My friend is not well. She is the worst kind of not well, the sort where she feels fine, but is being told that there is a terrible invader. Her illness was discovered by accident as she was having a test for a pretty normal, benign reason. We had one of those talks. The one where your friend phones you and tells you that “they found something” and then there is much reassuring talk about how it will turn out to be nothing and we will all laugh about this big scare and giggle madly about how it’s just like this friend to have the audacity to worry you. She phoned a few weeks later. It was not nothing. It was something. A bad something.
The irony of having your health at the gravest risk it has ever been, while you feel absolutely terrific is hard to absorb. The idea that she will need surgery to remove something that she cannot feel and isn’t seemingly being injured by….well. She is scheduled for major surgery on this afternoon and I am a knitter. The only thing I could think of was to knit something. I looked up (because I am holistic medecine hippy type) what might help her and discovered that rose quartz (the stone) is good for the kidneys. It stimulates kidney regeneration- that seemed especially good for someone having kidney surgery and it balances anger and tension…which I thought would be fantastic, since if I had kidney cancer, I would be seriously pissed. Rose quartz grounds you, aids in communication and increases creativity. Rose quartz sounded perfect, but I am a knitter….and you can’t knit crystals. Oh…
Wait.
Sure enough…Blue Moon has a colourway…Rose Quartz. Three skeins of the heavyweight were procured, and knitting commenced…or ..almost commenced. What to knit?
I knew I wanted something big and snuggly. Something she could take to the hospital and wrap herself in. Something she could leave lying around to look at. Something sturdy. Something safe.
A shawl.
I didn’t want to make her anything fragile. I wanted something that would make her feel tougher…. a really tough bit off knitting that could take whatever heat is headed my friends way. Something to be a barrier between her and some of the hard things she will be doing.
As for pattern, that was easy. Each time my friend has left a doctors appointment of some import, as she makes her way home an eagle has crossed her path. Remarkably, the day she was diagnosed one landed right in front of her, other days they cross her path…wide wings sweeping her way. She felt, as did I, that the eagles were a message. A powerful portent of well being, an omen of good. As she told me of another encounter with an eagle and how strong and safe it made her feel, it came to me.
I would knit wings. Feathers.
I scoured stitch dictionaries. I swatched, I knit, I ripped back. The Rose Quartz dripped off the needles as I worked it out. I chose “alternating lace” (page 58, volume 2 of the Harmony Guides) and knit that for a while. I started at the back neck, increasing four stitches each right side row. One at each end and two either side of a centre stitch. As I had more stitches, I took them into the pattern.
When I had enough of that pattern I went back to the stitch dictionaries and found “Trellis-Framed Leaf Pattern” – from Barbara Walker 1 (which claims to be leaves but really looks like feathers to me.) I sorted out how best to begin it so the patterns would flow (sort of) from one to the other,
and I kept knitting.
The Big Pink Thing got bigger. I knit an edging, one that looked feathery to me. (Adapted from Heirloom Knitting.) I kept knitting.
I blocked it, and it got bigger. In the end, The Feathers Shawl was about 2.5 metres from tip to tip.
That’s about 8 feet. (For the record, that’s just three skeins of STR Heavyweight)
A Rose Quartz heavy weight shawl, with the feathers of her totem eagle knit in, warm and sturdy to wrap around her. I know that really, when your friend is sick and far away, that knitting can really do very little to actually care for them, but since all I can do is knit a big pink thing and mail it, then I sincerely hope it helps. I truly feel she will be fine, but it wouldn’t hurt if she was held for a moment in your thoughts today.
Your friend is blessed to have people like you supporting her. She’ll be in my prayers.
Glorious, Stephanie! What else can we do but knit our prayers into items for our loved ones in need.
What a beautiful huge hug. My thoughts are with her.
Beautiful and with powers. Perfect. I’ll be sending pink, healing light her way.
Oh I’m so sorry! I’ve been through the ‘feel fine but something is terribly wrong’ myself and I know what it’s like. I’m lucky enough to have come out the other side. She’s got a wonderful friend in you, and I’m sending all the positive thoughts and vibes I can to both of you.
*hugs*
I will be keeping her in my thoughts. what a beautiful and moving post-well worth waiting for.
I will be keeping her in my thoughts. what a beautiful and moving post-well worth waiting for.
Consider it done — and for more than a moment.
You have the biggest heart I’ve ever seen, and the skills to back it up. If any knitting that ever there was would be the knitting that would help, it would be yours.
It is so beautiful! If the universe values love and beauty at all, your gift will undoubtedly inspire great healing.
Beautiful eagles to watch over her flight from silent illness to vibrant health again.. and comfort to wrap herself in, in the meantime. Absolutely lovely!
Sorry to hear of your friends illness. I will send a prayer her way today and many good thoughts. The shawl is beautiful by the way.
She is surely blessed to have you for a friend.
Your work is beautiful, and if anything can make a person feel loved and safe, a gorgeous pink shawl from the hands of her friend will do it. I wish her all the best in her recovery- now go rest your hands for a few minutes!
This is so beautiful (the gesture of love and the gorgeous shawl) – sending you both a prayer and good wishes.
Of course it helps, Stephanie. Can’t you just feel it? And all the positive energy that will be sent her way (and to you) as knitters read this? Gives me the best kind of goose bumps. All shall be well.
What an inspired and comforting gift you have made for your friend; protection from the heart. Beautiful Stephanie. My heart soared as I read your post, and I’m sure your friend’s heart will as well when she opens the package. Godspeed to her. What a powerful symbol, the eagle, to have cross your path. Beautifully wrought, and truly inspired. Thank you for sharing.
That’s seriously awesome. I hope everything goes well for her!
I’m sorry to hear about your friend, but the shawl couldn’t be more perfect. She’s in our thoughts.
You are a good friend.
Your friend is in my thoughts.
Having just received similar information and not sure yet if all will be well, I know she will more than appreciate your efforts.
Tiny Tyrant
It is beautiful and I’m sure well appreciated. It is the only thing I can think to do when yet another family member or friend is dx with that most horrible of invaders. Knitting as many peaceful and healing thoughts as I can into something that can hug them when I am no where near to do it.
I will keep her in my thoughts.
What a lucky person she is to have a friend like you. Rose quartz is a wonderful and healing stone. I love that the Blue moon fiber girls had the colorway for it. I love that you made her wings with it. You are brilliant. I’m sure it will see her through the rough times that lie ahead.
What a lovely, lovely gift. My thoughts are with your friend and I shall go get my rose quartz and carry it with me today and think of her often.
Gosh – I’m speechless. You knit her wings – what a lovely, beautiful thing to do.
The shawl is gorgeous and is the perfect thing for your friend. Truly a gift from the heart. My thoughts are with your friend. I hope she has a quick and full recovery.
You might call it a shawl, but I think that what it really is, is a portable hug. You’re such a thoughtful friend. I hope it all works out for the best.
I am crying and thinking how wonderful your gift is. So much thought has gone into it. Your hippy knitting will give your friend so much strength.
What a lovely gesture. Love heals all souls, no matter what our bodies are going through.
Our prayers are with your friend.
That is gorgeous! What a wonderful gift! Count my good, healing, thoughts with the others.
Absolutely stunning. Everyone should be so lucky to have a friend as thoughtful and imaginative as you to help them through bad times. I have always loved quartz, including rose quartz. I have a SIL with severe polycystic kidney disease. I don’t think she would appreciate such a gesture as a huge handknitted shawl, but maybe I can find her something. Thanks for showing us the selfless side of knitting.
It’s lovely, and it’s perfect.
I hesitate to mention this for the wierdo factor, but interestingly enough, I am actually wearing a rose quartz crystal today. One gifted to me from my mother that had been gifted to her just prior to her chemotherapy by a Navajo woman she was friendly with in AZ. I wear it rarely, so it’s feeling a little wierdly cosmic that it happens to be around my neck this day.
She’ll be in my prayers, I hope everything turns out alright. You’re a wonderful friend for making her wings.
I’ll add my prayers. She’s blessed to have a friend like you.
Wow that is beautiful. When your sick, even if you don’t feel it, nothing is better than a handmade present to know that you are loved.
Delurking to just share how beautiful your knitted piece of artwork is. I can feel the love and well wishes that are knit into it. Prayers for your friend. Thank you for sharing with us.
What a wonderful thing to do for a friend — thanks for sharing with us.
Your friend will surely appreciate the love and thoughtfulness that went into every stitch. I’ll be sending positive thoughts her way too.
