Remember when I came home from Rhinebeck and I had no pictures to post of fiber goodies purchased? There was a good reason for that……….a big chunk of my allowance went towards that large wheeled purchase. There was one fiberish item however that really grabbed my attention.
This stunning rectangular shawl that was hanging in Chris of Briar Rose’s booth, jumped out at me. Whilst it was hanging up on the wall and I couldn’t reach out and touch it, I knew how highly Chris’s yarns were held in regard by another friend, so I took a chance and ordered the kit as it was already sold out by the time I noticed it. (yep, we all loved that shawl it seems!)
Given that my house is always full of yarn, it is really hard for me to justify a yarn purchase, but this one needed no justification, it was stunning all on it’s own!
Well….the yarn and pattern arrived this week and it truly exceeded my expectations which were already quite high. The yarn is absolutely divine and the pattern is exquisite!
As I was reading the pattern, I did a Google search on the designer of the pattern. Lo and behold it was a woman who had recently purchased some yarns from me. Susan and I emailed each other a few times once I discovered who designed this beautiful shawl and she agreed to design a few patterns for my yarns as well I can’t wait to see what she comes up with as she is VERY talented! Go take a peek!
I am now into my 4th year of blogging and I feel that as a fiber artist I have truly grown because of blogging. I have been incredibly fortunate to meet and become friends with designers that I hold in high esteem such as Anne Hanson, Mim Felton, Susan Lawrence, Kerstin Kapur, Kate Gilbert and now Susan Pandolf.
I have such an incredible admiration for the women who design patterns for us as I can not fathom having the ability to design. The minute I even consider giving it a try, my brain takes a siesta. "Looks like a math word problem, sounds like a math word problem, therefore it must BE a math word problem". You know what I mean……remember that question…..if a train is traveling 200 miles an hour, how long will it take………see you DO know what I mean!
Perhaps it is one of those right brain/left brain kind of things, but I am grateful that the designs that these ladies come up with inspire not only me, but many of the women and men who dye the yarns that the designers and then ultimately you knit with.
Lately I have sensed a slight wind of change in blog land, where it may not be considered politically correct to show knitting in progress on blogs, but rather wait until you are finished and unveil the newly knitted item in it’s finished glory.
This makes me a bit sad, as I really do enjoy watching the process. I enjoy watching the designers show us how they create and I enjoy reading about the process of your knitting.
Yes, perhaps some of it does not turn out the way that we hoped it might, but I believe that we all learn not only from our successes, but from our failures as well. While I would hope that no one delights in someone else’s failures, I do think that we all can learn from it. So for now, I will continue to discuss both my success and failures on my fiber journey and I hope that you will too :-).
The Woolen Rabbit 
Kim, that colour is about my most favourite colour in the whole world 🙂
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And for me it is a pleasure and and honor to get to know talented fiber artists like yourself!
That shawl looks like it is going to be a beauty!
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What?! Since when are you not allowed to show your knits in progress? Whatever. If I did that, it would be a long long LONG time before I ever blog again. 😉
I fell in love with that pattern and the yarn. Absolutely in love. Can’t wait to see how it knits up for you. PLEASE SHOW PROGRESS PICTURES!
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I like seeing the in progress shots. I just seem to wait to post since I can’t post everyday so I usually have a FO to show when I can post.
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That is beautiful!
I haven’t been posting my in progress pictures lately because it’s mostly lace. But I will see if the light is any good tomorrow and take a few.
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oh dear, if i didn’t show work in progress i dunno what i’d blog about! there’s only so much fun i can poke at my housekeeping . . .
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I like to see “in progress” shots too. Even though I can be a sporatic blogger, there wouldn’t be much to show if I followed that trend.
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sporaDic… Iknew that didn’t look right!
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Yes, I like watching the progress of a knitter, too. If I didn’t report on that, I’d have very little knitting to post! 🙂
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yes please – progress photos… it keeps those of us who are hoping to accomplish something inspired 🙂
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You keep dyeing your gorgeous yarns and they can keep designing. Sounds like a win-win situation for the rest of US.
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What a gorgeous design! Definitely count yourself fortunate – I know some of those designers myself and they ARE great!!
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Susan has become a ‘friend’ of mine, too. She’s so talented in many ways. The shawl is gorgeous! I’ve noted the ‘only post when you have an FO’ wind, too. It maybe fine for some who don’t want to blog frequently, but I like the community of people who talk (obsessively?) about their knitting.
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Agree with you, one of the things I really enjoy is reading about what others are doing knitwise. Find it inspiring and motivates me to explore a world beyond my current project. This pattern looks lovely and I for one cannot wait to see it in progress!! Do think you are on a shawl journey however…I am also enjoying seeing what is new in the store, love the addition of the patterns and the idea of the kits. Have a great weekend!!!
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How exciting to have someone design for your yarn! Progress pictures to come, except for those quick knits that I always tend to gravitate to.
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Ha! The only reason I have shown mostly finished objects lately is because I have them to post. My infrequent posting and camnesia have left me with only fos to photograph (they don’t really change, ya know-I can take a pic anytime). My two most recent were knit ages ago. Well, months anyway.
You have a lot of gorgeous knitting ahead of you!
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That’s a lovely shawl! I like progress pictures too, but I haven’t been posting too many when it’s the same thing, and all photos would look alike. Who wants to see that I’ve added six more inches to the Seaweed wrap?
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Wow, you have a lot of Cheryls reading your blog! Interesting.
I’ll try to do better with the progress photos. I’ve been slacking on them lately.
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I adore knits in progress!! Show, show! I understand what you mean about the design part of knitting. It’s not for me! I have no left brain, whatsoever. Thank goodness for the great designers we do have, not to mention the great fiber artists like you, who provide the designers with the yarn, who make the designs, who knit the swatch. . .and this is the house that Jack built!!!!
