Wednesday, August 15, 2012

30!!!! And a Hidden Friend

What do you think of my 30th finished project of the year?  This is a horrible picture of a not so horrible shawl.  You know my photography skills leave much to be desired.  Pammy Sue, I hope you don't mind me giving you a shout out, but you were the inspiration for this shawl.  Pammy Sue can be found on the very fun blog Scotty's Place.  This is a version of the Boho Hippie Shawl she made based on the Country Cotton Shawl found on Lion Brands Website.  This shawl is a  free pattern. Once you are visiting Lion Brand have a good look around, there are some lovely free patterns to download and enjoy.
A bit of a closer look if you don't mind.  One of the wonderful Medical Foster Care Mother's I work with gave me a skein of Knit Picks, Stroll Fingering yarn.  It is hand painted 75%  super-wash Merino/ 25% Nylon.  I decided to use this beautiful yarn to make the shawl even though it wasn't the correct yarn for the project.  I did not double up the yarn as the pattern suggested, because frankly I did not have enough yarn to work with.  I almost used the entire 462 yards of the yarn to complete the shawl.  It is very light weight and airy.  I am not normally a blocker, I envy the patience of all of you out there pinning, and wetting, and pulling things into shape.  Not me.  No I either iron it or wet it down, give it a good shake and let it dry.  Probably not the best method, but it usually works.
I have never used Knit Picks Yarn, so I was pleasantly surprised at how lovely it was.  And when I gave it a good soaking, not one color ran.  I crocheted this during the last week of the Olympics.  After it was dry I folded it up, plopped it in a gift bag and gave it right back to the lovely woman who gifted the yarn to me.  She is so wonderful, she is an amazing Mother and friend.  She has welcomed me into her home for five years now, twice a week for hours at a time so I can work with her kids.  I think she deserved a little shawl love.  She has recently learned to crochet which of course makes me so happy.
While sitting outside the other day, taking some dead ends off my Christmas Cactus, I briefly parted the leaves, see who was peeking back at me.
Have a great day and thanks for the lovely thoughts on my last post.  We make it through all kinds of Change whether we want to or not.  Hopefully I can get through these times with some grace.

21 comments:

Claudia said...

You will. You'll get through the whole thing with grace, my sister.

xo
Claudia

Stitchy Mc Floss said...

I love the shawl! How sweet and kind of you to gift it back to the lady who gave you the yarn. And Yay! another crocheter out there. :)

Not sure I would not have fainted if I had seen your new "friend" out there in the garden. Ok, I am sure I could have! :)

Sending happy thoughts and hugs your way....Hugs to Max, too.

blessings always

Bridget said...

I love that - it seems a perfect match for the yarn, and it would seem go with everything!

30 finished projects? Wow.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure she loved your gift :) And I simply must ask, is that creature in your cactus a frog? I've never seen such a sly looking amphibian!
~Lacey

deebriese said...

Wow...She is going to love it..30 projects your ambitious! Have a great day!

MaryMargaret said...

It would amaze me if you got through it with anything other than grace. Beautiful shawl, and I love the fact that you Christmas cactus is outside! I'm too chicken to let mine venture out.

Kris said...

Love the shawl. Love Pammy Sue.
Is that a snake or a frog. Please say frog!!
XO Kris

linda said...

I love the shawl it's beautiful, lovely colours, I'm not sure about your visitor though! :)

Susanne Tyree said...

The nice thing about getting older is you kinda have a free reign to behave the way you want. By that time you have earned it and not too many people question behavior or motives. I can not imagine you not aging gracefully, you seem like such a sweet person. I rest my case because of the yarn and the beautiful shawl, and so many other kindnesses you have done. I know we are not next door neighbors, but feel we are blog friends. That means a lot to me.
(((HUGS))) Susanne

kathy b said...

Did you kiss that toad? Or is it a snake???

Great shawl work Meredith!!!

JCDiTaranto said...

Hope you get back the karmic hug you gave away with that beautiful shawl!

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

I love that shawl. And I love that you gifted it to the very person who gave you the yarn in the first place. I bet she was shocked, surprised and very grateful. With all those colors, it can be worn with just about anything. Beautiful! Happy mid-week to you! Tammy

Anonymous said...

Beautiful shawl!

The little frogs love hunkering down in my pitcher plant or in my orchids. I figure they help with the insect population so I don't evict!

WildflowerWool said...

I am not even sure what your "friend" is (really hoping not a snake) but I know he would have scared me to death! Love the shawl. What a lucky lady to be receiving it.

Mrs. Micawber said...

Wow, the shawl is beautiful! Keeping the yarn single was a good choice - doubled up you'd miss the wonderful colour changes.

The toad looks rather smiley. :) (Or frog?)

Eileen said...

Love the shawl and the yarn is perfect for the boho style! At first I thought it was a snake in your plant. I had to enlarge the picture to see it was a toad! Whew! Glad it wasn't a snake!

Babajeza said...

Of course you can. :-) Nice shawl!

Red said...

30? Wow.. That is really amazing. I suppose if I couldn't each dishcloth I would reach 30 a year. LOL Beautiful shawl. The colors are glorious!! Your visitor is too cute. I've not seen my friend the toad lately. I did, however, lift a cone yesterday to find a small field mouse and what I think could be one of her kids. LOL I had to build them a little "house" to replace the cone I took away.

Pooch said...

I think your 30th project has inspired me to make it for my next prayer shawl for our church care ministry. Thank you!

I also think that, had I seen the little critter peering at me whilst I parted the leaves, I would choke on my bubble gum--if I chewed bubble gum!

:)

Annie Cholewa said...

30 projects! That's some output!! And this last is gorgeous.

You have more grace than most of the bloggers I visit Mere ... you'll be okay x

Gracie Saylor said...

WOW!!! 30 beautiful projects, Meredith. I especially like the colors of the shawl and I like giving shawls as gifts,too, because it is a way of sending hugs to someone each time they use the shawl.

Hey Mere, I wonder if we could work some feathers into the shawls we give away...or maybe send the shawl with a feather pin to hold it on. Wouldn't that be cool?
You've got my brain stuck on that image of a hen hugging her chicks :)
Gracie xxx