Wow. You are truly. Amazing. I love the thought you put into it. The way the pattern flows from one to the next (it really does…) And the Eagle feathers… wow. I love the way you think! To come up with something like that and with such knitting speed!
What a beautiful shawl…it’s truly a work of art.
Although your post has me tearing up, I am happy your friend has support from people like you in a time like this. The rose quartz eagle shawl is such an apt and loving gift, you are a true friend.
Perfect.
I’ll keep her (and you!) in my thoughts.
Bless both your hearts, souls and bodies. Last year when my friend was diagnosed with breast cancer (they took 26 nodes) I made her a woolen BW-based shawl in Red Hat Lady colors, knitting every stitch with love and hope, just as you did. She wore it to chemo, to radiation, to chemo again and at home. She’s got her hair back now and is doing well. She still wears that shawl and told me just last week (again) how much she loves it. I hope that this time next year your friend will be cancer free, recovering and still loving and wearing your shawl. I’m sending prayers on the wings of her eagle and my owl.
I wish that i could knit like you. You are amazing. Your friend is blessed in pinkness. Today my daughers heart was broke. All i could do was hold her. It didn’t seem enough. I want to break his head.
Those are the most beautiful wings I’ve ever seen. May they bring her strength and healing.
Beautiful- both your compassion for your friend- and the shawl.
Praying for your friend- and crying the ugly cry in sympathy-
ts
I know I would feel so wrapped in love. What a wonderful shawl. We are knitters, we knit our love into things. Sending prayers of pink quartz light to you both.
Best wishes to your friend. She is very lucky to know you.
So are we.
“… all I can do is knit a big pink thing and mail it”
You’ve done so much more than that. I’ll be thinking of “Steph’s Friend” today, and for many days. My hopes for a great result.
It was almost a year ago today that one of my best friends was diagnosed with the most aggressive form of breast cancer (on her 36th birthday-some gift!). Her father was in the hospital having a brain tumor removed and she decided to have a routine mammogram that turned out to e anything but routine. It has been a challenging road with very aggressive treatment but she has perserved and is doing beautifully. Her prognosis went from 1-2 years to hopefully seeing grandchildren. I will send the same prayers to your friend.
That is beautiful. You do the best you can for the people you love. I am sure she adores her wings.
The world needs more knitters like you.
I can breathe again. You have taken a considerable amount of care into planning & knitting – that kind of talent comes from the heart. Wishing your friend all the strength she needs on this journey.
I hope that the love you knit this shawl with will surround your friend when she wraps it around her. Wishing her all the best !
“knitting can really do very little to actually care for them, but since all I can do is knit a big pink thing”
As Knitters, we all know it is so much more than that… your friend is truly blessed to have such a wonderful friend in you. Best thoughts for her today and throughout her recovery.
When all of your prayers and hopes for a person are knit into a shawl that beautiful, good must come of it.
What a beautiful, thoughtful gift! I am certain all of your TLC was worked into the shawl too, and your friend will feel loved and supported as she snuggles into the shawl. She will be in my prayers too.
It’s a lovely, incredibly beautiful, artfully designed and knitted prayer shawl. And I am sure she feels your love and care and concern every time she looks at it. Its’ warmth will provide comfort and support… It is just awesome.
Love the wing-expanse photo with the shadow on the ground. Looks like a soaring eagle’s silhouette… a fitting netaphor.
Praying that your friend will soar above it all and find peace.
What a wonderful gift. I’m tearing up reading all of this. It is so terrible to feel powerless in the face of illness and not know what to do… but we can knit, that we can do. Thinking of your friend today.
That is so sweet. A friend of mine is undergoing chemo right now and says that it gets cold in the hospital. That cheery heart-warming (and rose quartz is also good for love) shawl will be a much valued gift – and much admired by all of the hospital staff, I’m sure!
Sending healing thoughts and prayers north.
Best wishes to your friend.
i am sure that she will recognise that the shawl is an expression of love and the symbolism of having that around her during the hard times will be most conforting.
You’re wonderful, and the shawl is perfect. I’m keeping your friend in my thoughts and will wish for the best.
You are so incredibly wonderful!!!!
Prayers said and then some….
My thoughts and best wishes are with your friend.
The shawl is beautiful and warm, with so many layers of meaning that I know she will feel comforted and love every time she wears it.
WOW! You are truly amazing! My “thoughts” will be with her.
Holding her my thoughts. And praying.
And from here, some more explanation: http://www.crystalinks.com/totemanimals.html
“Eagle feathers are used all over the world as ceremonial instruments and are considered to be the most sacred healing tools. They are a symbol of power, healing and wisdom. Eagle represents a state of grace that is reached through inner work, understanding and passing the initiation tests that result from reclaiming our personal power. Eagle Medicine is the Power of the Great Spirit. It is the spirit of tenacity. It is the gift of clear vision with which one can truly see the things one sees. It is the patience to wait for the appropriate moment. It is to live in balance with heaven and Earth. Eagle reminds you of your connection with the Great Spirit. It tells you that the universe is giving you the opportunity to fly above your life’s worldly levels, or above the shadow of past realities. Eagle teaches you to look above in order to touch Grandfather Sun with your heart, to love the Shadow as much as the Light. Eagle asks you to grant yourself permission to be free in order to reach the joy that your heart desires.”
Eagle Feathers – how perfectly appropriate.
What a wonderful gift…your friend will be in my prayers. Your story about the eagles crossing her path made me think of this verse:
(from the Amplified Bible) Isaiah 40:31b
…they shall lift their wings and mount up as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.
Your “big pink thing” is beautiful…even more so now that I know why you needed to make it. What a thoughtful and caring thing to do.
The best part is that a reader can disagree with the why and the quartz stone symbolism and still see the love and the concern that went into the shawl. And the shawl itself is truly gorgeous. And it looks very warm and snuggly.
What a touching story and what a wonderful thing for you to do. And it’s easy to understand why you kept the BIG PINK THING a secret from us all.
Your friend and you will be in my thoughts and prayers today.
A gift from your hands may give your friend strength.
Thinking good strong thoughts for your ill friend.
This shawl will definitely help your friend recover quickly. Good deeds always win out! Your friend is in my thoughts and prayers.
I have worked in a hematology/oncology unit before and I have seen the strength that can be found from the love and hope that you knit into your friend’s new shawl…It’s a beautiful thought and a beautiful shawl! I will certainly be holding your friend in my thoughts and prayers…
Wow – what an amazing gift for a person in a hard time. Wonderful!
A beautiful gift for your friend. I will add her to my list of folks I include when I recite “The Rune of St. Patrick” which is, I believe, a moving prayer for protection against the powers of darkness. Our hearts go out to her.
What a great shawl! It looks like health.
I knew today was going to be bee-you-ti-full for a reason. Time for prayers all around!
My grandmother died of stomach cancer a couple of years ago (well, I always insist it was a broken heart, but that’s another story) and I never got to finish the Fair Isle socks I was making her. I hope your exquisite shawl helps your friend to the recovery my grandmother never wanted!
Wow. It’s beautiful, and has power too.
Your friend (and you) will be in my thoughts for more than a momment today.
Wow.
What a beautiful shawl, full of strength and healing powers! Prayers for your friend.
Beautiful
Beautiful Thought
Beautiful Wings
Beautiful Friendship
Beautiful
First time to write in, but today’s blog was just so close to my life, I felt I had to respond. Only 5 weeks ago, I listened to you speak in Ann Arbor. 4 weeks ago, I lost my oldest sister to kidney cancer after a 12 year struggle with this horrible disease. I have another sister who also lost a kidney to this same disease, but is a survivor. Also 4 weeks ago a very good friend discovered she, too, has the same battle to fight. It is almost overwhelming.
I love the shawl you knit for your friend and all the feeling and love that went into it. I think I know what I will try to do for my friend. I may not succeed as well as you, but whatever I end up with will go to her with much love and hope. I think the rose quartz is a beautiful idea and will try to find some of that yarn myself.
Thank you for letting me open up a little.
I am reading this at work and crying. What a wonderful gift! Your friend will be in my thoughts.
I am usually just a lurker who reads your journal and looks on in awe, but I had to comment today.
What a wonderful thing for you to do for your friend! The shawl is absolutely gorgeous (as is everything you make) and I think that it is the perfect thing to help her through this time.
I will be thinking of her and praying for her.
Your love for your friend, made manifest in the perfectly designed shawl, is just what she needs. Making the cancer go away is a multi-discipline struggle (I know, I had that struggle). The love of friends, and artifacts of hope and of that love soothe the horror, and may even lead to the success of the battle. Your friend is well armed, and you are a wonderful woman. Your post made me teary, remembering the strength I got from the people who love me at a time of terror and frailty. You go.
