Goodbye fateful claw of doom, hello sweet knitting needles. That’s right, my love and I have been reunited after 3 long, long days apart. How I’ve missed the long, slender needles, my 100% wool. It’s good to be back. I celebrated by finishing these.
As usual, I am delighted, and Millie the cat cares nothing for my victory.
Who Knew?
This is my sister Erin, cavorting with the Jessica Simpson monstrosity. She loved it. Really. Said it was the best present she got this year.
This is a mystery to me. I can’t tell you what it would take to get me to wear that….and she’s never going to take it off. Erin is the anti-Steph. I’ve knit her sweaters, socks, mittens , wraps, a shrug…blankies and countless hats. Never see them on her. Ever. I’d finally realized that she’s just one of those people who doesn’t like hand knits. (Aren’t I clever? That’s 8 maybe 9 years of knitting before the light bulb came on for that one.) I’d just made the leap and decided that all of her sweaters should come from the Gap when her friend told me to make this. I patiently explained that I am done knitting for my sister. She doesn’t like it. I’m setting myself up. My sister has made it pretty clear that she doesn’t enjoy hand knits, and I should stop forcing them on her (along with wasting wool) because I like them. Sure, the gift should reflect the giver, sure…that means that every gift I give is knitted, but she doesn’t like it. It’s not nice for either of us for me to continue showering her with what she feels is a knitting nightmare. I explained all this to the friend. She explained that this shawl was different. (It turns out that she was right, this shawl is different. This shawl was fast, cheap and easy…compared with the multitude of time-consuming, expensive and elegant knits my sister has rejected in the past.) I spent the three days it took me to make it telling this friend that if she was wrong about the shawl I was going to strangle her with it. She was right. It is apparently glorious, trendy, and to die for. Who knew?
While I was finishing the shawl I was thinking about crochet. I loved Julie’s quote from Spiderman in the comments “with great power comes great responsibility” I think that pretty much sums it up. It’s funny to me that the things that I like about crochet, namely how fast and easy it is, are the opposite of what I like about knitting. (It’s worth noting that it is exactly those elements that inspire the most abuse of both knitting and crochet, the deadly desire for fast and easy) I like that knitting is slower, and because it has more of my time in it…I feel like it is worth more. It’s the old Protestant work ethic, if you didn’t suffer, if it wasn’t difficult, if you didn’t sacrifice something….I’m sure you know what I mean. On the other hand…look at this, that’s crochet that would please any Protestant. Crochet as an art form. Maybe that’s what The Claw want’s to do.
(Added July 15th 2004, I’ve had so many requests for this shawl pattern that I thought I would add a quick note to let you know that sadly, I don’t have one. I invented the pattern on the fly, using the information here: http://www.hassdesign.com/DeltaCrochetTechniques/ as a start. Many apologies)
Yarn Harlot
Wow, there is no accounting for taste! I was around last time they were wearing those, and I didn’t like them then either! Glad to hear that she is pleased, though.
Me, personally, I like the socks. Elegant.
The socks are AMAZING! I think I would frame them, definitely not wear them!
And I’m sorry, but I love the shawl as well. Your sister looks adorable in it.
I have a hard time getting past the barbie/toilet paper roll vision of crochet. Your sister looks pleased as can be.
Do you think the claw has anything to do with the Sirdar Snowflake scarf? I started a long desired Snowflake sweater for my ten year old and for the first time knitting my hand hurts.
OK, I have to be honest here.. I wouldn’t be caught dead in that shawl. On top of that, I looked at the original pictures and decided that your version looks better than the original. How can they charge $185 for something like that?? Ugh. I guess I’m failure as a teenager, I don’t even know who Jessica Simpson is. I love the blog, it’s the only one I get around to reading regularly.
i love the socks. love. the shawl looks great on your sister, but it’s not necessarily something i would wear. and to answer your question from my blog (i think it was your question, anyway) the purple fleece matching the silk garden was a total coincidence. not an unhappy one, however.
