Yesterday, I had the pleasure of having lunch with Niki who knit the shawl I found in a Charlottesville resale shop. Her friend Barbara joined us. This shawl has a history and story to go with it now and Niki is pleased to have it back in her family.
She knit the shawl in the early 1970s and gave it to her mother. When her mom passed away in 1997, her sisters cleaned out the house and gave the shawl away. Nobody knows where it's been since, but I found it in April. Finally, Niki has it back in her possession and this is where a piece like this belongs.
Knitting lace can be a difficult process in my mind. It's hard to make stitches uniform and pretty with all those yarn overs. For every stitch a knitter creates knitting lace, one has to be taken away. Often, what a appears to be a messy blob of yarn when finished, comes to life when it's blocked and takes its final shape. This particular piece is very pretty and Niki said this shawl was her first big project. She said it took forever to create because she was working as a teacher and didn't have a lot of time to devote to it. Her creation is wonderful and at nearly 40 years old, has weathered time rather well.
I'm a little disappointed that I was unable to spend more time with Barbara, who is also a knitter and Niki. I was working though and had to rush off after only an hour with these lovely women. We talked about knitting, yarn stores, yarn and families. We discussed the possibility of meeting up next spring for a trip to the east to attend the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. I hope we can do this. It sounds like such a fun event to attend.
I didn't have time to even have dessert with Niki, but she was prepared. She brought me a little something from the chocolate capital of the country, her home, Hershey, Pennsylvania. Thank you for lunch and for the chocolate Niki. I hope to see you soon.
5 comments:
that IS a good yarn. a darn good yarn! she must have been thrilled to get that back.
so cool of you.
This story is so special you should have it published in a knitting magazine! Seriously! I don't knit anymore but if this were a quilting story I would love to read about it in a magazine.
Nice ending, or maybe it's another beginning? Keep me posted on the MSWF plans (a year away I know) cause I've been wanting to go for 2-3 years now and haven't made it yet. Meeting blog friends might be just the incentive I need to finally get there (it's really not that far to go) As for our moving, I'm about at the overwhelmed stage right now; boxes, boxes everywhere and still so much to go! But it'll all be worth it come September!
PS I agree with Brenda about publishing!
Laurie: She was thrilled to get it back. I hope she sees this post and adds her impressions.
Brenda: I've never submitted anything for publishing, but I'll think about it.
Rose: I think MSWF is a great idea for getting together. I know my sister wants to go and I'd make Charlottesville my base of operations. It's the first full week of May. We should start planning. Maybe there is a nearby B & B.
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