You are a wonder of the world. I have been involved in knitting shawls of comfort for folks at my church for several years, and I really appreciate the care you took with both the color and the symbolism of the stitch pattern. I have had the chance to knit specifically sometimes versus knitting generally (a shawl for future use) and I am all in favor of the major message of strength and caring that comes from being able to choose for someone in a tough spot. I will be thinking of her today.
Also, you may be interested to know that you made a shawl with approximately the wingspan of an eagle! Somewhere I have a photo similar to this one:
taken at a refuge in Alaska, with my husband standing in front of the eagle cutout (bald eagle has reported wingspan of 72-90 inches, just to quantify). Yet another layer of positive care and thought you have sent your friend.
Knit in peace,
Karen
What a beautiful and thoughtful gift. How wonderful to have your love wrapped around her every day…
That is an amazingly gorgeous shawl.
My prayers and thoughts are with your friend as well.
Wow. My thoughts are with your friend, with hopes that all will be well.
You may feel that you all can do is knit. But that is enough.
It is enough.
Last fall, a few days after I had back surgery, I received in the mail a crocheted prayer shawl from the sister of one of my best friends. It had been sent to me in Kentucky all the way from Connecticut.
I pulled it out of the box and cried and cried and cried.
I wrapped it around me and cried and cried and cried.
I felt the prayers from the United Methodist Women in Conn and I cried and cried and cried.
I felt cared for.
I felt prayed for.
I was comforted.
Your knitting is enough.
I promise it’s enough.
You are a very special person for making this shawl for a friend during a very hard time in her life. This is a very touching post. I hope she makes it through just fine.
It seems a small thing to do in comparison to the healing, loving generosity you’ve demonstrated, but your friend is in my thoughts.
-Stephanie (from Santa Cruz, CA, where we excel in all things hippie)
What a beautiful gift. When people we love get ill, we do what we can do. You knit, I cook. A couple of months ago a friend was dx’d with breast cancer at 42, and the first thing I did was buy her a really nice tiara. After doing so, I had misgivings thinking it was a dorky thing to do, till she received it saying “Oh, good, mine is broken”.
We do what we can.
Blessings to you both.
What a marvelous shawl…and you are a marvelous friend. Prayers sent…
Healing thoughts reaching out to your friend…
What a beautiful gesture and a beautiful expression of caring. You are an ispiration.
You are a true friend.
Guess the URL for the photo was disallowed. just in case it works better in plain text:
http://www.explorenewengland.com/travel?photo_gallery=connecticut/regions/litchfieldhills/galleries/eagles_in_southbury/&pg=10
If you want to see it, you know what to do. – KVL
You are a true friend to give so much of your time and self to her. May she heal, be well and enjoy wearing your gift for many, many years.
I can’t help but think that so much knitted love can help to heal a friend. Time and distance means nothing to the friends we carry in our hearts.
Good thing that accidental find happened. I hope she does well and it is all good in the end.
I’ll say a quick prayer for her to have a long, happy healthy life with eagle wings to keep her aloft.
Remembering your friend!! ((hugs))
Big hugs and good mojo to your friend, and to you as well. What gorgeous yarn…and what an incredible gift we have as knitters, to be able to keep our loved ones warm and safe!
Beautiful shawl. Prayers (or the hippie equivalent) being sent for healing, kidney support, and all things falling into place in perfect harmony.
For your next project – eco-friendly reusable lace hankies, please. You keep making me cry. (And that’s a good thing, I guess.)
Many best thoughts for your friend’s comfort, courage and speedy recovery. What a beautiful embrace of love and strength you knit up for her; I can only imagine the connectedness this will engender for her. Such fine friends you two are. Thank you for sharing this, in part because it inspires me to knit again for a friend who has a chronic illness.
What a lovely, beautiful gesture. I’m sure that it meant the world to her and will make her feel strong and loved.
That was so thoughtful of you. The fact you took it out and showed it a good time will help in the good vibes of the finished piece. The wings to protect your friend, is a wonderful present for a friend far away. You are a wonderful caring friend to do that for her. May God help and protect her in her fight and may she come through it to smile and enjoy life on the other side. Being a 14 year surviour of Head and neck cancer you need all the help you can get. Hugs To you and your friend. You will be both in my thoughts and prayers.
Definitely will do. (And holy cow.)
Not only have you knit and sent a blessing, you yourself are a blessing – and an inspiration.
You remind us all that whatever talent(s) we have, we can use them to bring comfort and hope to others.
Thank you for doing this beautiful project with such a loving heart and for sharing it with all of us. It has touched us all and left us better for it.
Regardless of the long-term outcome (which we all are praying will be good), your friend will know that she is valued and loved. That is worth everything.
Beautiful, Stephanie – both the shawl and the love behind it. Your friend can’t help but feel better with that gorgeous hug around her all day.
I will think of your friend as I go about my daily business, and I will make it my business to go sit in my Thoughtful Spot and, for a few minutes, do nothing but think of her. Light, warm, strong, feathery thoughts.
Wow, what a beautiful big pink thing! I’m sure your friend will appreciate it more and more every time she wraps herself up in it.
And I’m also sure she’ll be fine – my Mum went through the same thing 5.5 years ago, and we were all amazed at how quickly it was dealt with spotted by accident and within a week she’d had her op), and how quickly she recovered – no one would know she’s only got one kidney, and it actulaly doesn’t make any difference to her life at all!
I am not often moved to tears, but you did it this time. What a good friend you are! I will keep your friend in my thoughts and prayers as the days go by and she fights the good fight.
The Eagle thing gave me the shivers. My husband has the same thing happen with hawks.
I hate that you had to knit this – but it looks exactly like something that will keep her safe today.
Holy Crap. That is an amazing gift and I am sure it will keep her safe.
Thinking of your friend.
Damn, I was deeply excited to see it, and now I wish you’d never had cause to knit the beautiful thing. Healing vibes to your friend.
I will be holding her in my thoughts this afternoon. I’m very moved by the creativity and thoughtfulness that went into this piece. And it’s beautiful, which is a very nice bonus.
All of your wonderful energy and love in each stitch will no doubt comfort your friend on this difficult journey. The shawl is perfect, wings to carry her to healing. My prayers and healing thoughts are with her. Thank you for sharing.
Eagles are a source of strength for my family, also. The day my grandfather died (of too many birthdays, not an illness, per se) an eagle was spotted circling over his NH lake house. A very rare sight up until then. But not any more. The eagle is seen quite often now, circling above the house. Occaisionally, on my way to work (half a country away), an eagle will cross my path, and I’ll know my grandfather is close, keeping an eye on me.
I pray for good things for your friend. I’m sending healing thoughts into the universe for her.
I wish you didn’t have to knit it for the reason you have, but it will bring more comfort than you know. Your friend is wrapped in your love now. All of us reading will send more healing thoughts, prayers and good wishes for your friend. (((HUGS))) for you, Steph.
This is so, so beautiful. The shawl, the writing, the tremendous gift. It brought tears to my eyes. I’m sending good energy to your friend, wherever she may be, and I’m glad she has eagles looking out for her.
Stephanie, blessings abound. From you to your friend, from you to the readers and friends of your blog, from God to the universe. You are a catalyst for blessings. The Rose Quartz feather shawl is beautiful, especially in spirit, and you’ve wrapped your friend in love and healing, no matter how many miles are between you.
Thank you for reminding me how I can help a friend…blessings.
Stephanie, first let me say, what a wonderful thing for you to have done, to wrap your friend in your love and beautiful knitting. I know that it will keep her safe and warm. the part about the eagles is amazing ! It is definitely a sign that she will be safe and healthy.
My thoughts are with you both
Kim
What a beautiful gift. It really takes an amazing friend to knit someone something that is so one-of-a-kind and symbolic. Here’s hoping it will remind her that she is loved and give her comfort during a time that must be so scary for her.
Knitting is, and especially for you, an expression of love, caring and support. There are times, when knowing others are rooting for you, and caring for you, even long distance, it is the best medicine. It feeds the desire to fight and get better. If YOU were to send a bouquet, that is not YOUR most supportive act. Nice, yes, but taking several days of your life to create a beautiful object of love and support, your friend is lucky to be the on the receiving end of such love, care and support.
Rose quartz is a powerful and loving show of support. I have used it creating a necklace for a friend. I know the care of researching what is the best choice for a friend.
The shawl is wonderful, and you are a blessing to your friend. She is most certainly in my prayers. Belief and positive thoughts and energy can do far more than many believe.
simply beautiful…well done.
