Wednesday 29 February 2012

I have almost finished my shawl

And yet, because it is a circular shawl, all I can show you is a slightly bigger white lump.
I cross out my completed rows in a mad obsessive manner carefully
And, not even that much bigger. Because, as it is a circular shawl, you finish the middle bit quickly and then the edging essentially takes you The Rest Of Your Life. You labour and slave for days and nights, heedless of the passage of time, heedless of the play of clouds, sunshine and shadow, outside your neglected window. Your hair grows. The skin under your eyes darkens. Cross-eyed and frantic, you sit with your fingers working independently of your conscious mind, your body twitching frenetically. Lo! You have knitted a row and added a mm to the diameter of your shawl.

When people say to me, gosh, knitting, I am not sure I would have the patience, do you know what I say? I say, yes, I agree, I am not sure I have the patience either, I shall give up the whole thing and do something easier. Indeed: come on, Andrew Lansley, bring me your white paper or your green paper or whatever it is, I am sure I can draft you out something that will be acceptable to the BMA, Nick Clegg, that woman who told you off, hardline conservatives and popular opinion as evidenced in the Daily Mail and Loose Women, and it will only take me half an hour before dinner and will be easier than knitting this damn shawl.

Entirely hypothetically, if I ever wanted to think about collecting 2 skeins of different-coloured sock yarns to knit a Cladonia at some possible point in the future, does anyone have any ideas about where might be a good place to look?

12 comments:

Eskimimi Makes said...

Ah, but it will be AMAZING when it's finished.

Between Me and You said...

Ravelry - UK Classifieds Board - always loads of beautiful yarns including Madeline Tosh there for sale, sometimes at knock-down prices, sometimes not but if it's what you're after, who cares?!
Your white shawl is just gorgeous....keep on knitting.....you can tell how much my life has changed from my youth....I used to say 'keep on trucking'!

Anonymous said...

It's really not that bad. I don't know what pattern you're knitting, but I've made the Artemis pattern three times, and after row 107, it has 1152 stitches per round. For 70 rounds. And the bind off.

Feel better now?

The Foggy Knitter said...

Nana Go-Go has a point, there is some MadTosh up there right now in two shades that would go well together.

Otherwise maybe look at some UK indie dyers? I've been eyeing up "SweetClement" and "TheUncommonThread" on etsy lately (though I haven't knit with either yet), "Dyeforwool" is also in my favourites on etsy. And I'm a huge fan of "Abstract Cat" who sells on folksy and misi (and takes requests if she doesn't have anything suitable).

Have I ever mentioned I love your blog posts? Is there any way you could sort out Mr Lansley and co. and sort out the health service at the same time? Be the best of all possible worlds, as I believe Monsieur Voltaire once said.

Anonymous said...

I have to second Foggy Knitter on Dyeforwool. I have some of their lace weight, and it's gorgeous. Generous yardage and great prices. It's positively yummy.

Vivianne said...

Abstract Cat (she should pay me commission LOL) Wharfedale Woolworks & The Knitting Goddess. The Yarn Cafe. My friend likes Violet Green.

Between Me and You said...

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/uk-classifieds/2048676/1-25

Ness said...

I can't tell you where to find yarn, but I can tell you Cladonia goes mighty fast (especially after a circular shawl!) and will instantly become your favorite, so pick colors that go with every item in your wardrobe! :)

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