I like shawls, but I agree with most of the other comments. Looks nice but its just not for me. However, those socks are gorgeous and if they need a good home, just let me know.
The socks are awesome! The shawl? Well…not for me, but I’ve got a friend who’d like one so I’m thinking about it 🙁
The Ann Orr design you linked to – she’s responsible for some of the most beautiful crochet I’ve ever seen or worked on. Love her stuff!
Harlot-
I also have a sister who won’t wear anything I knit for her… my laundry list looks much like yours: hats, scarves, a fair isle sweater even!
Mind posting the pattern for that shawl? Who knows, you may be onto something..
best
for those of you who do not know who jessica simpson is – just like the shawl, she is cheap, fast, and easy. ;o)
sorry couldn’t help myself! she sings, and someone (who the H made this choice) put a show on MTV of her and her husband called “newlyweds”. be thankful you have more brain cells than the two of them combined.
JS: “what’s in this – chicken?”
Hubby: “no tuna”
JS: “oh that’s what i thought it was. but – why is it called chicken?”
hubby: “it’s called “chicken of the sea”.”
yeah. that’s about as deep as they get.
What beautiful socks! (Foolish kitty not to appreciate them.) The shawl thingie – meh. I’m glad your sister likes it, though.
I’m so glad your hand is feeling better! 🙂
Um. Have you re-possessed all those wonderful knitted items rejected by your lovely sis? I would. Let me know if you need help.
This site has helped me with CLAW probelms. Knitting without pain is my goal. Love, love the socks (and the Little Rivers wraps and sweaters).
http://ergocise.com/stretch.html
Gah, my wrist hurts at the mention of THE CLAW… what a perfect description. I only get the knitting CLAW if I’ve been typing like crazy or if I’m knitting at a really tight gauge, thank goodness.
Also – down with Jessica Simpson, down with crochet shawls (it looks like a hockey net!!), but up with doing cool things for the people you care about.
Steph, those socks are worth the pain, I’m thinking. You’re a mean sock knitter, chou.
Erm, I confess I’m here in the comments ’cause I wanna know, is that your pretty kitchen we see in the photos of your bad sister?
And,
Who’s the feller in the background?
Joe of the nice legs?
Kathy, it’s not my pretty kitchen (mine is prettier) but my mothers, and the feller is my brother Ian. Eating Ham. Charming oui?
Aubergine, I didn’t have a pattern…I just, er…faked it. If you are sincere about trying it I could try and put it into words, but I don’t even know the names for the stitches I did. (I bet Kathy does though…she might help me)
If you haven’t all clicked already…go try the exercises that Margene linked to. Feels good. Fight the Claw.
All right, I never considered myself trendy but both my 14 yo (knitting and crocheting) daughter and I like the shawl, and we both would wear it. It looks like treble-crochet (US) begun at the point?? We do luv the fringe, tho we hope you didn’t use Red Heart acrylic yarn. 😉
I’ll check with the queen of Koigu, thanks!
Say, I see no ladders (the space between the dpns as you knit) on them there socks. What’s your secret?
I love the shawl! I guess I am like your sister. Could you possibly write up the pattern for me? I would love it and so would my daughter.
Any chance I could get the pattern for the shawl, too? (amccain@ameritech.net) My sister-in-law asked me to make her one. Not my taste, but to each his/her own.
Thanks!
Stephanie–I’m with you. I saw your sister’s shawl and ‘Rhiannon’ started playing in my head.
But ain’t it cool to have knitted your sis something she loves!!!
‘She is like getting dark and then, she is the darkness.’ OK?
xox Kay
I have to say that while I too cannot stand Jessica Simpson, I do happen to like that shawl. Looks perfect for this summer and nice Italian hot afternoons. So I insert my admiration and request for a pattern/yarn info.
Also I love the socks. I dont know if I could do patterning on socks (that is why I love self patterning yarn 🙂
hey – a friend is looking for this pattern now!
can you email it to me? if you get this today email it to my work addy
kthomson (at) ekmail (dot) com (i don’t want spam at work! ;o)
thanks!!!
oh – i was *ack* watching her show again last night….
parent “you’re doing the postgame show”
jessica “is that before or after the game?”
you can’t make this stuff up!!