Wow! The big pink thing is both painfully and powerfully beautiful. Amazing!
Thats a beautiful shawl… your friend will be in my thoughts, I hope everything goes well for her.
Dear Stephanie, If love can be embodied in a form, I believe that yarn does it well – the spiral is the geometry of love, and it can be seen from the basic building blocks of DNA to the electromagnetic pathway that light travels to the spinning and plying of yarn. When knitting, we feel the love that makes everything live. When we imbue our knitting with conscious intention of love through colour and symbolic patterns in enriches our knitting which becomes a sacred action – at once beautiful, profound and healing. This is sacred geometry applied and this shawl is such a beautiful example in evey way! Thank you for sharing the story of your friendship and your belief in your friend’s wellbeing. Because of you, I, too, can see her well.
Delurking to say my thoughts are with your friend. It’s a beautiful shawl with a beautiful thought behind it. I’m sure your friend will feel the cosmic smile coming her way today and in the days to come.
You inspire us to use this gift of knitting that we all share to reach out and touch others. Thank you.
What a beautiful shawl! The love and support you knit into it will support her through her struggles.
I was so curious about the big pink thing, I jumped on line to find out. When I read the story behind it and saw the beautiful creation you made it brought tears to my mind. I truly believe in the power of knitting as a healing craft. I hope the positive energy you are sending as well as all your readers will help heal your friend.
Your friend will be in my thoughts and prayers today. She certainly has a good friend in you! What a wonderful thing you have done, designing and knitting such a lovely, comforting piece of art (yes, I said art, it looks like art to me) to assist her healing. Best wishes to both of you.
Wings to lift her while she heals – how wondreful!
What you have done is one of the most thoughtful and meaningful gestures a friend can make, and it WILL make a difference. When my sister had breast cancer 7 years ago, I made her a wardrobe of hats, and she told me that each day when she wore one of the hats, she felt the love with which I’d made them. Your friend will feel that too, and that will make a tremendous difference.
The shawl is beautiful and definitely shows that your thoughts and prayers are with your friend.
I’m knitting my first shawl for a friend who lost her only child last July to a roadside bomb three days after he was deployed to Iraq. Your post today reminded me why knitting for others is truly important. Thank you.
How warm and wonderful. In all your careful planning – I had to look it up… “The Bald Eagle can have a wing span of up to eight feet.”
Perfect.
My thoughts are with your friend. Your gift will certainly aid her in her healing, as the feeling of love ones close by always does. It is a very beautiful shawl….
I rarely post to anything, anywhere….but your wonderful gift, moving thoughts, superb effort truly moved me. When I hear of people who need our prayers I always regret that I don’t have religion, but I do believe in the power of positive thinking. Wrapped in your beautiful rose quartz fiber hug, how can she help but soak up the love and the power of such a wonderful friend and knitters everywhere wishing her well? Everyone who reads you will be sending her their thoughts and prayers today and in the weeks to come. Be sure she knows we’re all behind her!
I’ve been enjoying your blog when I should be working (boring secretary job) for some weeks now. The big pink thing that you knitted for your friend and your words describing all of your hopes and wishes for her, can not pass without an “attagirl” for you. Your words moved me and I know that your friend will feel richly blessed to have a friend like you. I’m sure she’ll think of you and gather strength from her “wings” whenever it’s around her shoulders.
All the best to you and your friend, Beverly
She’s there…and you’re simply amazing.
Four and a half years ago, I,too, had that awful doctor’s visit to learn that the “it’s probably nothing” was indeed something terrible. It’s a horrible, gut-wrenching, wind-sucking moment when the world seems like a horribly unfair place. Then friends come out of the woodwork with meals, cards, and their presence. (not knitting, though! I wasn’t a knitter then). To be the recipient of such love and support is very humbling and comforting.
I’m better now, but have taken up knitting as therapy and it has changed my life. Now all those hours wasted waiting in doctors’ offices are seen as knitting opportunities! I have more patience.
You have done a wonderful thing for your friend and I hope she comes out the other side of this dark time.
I think this was lovely, and I too am a believer in energy and symbols and guides. If you would care to email her name to me, I will add her to my healing list and will light a candle and send some energy her way.
You are the best friend ever.
I disagree that knitting isn’t doing much. How much time did you spend knitting that (gorgeous- by the way) shawl? A couple of weeks? Hundreds of minutes? Thousands of moments? Each one spent for the goodwill of your friend, and thinking supportive thoughts for her. The universe can’t ignore that. There are all these studies now showing that everything in the world is connected to everything else, so all of that care and effort that went into the shawl will reverbarate back in a big way. You can call it praying, or whatever you want, but I bet when your friend opens the package and sees what you made for her because you were worried and wanted to make her feel better, she wouldn’t say it “wasn’t doing much.” Best thoughts to both of you.
In the shot around the shoulders, the pattern looks like tulips…spring, regeneration, life awakened. Good karma to your friend.
What a beautiful gesture of love… Wings, a perfect gift. Your friend is in my prayers today… Peace, Katie
It will help. How could it not?
Beauty, strength and love all knit up into something tangible that she can wrap around herself.
So you’ve just asked a whole knitting army to prayer-spam G-d for your friend. May He listen and grant perfect healing to your friend.
I will keep your friend in my thoughts and prayers today, and for a while as well. With all that knitted love surrounding and uplifting her, all will be well. Blessings.
Aww, Stephanie, how absolutely perfect. As is your choice of words… Pissed at kidney cancer. Maybe I could think of a fighting phrase for mine.
The shawl will be a comfort.
Gorgeous shawl from a gorgeous gal.
Having watched a friend fight back a brain tumor they believed would be terminal with sheer spunk and “perky parties”, I disagree that your knitting can’t do anything to help. A positive attitude and the energy to fight are huge components of the ability to regain your health, and wrapping her powerful shawl around herself – feeling your love and the symbolism of the strength – it will give her what she needs to hang on by her fingernails if she has to. I can not imagine how you could have helped her more.
Tell your friend that the Mi’kmaq (pronounced Micmac) people believe that when you see an eagle the spirits are looking fondly upon you.
It’s a blessing to see one.
And for her to have seen one after each appt would indicate that the spirits are watching over her.
Wishing her all the best, sending supportive thoughts.
I am thinking of your friend and wishing her well. I know that your lovely shawl will remind her how much she is loved everytime she sees it or feels its soft warmth draped around her. What a wonderful source of comfort you have provided!
I’ll send my good thoughts out into the world for her as well. What a beautiful way to show your well wishes for her.
That is indeed beautiful. And big. Very big.
I wish your friend the best with her surgery and recovery.
I will happily take on shit-magnet duty. I appear to be doing it quite well lately, so I’m hoping this bodes well for your friend. And she may be the worst kind of not well at the moment, but she certainly has the best kind of friend: that shawl carries a hell of a lot of heart in its stitches. Brava, Steph.
Sending pink light to you and your friend.
What a wonderful gift, wonderful work, and a clearly wonderful relationship.
Oh, my.
You have made me laugh many times, Stephanie; but today you made me cry.
Sending rose-quartz good thoughts out to your friend…
Beautifully written about a beautiful gift for a beautiful friend in need.
What a beautiful gift and a beautiful sentiment! Your friend is truly blessed. I will be thinking of you both today!
I have always found crafting to be incredibly therapeutic. The process you describe is one I almost always use when I want to offer someone something important while — it must be said — trying to deal with the issue myself, as well. Quilting is traditionally my therapeutic medium but as I become more absorbed in the knitting world (thanks in no small part to your blog), I see that knitting can have the same effect. The shawl is beautiful — you always astonish me with the way you are able to create out of thin air. I’m sure all of that healing energy will make its way to your friend.
Blessings to both of you.
The shawl is beautiful. I hope everything turns out OK….that shawl cannot help but lift her spirits.
That is gorgeous, Stephanie! That shawl will do more than warm her body, it will warm her heart. My thoughts are with your friend today.
Um, wow! That’s beautiful and an amazing idea. Of course, I have to say that you made me tear up in the office. Not cool, dud!
Anyone with a friend of such grace, strength and cunning is truly blessed.
Thank you for the gentle yank back to reality.
You are an incredible friend. All of the love, thought and energy that went into that shawl would make anyone feel special and so loved. Thank you for sharing your feelings and your process. Your friend is in my thoughts.
Keep hope. A good friend of mine has beaten kidney cancer with bloodless surgery as she is opposed to blood transfusions. 3 years on and she is as fit as ever!
Love the shawl by the way!
