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.