Hi Stephanie, Just wandered over to your blog and am admiring your knitting. The shawl you made for your sister is exactly what I’ve been looking to make for my 19 year old daughter who never has liked anything I have knit or quilt for her.
Been looking all over for a pattern and even bought one on the web but am at a loss with it.
Would appreciate any directions/pattern.
Thanks again and I totally live the same life with the Eros shawl and my jeans and Danskos.
You know, I saw that shawl on the show and thought it was horrible, but your version . . . I like it! If it weren’t trendy I would even wear it. But then again I’m 23 and wear shawls . . . HOW THE HELL did that come to be equated with “trendy”? Wonders never cease.
Congrats on the beautiful knockoff. ;o)
Hi
Could you please send me the pattern of your shawl posted on the site. I have been making straight scarves and would like to move on to another pattern. It seems that this pattern is quite hot at the moment. I hope it is too hard to make.
Thanks!
M
Not sure if you need me to type in my e-mail. mm_ww_mm@hotmail.com It was me at the message above asking for the Jessica Simpson Shawl pattern.
Thanks!
MW
I, too, would like to have your pattern for the shawl you made for your sister. I have tried to find one, and I’m not having very much luck. Thing is, there are some people out there selling patterns and they don’t even look good, and there’s not even the ‘border!’ They are poor knockoffs, if you ask me. Yours is gorgeous! Also, what type of yarn and size hook did you use? It’s been years since I picked mine up, I guess it’s about time to try again. Oh, and BTW, Stevie Nicks is my favorite singer. There’s a lot more there than shawls, but it’s the trademark she’s known by.
I don’t guess I checked the right box. My email address is frieda.ebay@cox.net. Thanks
I too love your shawl pattern. Would it be possible to also email it to me.
Thanks,
Megan
sophitia@adelphia.net
I’ve been looking for a Shawl just like the one you made for your sister. I absolutely love it! Could you tell me where you got the pattern?
Sincerely,
Jill
I am so glad that people are finally realizing what we crochet gals have knew all along-its cool. I guess it just takes starpower. I was hoping you could send me a pattern for your lovely jessica simpson knockoff so I can get one started for my roomates b-day. Thanks!!!
Hi- I love the shawl you made for your sister! Would you mind sending me a pattern, as well? Thanks!
I just love the shawl pattern you used! Any way I could get it from you? It’s great! Love it, love it, love it!
Ok I’m jumping on the band wagon. I have 2 teenage daughters. Both would love a “Jessica Simpson Shawl”. Yours is the prettiest I’ve found. Any chance you would share the pattern with me?
I’d be so grateful if you could email me the pattern for the Jessica Simpson style shawl – it looks fantastic! helen_the_countess@hotmail.com
I would love to have the pattern for that Jessica Simpson shawl emailed to me, I’ve been making ponchos all summer long & I think it’s time to try a shawl. kerryr@rogers.com
Hi,
Could I also have the Jessica Shawl emailed to me?
Thanks in advance,
Janice
Hi the shawl is great!!! could you please send me the pattern? I want my girlfriend to make me one but I dont have the pattern. crochet if possible. Thank you for your time!
Sincerly Pam Watts
i’m a teenaged girl (for another few months, help!), have never watched newlyweds, have never to my knowledge listned to or seen jessica simpson, and have no interest in this shawl. just wanted to reassure people that not everyone loves that shawl.
off topic, anyone know anyway to stop twentieth birthdays? i’d just as soon stay nineteen. or ten. ten was good.
roza
Hi! I LOVE the shawl! I’m not going to ask you for the pattern, I just bought the pattern myself… I just wanted to know what kind of yarn you used, and which needle size… I’m so looking foreward to getting started on this, but I have to finish a couple og projects first :o))
Hugs from Bente, Norway :o))