I think when we find out a friend is sick, especially one that is far away, we feel the need to do ‘something.’ If we were closer we’d cook AND knit.
I’ve done the same thing as you. Several years ago, I knit a pair of fuzzy feet for a friend undergoing chemo for some really nasty breast cancer. She fought it for a really long time but lost her battle about a year and a half ago.
I hope your friend finds comfort and warmth in that stunning shawl.
i am a breast cancer survivor so far
and have so many emotions as i write this
and memories i was not brave its quite all
right to shake your fist at the world right
now you may even whine it will be understood
i like to send cards each month to sick little ones this ones just for you
i reach out my hand to the crescent moon
and stars and i shall be home e’re long
I, too, am sniffling quietly here at my desk. What a hugely beautiful thing to do.
My best friend says, “When all you can do is pray, remember that prayer is enough.” That is one gorgeous prayer you’ve made there.
While I had my vision full of that beautiful shawl, a word came to me. Aquila. The latin name for the eagle. A good name for a beautiful prayer shawl. A good name for a warrior against an invisible enemy. And the name I will give to your friend in my prayers.
A beautiful shawl, a beautiful gesture for your friend. May your wings for her help her to fly above her illness. She’s in my thoughts, and I’m sure with Eagle totem and friends like you she’ll soar.
So beautiful! I am crying now, you are so kind and I’m sure your friend appreciates having you and her big pink thing! I’ll be praying…
A hand-knit shawl is truly the next-best thing to a hug from a friend….you are surely a good friend!
A thing happened to me last week. My Mom , 86 years old, has been in the hospital for quite a while with a broken hip, and last week I went to see her…we are in South Dakota and I had to travel a ways. While I sat by her side, I knitted on a ROSE colored shawl I had started making for her several months ago…..she didn’t know it was for her. She watched my hands and would often fall asleep to the rythem of my needles. I finished it and layed it next to her and she began to cry. I had to return home to my job a few days later and I call her each day. Yesterday I called her to find out that she is going to a healthcare center today….she said many hospital personel have asked her if they could have her shawl and that she cuddles with it each night and wears it all day. Yes Stephanie…knitting is SO important. I have, in the last year, gathered 15 ladies who help me knit Prayer Shawls for Hospice and chemo patients in our small community. Now Mom is the beneficiary of one…..a rose one……
Our knitting matters………
God bless you and all that you do……Sandy
The shawl is beautiful. It looks perfect for surviving the rigors of hospital and clinic visits and too large to get overlooked and left behind.
I grew up in the hippy-dippy era in an area where rose quartz occurs and with a minerologist dad, so I appreciate the information on the associations.
I really hope the fortuitous catch before your friend felt symptoms means it was caught early enough. How hard to be too far away to wrap more than the shawl around her.
I made a healing doll for my friend when she had breast ca, several years ago, she is well. When a friend is faced with an illness, it is wonderful to be able to put our hopes for recovery and our creativity into a substancial form that they can hold. I like to think of it as comfort and prayers all in one place. It is a beautiful shawl.
It’s gorgeous, what a lovely gesture, when you so want to be there & help but can’t, to send a hug priority mail, to comfort, protect & help heal.
How sweet and wonderful. It is a stunning shawl. Handmade lovelies do wonders for someone who is ill. My prayers are with your dear friend.
What a loving and wonderful friend you are! The shawl is beautiful and I can see it will be a huge comfort to her. I’ll keep her in my prayers. –J
What a beautiful shawl and all the beautiful thoughts wrapped up in it. I hope your friend does well with the surgery and recovers quickly.
That is one beautiful shawl, and you are the most amazing friend!!
I’ll send her my thoughts!
Sending good thoughts to your friend.
Beautiful shawl.
You knit wings! That is so cool! Please provide a pattern for this, I’m not that creative, but I have friends who I would love to knit wings for. What a wonderful, thoughtful, symbolic gift. You are such a good friend. More prayers for your friend are coming from here…Wish her luck and good health, many more people are now thinking of her…
Sending good thoughts to your friend. The shawl is gorgeous in color, pattern and intent.
Thoughts and prayers go out to all involved. Your friend will wear Rose Quartz Friendship and Love when the shawl touches her.
Thank you, for sharing. Of course she’s in all our prayers.
It is easy to forget that it is the simple things that make a difference to others.
Oh, great, make me cry…such a moving tribute to your friend and friendship. It’s an incredible gift, but not at all surprising.
She and you are in my thoughts today…may she come through her surgery easily and healed…
I’m all choked up. She is absolutely in my thoughts and prayers. The shawl is beautiful and perfect. I can see the love knit right in.
A few years ago, some of my dearest friends had a baby (after trying for a long, long time) who nearly died due to complications at birth. He spent the first month of his life in the NICU. I knit a big, cudly baby blanket with his name embroidered on it while he was there. It was a terrifying month and I couldn’t do anything to help. But I can knit. And I can pray. So I did both.
I really believe it is an incredibly powerful combination. I believe this shawl will bring your friend strength to face the tough road ahead. And it will bring her comfort and hope knowing she has such dear friends. My best wishes to you and her.
I have had the same kind of totem — first in childhood it was a red fox (where there were supposedly only grey foxes), then in adolescence a returning-when-I-needed-her albino pigeon, and now in adulthood the red tail hawk. True love and hope and blessings to your Friend.
As an almost 8 year cancer survivor I know that your friend will forever feel the love, peace & healing that was woven into every stitch as she feels your arms wrapped around her.
The shawl is beautiful and just perfect for the recipient. I love all the creativity and planning and meaning behind it.
As we remember your friend, let’s think of everyone going through the battle with cancer – some are not even lucky enough to feel fine while fighting it.
What a lovely gift! I agree, a friend (who isn’t a doctor) can do no better than to send knitted wings and hope they carry her out of danger.
You got it, babe. Your love for your friend and your beautiful shawl are both just perfect- I’m hoping all that good karma does the trick. Hugs to you, her, and everyone who holds her dear.
She’s going to feel your love every time she wears it. You’re a great friend to do that for her.
it’s gorgeous. I am thinking of your friend.
Best wishes and prayers for your friend’s speedy return to feeling wonderful. The shawl is gorgeous, and I am sure she will feel loved.
I will indeed think of her. I hope she comes through the experience whole and hale and wearing a great shawl.
May the eagle carry her to wellness. She will definitely be in my thoughts today.
I will say a prayer, but I hardly think she’ll need it with an eagle like you on her side.
How wonderful a gift that ONLY a knitter could endow her with…a knitted wearable totem hug. And of course, she will be in my prayers.
That’s a beautiful thing to make for her and she’s in my thoughts.
What a beautiful way to counter sadness and fear. Your friend is lucky to have you — and your ever-increasing network of well-wishers — as she fights her invader. Blessings on you both.
Am new to the site (and a new knitter). Beautiful and inspiring – and it REALLY does look like feathers and wings.
Fabulous.
That’s a beautiful sentiment made physical into a beautiful embrace. What an amazing thing to do. I will be thinking of her.
This brings to mind one of my favorite quotes from White Eagle (appropriate name 🙂 )
Say little, and love much; give all; judge no man; aspire to all that is pure and good.
You are truly an inspiration to all of us – you friend is now beneath your wing and the wings of all of sending good thoughts her way
MADE ME WEEP. I GAVE MY BROTHER A KIDNEY 32 YEARS AGO WHEN IT WAS A BARBAROUS PROCEDURE. TWO YEARS LATER I WAS THE FIRST KID ON THE BLOCK TO GET CANCER. PEOPLE WERE VERY WEIRD IN THOSE DAYS, INFORMING ME OF MY INCORRECT THOUGHT FORMS THAT HAD CAUSED THE DISEASE. I SURE WAS VERY ALONE. NOWADAYS EVERY BODY, IT SEEMS, GETS CANCER. I SURE WOULD HAVE LIKED SOMEBODY TO KNIT ME A SHAWL. IT CHANGED MY LIFE, OF COURSE, AND NOW I DO HOMEOPATHY AND HERBS FOR PEOPLE WITH CANCER AND GO TO THEIR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS WITH THEM. NETTLES, ESPECIALLY FREEZE DRIED NETTLES, ARE VERY GOOD FOR KIDNEYS AND HOMEOPATHIC SYMPHYTUM. I’M 30 YEARS CLEAR. BLESS YOU.
Sending good thoughts your friends way.
I understand you. Whenever I hear someone I love is sick, pregnant, not well… I HAVE to knit for them. It is my way to help them. It is what I know and something I think I do well.
