2/19 Roses has a home! All my knitting has a story. I do not always know how that story will end when I start a project. Like most knitters I know, I intend to finish what I start. Through the story of Roses and Pomegranates (pattern by Terri Shea) I learned that sometimes there is a bigger picture yet to be revealed and being mindful of process frees us to accept and even rejoice in an unexpected outcome.
As I was talking to my clothes over the last weekend, saying thank you and goodbye to 3 trash bags full, I happened upon my Roses and Pomegranates. A Marie Kondo quandary! This sweater’s story was with me through some of the biggest challenges I have ever faced. I felt such joy and accomplishment watching it come together in the summer of 2010 when I began, only to set it aside to restart a career. In 2012, I felt the sting of staring at it, paralyzed with anxiety as I pushed through separating, moving, beginning a new life. Roses sat in the basket, buried under piles of socks and garter stitch shawls. As the summer of 2014 approached, I began to feel lighter, and I picked up Roses again and felt myself coming back to life. I managed to complete the sweater before my 50th birthday. Then, oh, the irony! It was too hot for me to wear! The combination of being (ahem) a certain age and my marine west coast climate made those two strands feel like wearing a parka. Sigh. Off it went to the closet, until the spark. I was thanking Roses for helping me out during a tough time, and contemplating its future - how do I part with something that helped me through so much? I flashed upon the many things for which I am grateful, and in that moment the possibility presented itself. Behold - Roses has found her home with my teaching partner, Megan. It looks so much better on her - like it was meant for her all along.

12/14 - finally done! and not yet 50 :)

6/24/14 - OK, so what started as a birthday sweater for my 45th birthday has been resurrected in honor of my 49th. I am just about to finally finish one sleeve. Then one more to go, steeking here we come! I hope to be able to say this is a FO by the time I am 50

1/1/11 - finally finished the body -on to the sleeves!

8/6/10 changed my mind again..no longer the Vogue Fair Isle, but going to take a stab at Roses and Pomegranates.