Waiting for Rain
Last weekend I bought a new pattern, and started knitting my first shawl. The pattern is called "Waiting for Rain", and the choice was not incidental. Browsing the amazing range of patterns by Sylvia McFadden, I was initially looking for the Somber shawl, but I don't have the correct needle size or appropriate yarn with me.
But then, my eyes landed on the Waiting for Rain pattern. I had most of the yarn, and the right needles. And it just fit so well with where I am in my travels and my life at the moment. The last 10 weeks I have been doing placement in a few different spots, all of which are currently in drought. There was rain forecast for this weekend, then the end of the week, and it was immensely hoped for. The project was a very physical expression of the needs of the parts of rural Australia I've been visiting.
I started knitting. The lace sections were fun! And pretty! And addictive! I was using the same beautiful colours I'd been using in my "Matchy Matchy" jumper and cowl (I gave it a name). Like I said, this was my first shawl knit and I was excited to see how the construction came together and how it looked. I had to think about a third colour to add in. Do I choose mustard? Or blue? In the end a trip to Lincraft inadvertently made the decision for me. My stitch count increased as the week went on, and I was regretting how many ends were going to be needed to be sewn in, a task I do not enjoy (the ends occur when you change colours, and they are a pain!).
And then, we arrived at the end of the week. The events in New Zealand made me feel heartsick. So awful, so completely wrong. How do we change the political discourse? Checking for news updates while repeating my way through garter stitch rows back and forth was all my head could handle. (Garter stitch is the simplest, most basic type of knitted fabric).
But as well, my wishing worked! Well, not really because of my wishing, but still. It rained, on Friday and again today! Not drought ending rain but enough for a reprieve, to grow some green pick and breathe out for a while.
And then, this afternoon, after a quiet and cosy weekend mostly spent knitting, I cast off (casted off? Cast off-ed?) my Waiting for Rain, made whilst spent waiting for rain. It's beautiful, warm, with pretty colours and ends all sewn in. I'm looking forward to blocking it-the pattern instructions direct me to "block aggressively"-when I'm home, and wearing it when the weather cools down.
I hope it rains where you are soon.
But then, my eyes landed on the Waiting for Rain pattern. I had most of the yarn, and the right needles. And it just fit so well with where I am in my travels and my life at the moment. The last 10 weeks I have been doing placement in a few different spots, all of which are currently in drought. There was rain forecast for this weekend, then the end of the week, and it was immensely hoped for. The project was a very physical expression of the needs of the parts of rural Australia I've been visiting.
 |
| It's dry |
I started knitting. The lace sections were fun! And pretty! And addictive! I was using the same beautiful colours I'd been using in my "Matchy Matchy" jumper and cowl (I gave it a name). Like I said, this was my first shawl knit and I was excited to see how the construction came together and how it looked. I had to think about a third colour to add in. Do I choose mustard? Or blue? In the end a trip to Lincraft inadvertently made the decision for me. My stitch count increased as the week went on, and I was regretting how many ends were going to be needed to be sewn in, a task I do not enjoy (the ends occur when you change colours, and they are a pain!).
 |
| I chose mustard-something different for me |
 |
| Pretty lace in garter stitch |
But as well, my wishing worked! Well, not really because of my wishing, but still. It rained, on Friday and again today! Not drought ending rain but enough for a reprieve, to grow some green pick and breathe out for a while.
And then, this afternoon, after a quiet and cosy weekend mostly spent knitting, I cast off (casted off? Cast off-ed?) my Waiting for Rain, made whilst spent waiting for rain. It's beautiful, warm, with pretty colours and ends all sewn in. I'm looking forward to blocking it-the pattern instructions direct me to "block aggressively"-when I'm home, and wearing it when the weather cools down.
 |
| Definitely needs some aggressive blocking |
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