Oh, Stephanie – here I sit dripping tears all over my keyboard. In November, a dear friend and former student was diagnosed with a quick-growing brain cancer, and has been going through all the horrors of treatment – but remembering that treatment is the more positive option. I’ve been sending her light and healing every day, as have all her “magic” friends (I refer to her as “witch and famous”) and she is making excellent progress. My knitting skills are not up to such a beautiful gift, but she’s also a knitter and right after the diagnosis, I took her mohair yarn in pink quartz and amethyst colors to cheer her.
I am adding your friend to the my daily sendings, and you’ve enlisted a huge army of positivity to send her health and recovery.
“Just” knitting a shawl? Nah – giving her a physical manifestation of a shield, loving and healing her with every stitch, and by telling us the story, adding the healing thoughts of every reader you have – woman, that is one hell of a gift.
Blessed be.
What a beautiful shawl! What a lovely gift for your friend. We are all sending her good thoughts!
Also…something tickled my brain when you said it was eight feet…
From http://www.eagles.org
“The Bald Eagle can have a wing span of up to eight feet…”
The shawl is simply perfect. Wrapping up in the love of a friend is very healing. Of course she will be in my thoughts and prayers today.
I can see the warmth and love of the other well wishers here, winging their way towards your friend, with beautiful warm thoughts of health on their wings~They will make their home in the fibers of her shawl and comfort her days to come.
anie
your act of love brought tears to my eyes. my husband has been battling the evils of feeling-well-but-things-inside-are-totally-not-well. my heart goes out to your friend, and she will surely be in my prayers. she is amazingly blessed to have a friend like you who has created such a beautiful symbol of strength and love. wow. you totally rock.
Who knew a big pink thing could bring a woman to tears? That is absolutely beautiful, thoughts and prayers and all other sorts of good things going your friend’s way.
I seldom comment either…but this is just too muchnot to say something and let you know your firend is in my prayers and many others here in Oklahoma. That shawl is just perfect to send to your friend….I know she will “feel” the love, and prayers, and tears too. It was something Great that you have done!!! ONce again my prayers and thoughts are with you and your friend!!!
Your friend is in my thoughts. What a beautiful gift – someday, years from now when she is well and old and grey, I have no doubt she will sit with this shawl and it will keep her warm and strong, just as it is doing for her now.
It’s just got to help! That beautiful yarn knit up with such love and devotion will warm her body and soul. That is just the best kind of knitting ever.
There is a song I sang in church as a teenager, called “On Eagles Wings”. If you Google it, you will find plenty of links. I think your friend would like that song.
“And He will raise you up on eagles’s wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His hand.”
May all His angels be with your friend, her doctors, surgeons, nurses, family and loved ones – that includes you, such a wonderful friend. May they all receive guidance and comfort and may your friend especially receive strength to fly forward. She’ll be in my thoughts and prayers.
Chris
There is power in what you wrote today–I don’t know why, but it’s there. Rose quartz. Eagles. There was a time in my life when I desperately wanted a sign . . . one of reassurance and comfort . . . and it was given me. I just pray that your friend continues to see eagles. And if she doesn’t, then that she’ll call up the memory and draw on the strength she felt then. The memory of the comfort I felt in my own time of need has pulled me through the toughest times I’ve had yet. I hope the eagles can do the same.
As a cancer survivor and one who’s heard those ill fated words,”its cancer” I want you to know that the prayers of others makes all the differnence in the world, and knowing others are praying for you when you are too sick to pray for yourself gives you an amazing strength. The shawl is incredible, the emotions behind it are even more so. I will be praying for your friend.
Oh, Stephanie… I rarely cry yet this wonderful post, beautiful shawl and sad story has me in tears.
You have done a wonderful thing for your friend… I hope that all of our thoughts and prayers will strengthen your friend during this rough time in her life.
May you be blessed too…
How could that gorgeous shawl do anything but bring comfort and healing? I’m thinking pink for your friend and sending some prayers upstairs along with it. What a wonderful act of friendship–I could only wish to have such a great friend to help me through life’s hardships. I hope knitting the shawl also brought you relief from worry for a little while as well. It’s so hard to know what to do to “help” in such situations. I think your “help” is perfect! 🙂
It will help, it will really, really help your friend to have a tough bit of knitting to wrap up in. Sometimes the chemo drugs are cold and they give you a bad case of the shakes. Having something warm to wrap in and hold onto feels like someone is saving your life. You are a good friend.
An astounding work of beauty and love. And you are so wrong (I mean that as politely as possible) to believe that a knitted item can’t help her physically. Her mental well-being will be buoyed up by this incredible work of art and I believe that one’s mental state is very important to physical recovery.
Wow. That’s a stunner. Absolutely gorgeous – both the shawl and the sentiment that produced it.
Am holding your friend in my thoughts, and imagining her sheltered my eagle’s wings.
Eagle leads the way. She sees beyond the borders, the walls, and the mysteries – and she points to us the way of being.
Who better to make the wings? You are a beautiful friend and a powerful healer.
What a gorgeous, thoughtful shawl…the Big Pink thing moniker didn’t do it justice. Perhaps Big Beautiful Pink Thing.
I will think good things for you friend and send her healing vibes…
and btw…yes you really did do something! and yes it will help…when you are sick all you want to do is feel comforted and loved and with that shawl wrapped around her she will feel exactly that….comfort and love has great powers….GREAT powers! and picking the Rose Quartz color knowing what rose quartz does for healing….you put the energy of that crystal into the shawl as you knit it for her…i believe in that….she is loved…she will be well
There is nothing better than to be held by a friend. Knitters have the gift of being able to do this even from a distance, to wrap someone up in tangible big pink love. I’m thinking of you and your friend.
“I know that really, when your friend is sick and far away, that knitting can really do very little to actually care for them, but since all I can do is knit a big pink thing and mail it, then I sincerely hope it helps.”
Don’t be rediculous. You, of all people, have to know that knitting is not “very little” and it is totally caring for people. That’s why it’s so huge… that’s why they come for thousands of miles to gather in New York for one giant knitting crawl. Knitting is another way of looking at caring for others. It’s like palliative care, like Hospice. It’s taking the time to think of someone for hours, to CREATE something with only them in mind. Only in knitting can you use your hands to DIRECTLY craft something for somone you love. Your hands created it, your mind created it.
I’m a member of a “prayer shawl ministry” group. I had the priviledge of receiving a shawl about a year ago from a fellow member. Each time I wrap it around my shoulders I feel loved, I feel warm, and I know that someone took the time to create that for me and only me. The stitches are crocheted with me in them, and her too. And love most of all.
Don’t diminish it. You created beauty. You loved your friend. Your shawl is a blessing.
Amen!
I can only add my prayers and thoughts to all the others, and deem you a truly special person.
that is SO what knitting is all about.
best
pink
hug
ever
may it bring peace, warmth, and comfort to her. i too will be thinking positive thoughts for your special friend.
~sue
Something knit with love is a prayer itself.
Wow. That is the most touching, meaningful and beautiful knitted object. Well done, Stephanie.
Thoughts and prayers to your friend.
This post has set me to weeping. My son (2 months old) is also to have kidney surgery but–thankfully–not for cancer. I will be sending my best vibes your friend’s way. I am sure your good thoughts, prayers, love, and friendship are just humming through every fiber of that shawl. It WILL help your friend. Beautifully done too.
Very beautiful shawl! I like the idea that it has an 8′ wingspan.
I hope all goes well for your friend.
What a beautiful shawl! A wonderful gift which is sure to help your friend cope with this tough time.
You are such a good and thoughful friend, nicely done!
Your friend is in my thoughts. The shawl is beautiful!
The Feathers are beautiful. I’m all misty. I’ll pray.
I’m wishing the best for your friend, as I am for my mother who is having “bumps” on her kidney evaluated this week. You created a beautiful piece of love and comfort which will be cherished.
Knitting does have the power to heal, as does love. What an exquisite gift you have given your friend. She will feel invincible with those loving feathers wrapped around her.
Stephanie,
When she wraps up in this most beautiful and loving shawl, she will be wrapped up in the loving embrace of her friend (you), the strength of eagles (I think the stitches are perfect), and the gentle power of rose quartz – a very healing shawl indeed.
Blessed Be.
Susan
What a lovely gesture of love! Praying for your friend’s healing. Thank you for sharing such an inpiring post!
I really love what Gwen in Bowmanville said in her comment:
“While I had my vision full of that beautiful shawl, a word came to me. Aquila. The latin name for the eagle. A good name for a beautiful prayer shawl. A good name for a warrior against an invisible enemy. And the name I will give to your friend in my prayers.”