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oooh, count me as an admirer too.
And what? Not show KIP? Isn’t that the whole freakin’ point?
Maybe people are just shy? and silly?
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Dear Kim,
This is totally off topic.
But in Dec.2005,you wrote about a little pair of red mittens.I loved them.
Ive thought of them for years.And i ve often wanted to knit a pair similar for myself.
please tell me,did you use a pattern?
Are the thumbs made with gussets?
Ive never knit mittens before at all.
Thanks
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This is the first I’ve heard of this ‘new trend’. I still see lots of WIP pics on blogs. I post them on my own blog too.
There are a few knit along blogs requiring only finished pics be posted but that’s because blogger can’t seem to handle the load.
That shade of violet is one of my most favorite colors.
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That Black Cherry colorway is a must have! I saw that shawl too- the one in the middle but in a different color?
As for KIP? How the hell are we supposed to learn life’s lessons in knitting without those photos and sharing the failures along with the successes? And it sure helps me to be inspired and to aspire to everyone out there sharing their KIPs. It’s all about the PROCESS. I am SO glad you’re NOT going to follow whose ever lead it is out there on that thought! Thank you for your contribution to my knitting learning process and all the fun!
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The Briar Rose is simply delicious! Can’t wait to see “in progess” – haha! I have also sensed this change of blogging, and myself waited to finish socks to post – odd? I think I will bore people if I keep showing the same WIP – but gosh, I am with you – love to see the process.
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On your side bar, under “What I am Knitting”, you show a Shetland Shawl. Just that little bit looks so pretty. Would you please tell me what pattern you are using?
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I absolutely love the cherry shawl yarn and pattern –what a beauty! I am having a hard time finding the kit at briar rose though… please do share the info and the wip pics… I love seeing the in between steps:)
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Hi! I’m here via Knitting the Blues (and so excited to discover some wonderful NH knitting blogs and artists! I’ve been away from NH for several years now, but I do miss it terribly, especially this time of year!)
I enjoy seeing progress pictures on the knitting blogs – and I truly hope that doesn’t go by the wayside! It certainly doesn’t detract from my experience as a reader – aside from the inspiration of seeing lovely FOs, I love to read about your process – what you are learning, what I can learn too, what worked for you in this particular instance, how you are handling the challenge of fit with this particular project. No doubt, there are lots of blogs that I visit for their visual appeal and incredible FOs, I admire and am even a little envious of the skill (and the speed for some of them!) – but I’m a new(er) knitter and have a ton to learn. I’m finding that blogging about the process is just an extension of this great creative outlet for me. I was happy to discover a Flickr group centered on WIPs and I’ve taken lately to posting some current test swatches on my blog when I have them to share (I learn something new with almost every one!). Thanks for bringing this up. I enjoyed this post and your blog very much I’ll definitely be back to see more progress (and your lovely fiber & yarns!) 🙂
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Hmm. Who are these blog police who are trying to dictate what any individual blogger should or shouldn’t put on her/his very own blog? I have not encountered any fervent rants on the practice of discussing and/or photographing WIPs, so I’m not sure what you are referring to when you mention “winds of change.” As far as I’m concerned, do whatever you want with your blog. I’ll read it or not read it as I please. Anyone who complains about the content on your blog or mine…they are free to unsubscribe. There! I feel better now. 🙂 (Btw, I found you through the link on Etherknitter’s blog.)
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I still blog my in progress items (if I remember to take a damn picture) 🙂
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“it may not be considered politically correct to show knitting in progress on blogs” What the ???! None of any one else’s biz what I write or show on my blog! If “they” don’t like it, they don’t have to look. Right?!
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Funny you mentioned winds of change because one of my recent commenters said she LOVED it when bloggers post progress shots. lol. As for me, I’ll continue posting progress shots…otherwise, I’d only post a picture once every 6 months. 🙂
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Who came up with that nonsense? Not politically correct to show progress shots? Isn’t that half of why we blog and read blogs?
Okay, IF it’s a progress shot of a design that you’ll be selling to a magazine, book, or yarn manufacturer, then I agree — progress shots are a no no. But we all knew that, and so make these obscure, showing only 2 square inch shots meant to tantalize and tempt.
But otherwise… blogland would be a poorer place without the progress shots. So many learn from these shots! We’re a resource, we bloggers with our progress shots!
ahem.
kicking over soap box now. And pausing to admire the shawl.
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Oh my . . . if I only blogged about FOs it would be months between the posts (possibly years!). I love seeing others’ WIPs since I get a sense if I can tackle them.
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I haven’t noticed a change in the wind… I love WIP posts – especially when I hear about problems, and how they are resolved!
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I don’t know if it’s really trending that way (toward not posting wips) in its own right, or if the blogging crowd is just really busy right now and trying to make the blogging work. I know for me I would LOVE to show you all my wips and how they’re coming, but I keep forgetting to take pictures with all the crazy hectic stuff going on and then I don’t get pics until it’s done when I FORCE myself to take the pictures.
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I like math word problems.
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I have to say that I’m with Margene on this – (I found you via her blog) – my own blog has stagnated so terribly that I think I’ve lost all my readers, and that’s largely because while I have many WIPs, I haven’t finished much because Life (as it is wont to do) gets heavily in the way. But I think I have a new policy to post whatever is in process. I think the same theory applies to talking about something OTHER than knitting — I love to know what’s happening in the lives of the people whose blogs I read, and I think it can only strengthen the community when folks do that. So I’ll have to try to do that now that I’m sort of “back”. Thanks for the inspiration and thought provocation!
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I’m new here, just wanted to say hello and introduce myself.
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