Happiness is worth the work
Thursday April 08th 2010, 10:48 pm
Filed under: Knit,Life

I wrote that post last night, then put down the computer in determination and went back to that big swatch.  I no longer cared how late it was.

Knit that last part again.

Nope, not that; do it again.

No, not that is not it; do it again. C’mon.

No, let’s try–it shouldn’t, I don’t think it will but let’s–wait–okay, get a little further to make sure the effect holds with other stitches pulling from their own directions–that DOES work! That’s exactly the effect I was trying to get!  That’s IT!!! I was so excited I could hardly stand it. I DID it, I DID it! After all this time, I DID IT!!! No knitting software, just me and my needles and yarn, hard at work trying and raveling and trying again. I did it!

A lace pattern I haven’t seen anywhere else. An edging pattern that, likewise, I haven’t seen anything quite like it anywhere else.  Together they create exactly the effect I’d wanted.  Shel Silverstein with his “Put something new in the world that hasn’t been there before,” definitely knew the feeling: it’s like being a little kid opening the best presents.

The two patterns flow into each other and complete each other utterly perfectly.  As an art dealer’s daughter, my stitches are the paint I draw with.  It dawned on me then, that if I wanted so many of these to represent so many of those, let’s see, how many stitches in the main body would I need on the next shawl for it to work out that way… I sat down with pen and paper and did the math.

It was already there.  It. Is. Perfect.  My first attempt was a year ago, and I’ve been stewing over ideas for how to improve it for some time.

I’ve nailed it.  I was just dancing, jabbering, insufferably gleeful.

That gleefulness was downright contagious around here; it’s a good feeling.

And now, after I finish the taxes I’m still plodding through (almost done!) and actually knit that edging onto this shawl I’m working on, I have to start from the very beginning.

And make real the next pattern that’s been bouncing around in my head.


12 Comments so far
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Isn’t that the most marvelous feeling, when it all comes together inside your head, and through your hands? I wonder sometimes how people who aren’t (or don’t consider themselves) creative, get through the day? I feel so close to Heaven when I’m making stuff, even if it isn’t going well. Maybe, especially then.

Comment by Lynn 04.09.10 @ 4:16 am

Félicitations! What a wonderufl news and a contagious feeling of accomplishment!

I shall have a carrot cookie to celebrate with you, later today. 🙂

Comment by Suzanne in Montreal 04.09.10 @ 5:42 am

Give her a piece of string and a couple sticks and she can make anything.

Comment by Sherry in Idaho 04.09.10 @ 6:20 am

You are on a roll! I hope I’m so cheerful as I face our taxes tomorrow…

Comment by Channon 04.09.10 @ 6:33 am

You’ve lit my fire! Will we get to share this pattern in any way? (After you finish your taxes, of course, and I my own ASAP.)

Comment by Luise 04.09.10 @ 8:39 am

Well, I’m no knitter, but I do know that feeling! Gonna give us a purdy pitcher?

Fun –

There was a young woman of Leeds
Who swallowed six packets of seeds.
In a month, silly lass,
She was covered with grass,
And she couldn’t sit down for the weeds.

Comment by Don Meyer 04.09.10 @ 9:02 am

I’m thrilled with/for you. And already excited. I can’t wait to see it, and for some reason am pining (before it’s ever been knit) to test knit it for you!
Perhaps it’s because the ideas in my head are being less cooperative, and because life has been so very stressful lately that I just want to be a part of creating something NEW that WORKS!!!!

Comment by Helen 04.09.10 @ 11:15 am

So…. the yarn that I was so excited about? The one that doesn’t look so great in the pattern I thought would suit it? Keep trying? Thanks for the encouragement!

Comment by RobinM 04.09.10 @ 1:09 pm

How fun! Knit designing seems to be to be 3 parts architecture and one part magic!

I bet it wouldn’t be too hard to make a Ravelry download (hint, hint) 🙂

Comment by Deb 04.09.10 @ 2:22 pm

How wonderful! I can’t wait to see the result, but am so glad you didn’t wait to share the feeling.

Comment by twinsetellen 04.09.10 @ 5:17 pm

Anticipation……………

Comment by Julie 04.10.10 @ 8:06 am

YAY!!!!!!!

I am on what is probably the 7th attempt at writing a crochet pattern. I’ve never written a pattern for crochet before, I always just sat down and made what I wanted without chronicling it.

I am REALLY looking forward to your next book.

Comment by Diana Troldahl 04.10.10 @ 3:42 pm



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