I will also call your friend by Aquila in my prayers. Prayers of healing, strength, courage, and joy. Many blessings to you as well for your generous spirit.
more than a shawl – it is, indeed, a hug. beautiful.
That is so beautiful, Stephanie – the shawl itself and the sentiment behind it. I hope it brings your friend comfort and strength in her journey.
The shawl is beautiful, inspired, amazing. I’m sure that it will comfort her greatly through what lies ahead. Your friend will be in my thoughts as well.
When my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer she also expressed that she found it hard to believe that she could be so sick when she felt so healthy. I like to think that as I knit or cross stitch a gift for someone that all my good thoughts are transferred into the work and then subsequently passed onto the recipient. The shawl that you knit is a beautiful expression of your love and good wishes and will no doubt bring comfort to your friend at this difficult time. I wish her well.
What a beautiful shawl to knit for your wonderful friend. May she continue to stay wrapped up in the her shawl and that it helps to heal her. Definitely she’s in my prayers and thoughts.
I started singing Eagle’s Wing after reading this… may your friend be given the strength of Eagles’ to handle her treatment. What a wonderful gift….
That could make anyone feel better.
Good thoughts and wishes going her way.
May a family of eagles fly over her.
🙂
Puts everything in perspective. Whatever you’re going through, whatever is wrong, there is always something worse. I hope your friend feels better.
Your friend is truly blessed to have someone like you caring for her well-being. She is in my thoughts and prayers.
Oh my goodness – what a wonderful and generous person you are and what a great friend.
Been there, done that, with the whole – “what do you mean I have cancer, I feel fine” and thinking that the next day I felt just as good as I did the day before I found out that I had cancer. That’s the thing that really sucks about cancer – it doesn’t hurt…at least not in the manner to which we are accustomed to feeling pain.
I’m happy to say that in just about 10 days I will be at my 6-year cancer free mark. I feel very blessed.
I will say many prayers for your friend. She is quite lucky to have someone like you in her life.
The shawl is beautiful, I hope your friend gets better!
What a beautiful gift and a lovely way to reach out to your friend. I love the symbolism. It’s only been recently that I’ve begun reading your blog and following your knitting adventures; today you made me all teary. Warm healing thoughts for your friend.
I’m so sorry to hear about your friend. The shawl is lovely and I’m sure it helps her feel safe.
What an amazing thing, to be able to give love a tangible form.
Blessing and best wishes to your dear friend.
That is so kind, and thoughtful, and inspiring. Bless you. I will hold her in my thoughts today.
Friendship is a beautiful thing, isn’t it? I’m sure she feels blessed to have you as a friend. The fact that it was knit by you, her friend, only increases the strength she will take from it. Definitely a day to keep her in our throughts, as you know we all will.
Can you just imagine the crazy big good vibe you have unleashed into the universe from all of us to your good friend? Thank you for letting us help with this unseen, but surely felt, positive force. None of us are alone, we all have eachother.
It’s 2:22 Central time and I am sending all the goodwill I can. The shawl is beautiful; perhaps there are as many of us reading and wishing well as there are stitches in the garment? I’m bad with math and can’t see your sitemeter, so I don’t know, but that’s my hope and my assumption. Tell her to hang in there.
The shawl is lovely and made even lovelier by the thought you put into it. I said a prayer for your friend. Let us know, if you can, how she is.
So beautiful…thoughtful….and perfect in every way.
We knit because we have to. We are knitters.
And that shawl is love and hope and comfort made manifest in a beautiful way. We feel powerless & say “it’s not much, but it’s all I could do” — but it is way powerful.
Here’s one of the strengths of The Blog — not only can it check your wiring and help Medecins sans Frontiere’s mission, but it can call forth — in only hours! — hundreds of earnest prayers and good wishes and positive energy for your friend. And that can only be a good thing.
I too will be praying for the eagle’s wings to shelter and protect your friend.
It’s beautiful. Many good thoughts for your friend today and in the days to come.
You are a great friend. I hope that she wins this battle.
I wish I had a friend like you when I found out I have breast cancer (although I wouldn’t trade the friends I have for anything)! They kept telling me nothing was wrong and not to worry about the swelling in my armpit, even after they found the lump in my breast, until they finally did a biopsy and found out that was indeed cancer. Several mammograms “didn’t look like cancer,” even though it was. God bless your friend and may she have a speedy and complete recovery.
That shawl is absolutely gorgeous, and I know it will comfort your friend and help her to know that you’re there for her through a difficult time.
Knitters really are an amazing group, and it’s generous acts like this that make me glad to call myself one.
A prayer that there is healing in each stitch.
You made a big pink hug. From one holistic medicine hippy type to another, all the love and energy you put into knitting those beautiful pink eagle wings will be felt by your friend. How could it not? It’s like an energy battery she can draw from when the need arises. For what its worth kidneys are remarkably resilient organs and kidney cancer has one of the highest rates of spontaneous remission. You’re both in my prayers.
I have always, firmly, believed that the knits we create for our loved ones in need carry healing powers within them. My co-worker was having her second child & they had to reposition the baby – and saw she had tumors. Stage 1 cancer, they wouldn’t have known about it if not for the baby. I went crazy knitting her hats, because she just started chemo & is simultaneously worried about losing her hair & ashamed she is worried about her hair. The hats will get used, or they won’t, but they will be there to remind her and give her connectedness when she feels most alone in her struggle. Hand-knit fabric, imbued with love and hope, is one of the greatest gifts we can bestow.
Your Big Pink Thing is truly lovely, and the wonderful symbolism you incorporated will undoubtedly help your friend – may she soar to wellness soon.
I found out my sister had cancer after a biopsy we all knew would turn out to be a false scare…but it wasn’t. I didn’t know what to do and I was on the other side of the country and all I wanted to do was hug her. So I knit for her because it was all I could do and I’ll be damned if it didn’t make me feel like I was somehow helping.
Both of you are in my thoughts today.
My hugs and prayers are with your friend. That is a wonderful job and (being a holistic person myself) so very appropriate. Well done!
You are a tremendous friend. I am sure she will feel your hugs, the Rose Quartz and eagle power with each wearing. I wish you both the best.
What a powerful way to hug a friend who is too far away for your arms to reach. Best wishes to her for a full and speedy recovery.
amazing! you are a true knitter -and even truer friend. positive enegery to both you and your friend!!!!
I always think of shawls as hugs you can give someone or yourself. They are warm and comforting. I am thinking postive thoughts for your friend. Cheers Lulu
I am snuffling and it has nothing to do with allergies or a cold. It has a lot to do with the essense of flight and fancy that you have captured in that shawl, and the prayers that were wove in between. From a cancer surviors perspective, you have the best kind of love wrapped up in that shawl. My own prayers will be taking flight for your friend.
Have you never heard of Prayer Shawls? Your friend could not be better protected or cared for had you knit her a suit of armor. And Eagle feathers are huge in Native American rituals. Once again, you not only ‘done good’, you done exceedingly well.
Your friend will definitely be in my mind and prayers today. What a wonderful gift for her, with all your love and thoughts knitted into it.
Dear Stephanie, I send my best wishes and thoughts to your friend all the way from Switzerland.
Please accept my admiration and feelings of proudness. Yes, I am proud of you. It feels odd, but it warmes my heart.
The shawl is beautiful, the symbolic and thoughts wrought in it priceless.
It doesn’t surprise me that you would do this because that’s who you are, a person who cares deeply. I’m sure the caring and prayers that are knit in every stitch will make your friend well. The shawl and the thoughts are amazingly beautiful. I’ll add my prayers to the group.
I vaguely remember you once saying you were afraid to knit a prayer shawl because you wouldn’t want any bad vibes to get into it if/when you made any errors or had to rip anything out. Woman, you have now made a prayer shawl. When it was important, you were up to it. I am sure the magnificent Rose Quartz Healing Shawl you made for your very lucky, very much loved friend has the most wonderful vibes of love and health and strength and protection. As always, you rock. She will be in all of our thoughts and prayers.
What a beautiful gift. Your friend is in my thoughts.
Sending healing thoughts and prayers your friends way. The shawl is beautiful!
Stephanie, that is the loveliest big pink thing I have ever seen. Symbolic, sturdy, soft and lovely. And so are you. 🙂
Stephanie,
YOu have knit a wonderful gift for your friend. You amy not have relized it, but you knit her a prayer shawl. You can check out this link for more informtion on the Prayer Shawl Ministry: http://www.shawlministry.com/index.htm
Your friend is blessed by your friendship.
