I don’t know how many of you get to see knitted and crocheted items from various people every single day…but I do. It is one of the most wonderful things about having a shop. Every day, someone brings in an amazing creation. And “amazing,” I suppose, is relative. Seeing a brand new knitter leave with 250 yards of Shepherd’s Wool and return with a ribbed scarf is amazing for them and for me. Seeing a lifelong knitter bring in a stunning lace shawl is also amazing for them and for me. What makes the Ravellenic Games so cool is that you are challenging yourself personally and not being judged against better or more experienced knitters..only against your own goals.
Having said all of that, there are just some things that walk through my front door that can stop you in your tracks. I have seen self designed color work pullovers that would make my eyes fall out to try to knit. I have seen large scale lace shawls covered in beads and bobbles. And I have also now seen this:
In case it is not clear what is going on here, you are looking at the world’s largest Girasole. I was innocently applying makeup last week in the upstairs bathroom when this giant thing came in to say hello. Apparently, its creator, Jane, has been working on it since December. It took 10 skeins of LOFT in pumpernickel for the main portion of the blanket. She FREE FORMED the center rocket and yarn ball and then picked up stitches around it, created some free form lace to make it a circle again and then continued on with the pattern. I sent photos to Jared Flood (the designer of the Girasole) and his response was, “Holy wow.” Yes. Holy wow. To top it all off, she even embroidered little stars on the blanket:
It took four days to bind off the project. So now that you also share in the amazement of this thing, let me tell you that this was a GIFT. As in, she worked on this blanket for 7 months and then GAVE it to me….for my birthday. Well, early. Because she couldn’t keep it any longer and really wanted me to see it. (I also believe that after taking four days to bind off, she really wanted it out of her apartment).
Here is a closer shot of the middle rocket and yarn ball.
So really, I have never seen a knitted thing so amazing. Amazing because of the time and effort. Amazing because of the detail. Amazing because of the ingenuity and creativity needed to pull this off. Amazing in every way. If I had it in me to create such a thing (which I clearly do not), I am not sure that I could then give it away. So Jane is an amazing friend (and much better knitter than I), and I am crazy grateful for this gorgeous gift…which now lives in my living room but out of reach of my evil little dogs…