This scarf is one of those projects where I have so much to say I don't even know where to begin.
This project, beaded bliss, stretched me as a knitter. I learned all sorts of new things.
I learned about beads and knitting, as well as the patience required to do so. I learned that it becomes easier and easier the more you do. So now I know that I would be willing to try another project that requires me to put beads into my knitting.
I learned that I'm willing to rip out knitting, even intricate knitting, over and over and over until I decide to just keep knitting no matter what.
I learned that it's possible to Kitchener stitch two pieces of intricate knitting together and not be able to tell where I did it, mostly. Even if I had to do it twice.
I learned that I'm willing to keep trying new things.
I've realized that I love knitting so much.
For its meditative qualities, as I feel calmer just picking up my needles. For the ability to attend to my children and knit without them thinking I'm ignoring them as opposed to when I pick up the telephone. For the love of yarn, my knitting friends, casting on new projects, casting off finished projects. For the ability to keep my family and myself warm....
What I love the very most though is that there seems to always be something else to learn. Some new cast-on or cast-off. A new technique for wrapping yarn. Chart reading. Mitre squares and beading....
The list goes on and on....
To Laura the lovely designer and the woman in charge of this KAL I had a fabulous time.
There were times when I was excited.
Times when I thought I'd quit.
Times I persevered unsure whether the result would look good.
Times when I thought I would never finish this fingering weight looooong scarf.
Times when I knew I would.
Times when I had to re-do the Kitchener stitch because somewhere along the way I lost a stitch and it was all askew.
Then the time when I finished, threw it in a bath, then stretched it on my blocking mats and waited for it to dry.
Then yesterday as I took these pictures I got to see the true beauty of the design. To feel the lovely weight of the beads. The light yarn laying around my neck. To see my daughter and her impish smile while wearing it.
Laura Daaarrrling, you're brilliant. Thank you for such a fun adventure.
Now, I'm just waiting for some cool weather to wear this bit of lovely!
To those of you out there who knit I strongly urge you to try something out of your comfort zone. Something that stretches you as a knitter, something that will simultaneously make you excited, want to quit, and in the end show you that perseverance pays off.
It's fun, uncomfortable and makes us who we are as knitters. Those willing to take a pile of wool and transform it into something. Those who can see the potential in small stitches. Those who love the feel of the yarn enough to be willing to try new things.
So what are you going to try?
