

So, if you're in the area, go say "hi" to Marie. I can't wait to see her 'perfect' display! :)

Happy Knitting!