London’s water
Monday November 09th 2009, 10:40 pm
Filed under: Knit

Yeah, yeah, (just another shawl).

And it’s a pretty color, and yes, that Casbah is so soft, buuuut, really, it’s getting in the way of that Rooster Rock I want to dive into.

I remember reading a Jack London story I pulled out of the Cabin John Jr High library in 7th grade that really made no sense to me: two characters, one trying to re-create for his friend his memory of the most perfect drink ever.

London was an alcoholic, which I didn’t know then nor would I have known much about anyway, so it made no sense to me that the climax of the story was when they realized that the magic missing ingredient, the thing that had made the original drink what it had been, the thing so unknown but so sought after, was the addition of some–

–water.

To which my reaction was such a befuddled “Huh?” that I’ve never forgotten it.

So.

Here we have this lace addict.  Trying to re-create, more or less, the shawl she made for her friend Robin back home in Bethesda.

Here we have the lump I was left with when I was pretty much out of yarn, just 12 g left. And I couldn’t help but think, eh.

And then (after I took it off the uncovered futon, don’t worry) …I added water.

I can’t show you the recipe yet, but I tell you, the moment I stepped back and finally looked at that finished merino and cashmere lacework spread out felt absolutely magical.


16 Comments so far
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Oh, the suspense is killing me! I heard a little story once to the effect that Alfred Hitchcock could not stand suspense, to the extent that he had to have a window in his oven door. Call me Alf.

Comment by sherry in idaho 11.10.09 @ 2:29 am

Congrats on a magical lace work! I wanna see it now! 🙂 Uh huh, that is beautiful yarn.

Comment by Toni Smoky-Mountains 11.10.09 @ 4:40 am

Love that colorway. I’m not surprised that you could work your “magic”. Can’t wait to see it.

Comment by Joansie 11.10.09 @ 6:06 am

Was it a “aaaaaaaaaaaah!”, a “oooooooooooh!” or a “wow!” moment? hihihi

I agree with you : the colour is pretty. 🙂

Comment by Suzanne in Mtl 11.10.09 @ 6:28 am

That’s almost cruel, that teasing temptation… Incredible color though. Now, about that Rooster Rock…

Comment by Channon 11.10.09 @ 7:03 am

I’m just giggling away over here.

Mmmm… lace.

Comment by Liz U 11.10.09 @ 7:13 am

Umm . . . I’m going to go get a drink of water.

Comment by LauraN 11.10.09 @ 7:31 am

I love the wonderful things that happen when you “just add water”. Yummy color in that pile of yours.

Comment by Ruth 11.10.09 @ 9:46 am

“Water, water everywhere …” No, that’s the wrong quote. What’s fascinating is that the most valuable thing on earth is not gold, or silver, or (you name it), but WATER! Without it, we would not exist.

Fun –

FIFTY-PLUS HUMOR 
 
Q: Is it common for 50+ year-olds to have problems with short term memory storage? 
A: Storing memory is not a problem, retrieving it is a problem.
 
Q: As people age, do they sleep more soundly? 
A: Yes, but usually in the afternoon.
 
Q: Where do 50+ year-olds look for fashionable glasses? 
A: Their foreheads.
 
Q: What is the most common remark made by 50+ year-olds when they enter antique stores? 
A: “I remember these”.

Comment by Don Meyer 11.10.09 @ 10:38 am

The color is gorgeous! Lace is Very addictive, I know I’m hooked. 🙂

Comment by TripletMom 11.10.09 @ 12:13 pm

Question for you (or anyone else) Who was Cabin John? We sailed near Cabin John creek on the Chesapeake Bay and there is a Cabin John park in Bethesda and now you mention a school. We’ve wondered for a long time “Who was Cabin John?”

Comment by Judy Foldi 11.10.09 @ 12:46 pm

I grew up next to Cabin John Creek. There’s long been a rumor in the area of some hermit named John in a cabin, blahblahblah, but actually, it’s supposed to be a shortening of Captain John, as in Captain John Smith, the first person who sailed up and explored the Potomac River.

Comment by AlisonH 11.10.09 @ 1:15 pm

This looks absolutely gorgeous! I love, love, love the color. You would be proud if you saw my girls, both Elina and Sara, handling their knitting needles! Elina has started a more advanced project, a hat. Sara is still in the forgiving “knitting a rectangular mohair shawl on huge needles”-stage.

Comment by Monica 11.10.09 @ 2:11 pm

The suspense is killing me!

Comment by Karen 11.10.09 @ 6:44 pm

LOL Good simile :-}

Comment by Diana Troldahl 11.10.09 @ 7:55 pm

you are a magic woman!! i´m mexican. your hands make a beatifull things!!

how can I get yours books? i love yours shawls!!

Comment by silvia 12.10.09 @ 3:52 pm



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