Lynn
I believe in the power of the One who created us, and I will pray for your friend, for healing and comfort, and comfort for her family and friends. After reading the previously posted comments, it seems there are others in this blog family who could also use our prayers as they face similar difficult situations. Isn’t it a blessing that prayer can cover each and every one? Yes, just like knitting. Stephanie, you have made this a good place to share what’s on our hearts.
~ Dar
Your friend is in my thoughts.
Dear beautiful Stephanie,
It is obvious that you have a furious love for those close to you. May this beautiful piece of your heart instill your friend with the comfort, courage, peace, healing and serenity that she needs.
In the name of all things good and glorious that the Goddess put on our earth, I ask this.
Blessings.
Your Eagle Feather shawl is deeply moving, Steph. Your prescience never ceases to amaze me.
To be given an Eagle feather is the highest honor bestowed by the tribe. Eagle feathers must be earned through acts of valor (well-earned in the case of your friend).
The wings of Eagle represent the balance between the masculine and the feminine, and the sacred connection between humanity and the Creator, and Eagle is believed to have the sacred duty of carrying our prayers to Father Sky.
You could not have chosen better symbolism.
My sidewalkers come to me when I need them. One of them is Red Tail Hawk.
I will hold your friend in my thoughts.
Steph, That is one beautiful wingspan. I too think of what heals in a holistic way. You have perfectly transitioned the crystal energy into a most loving knitted yarn energy, then had it wing its way to her. I am sending healing loving thoughts to your dear friend. Namaste
As a cancer survivor myself I can honestly say that I would have loved to have a friend like you Stephanie who put so much love into such a beautiful piece of knitting. It has meaning which is so much more than just being beautiful and pink is my favorite color! I will light a candle and say a prayer for your friend and her family and now I am going to order some heavyweight BM yarn for a shawl class I am taking! God Bless.
A gorgeous long-distance hug, knit with love.
Several months back, my friend discovered kidney cancer in a ‘routine’ physical. Shocking news, indeed. The worst kind of news. Wonderfully, after surgery her long term prognosis is spectacularly excellent, and to look at her, not even 10 weeks post-op, you’d never guess what she just went through. May your friend walk a similar path.
I have her in my thoughts. You are a good friend.
your friend is very lucky to have you. what a masterpiece!
I usually keep checking your blog and catch the new entries early. For some reason today, I didn’t see it until nearly 250 others had posted their thoughts, and I’m so glad. It is inspiring and comforting to read that so many knitters, no matter what their beliefs, can hold you and your friend up in prayer and thoughts and good wishes. And I was delighted to read that others love the promise of Isaiah. Add mine to the long list of prayers for your friend’s recovery.
“…but it wouldn’t hurt if she were held for a moment in your thoughts today…”
DONE. Before you even asked.
What a beautiful and heartfelt gift.
((((hugs))))
What a fantastic and beautiful gift for a friend in need. Prayers for you and friend. Also for those around her, the doctors for wisdom and family for strength. All the best.
Wow! Having recently knit a prayer shawl for a dear friend I know what you have just gone through. Of course, mine was not near as elaborate as this one. But having my friend burst into tears as I presented this gift to her (her son is recoving from a horrific suicide attempt) she knew that I would be with her and supporting her via this shawl. And she knew that whether it was called a prayer shawl, a healing shawl, or just a shawl, it contained all of my best wishes for her and her family. May your friend be as comfortated as mine, and I’ll keep her in my thoughts today and hereafter.
My thoughts and prayers are with your friend. You have done a wonderful thing for her and I think it is the perfect gesture of your friendship.
I am working with a group locally to knit comfort shawls and I was recently able to hear the story of how much one of our shawls meant to someone. It felt very nice.
You are the best.
What a wonderful gift.
A year and a half ago, my grandmother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Since then, she has also been diagnosed with diabetes (caused by the chemo/radiation treatments) and experienced a broken ankle — caused by the osteoporosis, which was advanced by the treatments she’s had to undergo.
When she was diagnosed, I kind of panicked: my grandparents are relatively young and healthy. They live about a twelve hour drive south of me, so I can’t go and be with them on a regular basis. I bought the softest yarn I could afford (I just graduated from college) — a cashmere-silk-merino-somethingelse blend from Knitpicks, in bulky weight — and knitted up a massive version of Knitty’s Clapotis. In bright red. It’s something she takes with her to the hospital, big enough to go around her shoulders or over her lap. It’s a giant wool hug for my Grammie (…which she lets the cats sleep on when she’s not using it…).
I hope things go well for your friend, however the turn out. She is in my thoughts.
My heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to your friend, her family, and to you for putting so much thought and love into this beautiful object. I have just begun reading your blog, and only caught the last few postings about the BPT, and I think that it is so wonderful and supportive for you to do this for a friend in need. She will cherish this forever.
My thoughts are with your friend. I had the same reaction when my dear friend was diagnosed, and I knit her Knitty’s Shedir out of Rowan Calmer. I know it meant more to her than almost any other gesture someone made during her treatment, and it made me feel better too–like I was transferring my hope for her recovery through every stitch.
Absolutely beautiful. Sending good thoughts her way.
Thats a beautiful piece, both in thought and it all its material glory and the love poured into it will reach her too I bet!!!
I am in no way a religious person but I do believe the power of thought and love can do great things, shes and you too are in my thoughts
big hugs being sent from a fellow knitnut in scotland xxxxxxx
That’s wonderful. Beautiful and wonderful. I hope things turn out well for your friend — for all of our many, scattered friends who suffer from that damned stupid cancer crap.
The BPT is beautiful at so many levels … .
She is in my thoughts, and will be in my prayers. Her family and loved ones too. What a wonderful gift
to be wrapped with Rose Quartz love.
Beautiful. Beautiful lace, beautiful pink.
Reading about your friend brought back the similar conversations I had with family and friends a year and a half ago. My diagnosis was something. I had to have major surgery. I remember the uncertainty in what would happen and the certainty that everything that could be done was being done and being done well. In the end the news was good. I am so grateful. I am praying for your friend right now, that her news would be good in the end.
Your a good friend.
When my friend, who had had a lot of trouble conceiving, finally brought her little girl into the world, I crocheted her a baby blanket. The first time she used it was the first time her baby slept through the night, and she said that the same thing happened every time the blanket was used.
Never underestimate the power of love and yarn! I’m sure that the shawl will do wonders for your friend.
Best wishes to both of you.
Good job, pun’kin. Has it occurred to you that all those mad-dash, last-minute, marathon (not to say Olympian)projects you’re teased for trained you so that you could produce something commensurate with your concern in the tiny amount of time you had? Well done.
She certainly will be in my thoughts — today and always. And she is blessed to have so wonderful a friend as you.
Never doubt the power of positive thinking. Nature has a way of helping those that helps themselves. Your friend is in my thoughts.. and you are truly a friend yourself. You enrich our lives by providing us examples of how to pass our love of knitting on…
I am so moved -moved to tears. You must really love her to figure out a pattern to incorporate the eagle. And how clever of you to think about the positive color of rose quartz. Let her know that complete strangers are sending positive fibes her way.
I think I’m going to go cry now.
My former physician, a youngish woman who always encouraged a healthy, holistic, hippy sort of lifestyle, was diagnosed with metastatic cancer. She also has lupis, a number of other health problems, and no insurance. I feel helpless. She was one of few who believed me at 19 years old when I said “I hurt.” I’m a knitter, so I will send my love through the work I do with sticks and string. I’m designing a pair of socks for her in Navy blue, her favorite color. There’s little else I can do.
Your friend is in my prayers. And I am sure that whenever she needs a hug in the next few days and weeks, the big pink thing will be perfect to deliver it should family and friends not be there just at that point.
Please let us know how your friend is doing. I am sure everyone here would like to know.
With the warmest greetings and best wishes for your friend, her family and you.
Bettina
I’m a mess of tears. What a beautiful thing you’ve done, and a beautiful shawl you’ve made. Would that everyone had a friend like you.
It’s beautiful… and snuggly… and comforting. I know your friend will treasure it.
What a beautiful shawl and so well thought out… I’m sure it means so much to her… You have got the be the sweetest friend…Best wishes to you both…
“I know that really, when your friend is sick and far away, that knitting can really do very little to actually care for them…”
Your knitting is doing more to care for your friend than you think, believe me. It may not be able to heal her body, but it will work wonders for her heart. I knew the Big Pink Thing would be beautiful, but I had no idea how beautiful!
Love and best wishes to your friend!
It’s beautiful. 7 or 8 years ago, my best friend had a few rounds with cancer, I can imagine how you’re feeling. My thoughts and prayers are with both of you.
May your friend have the warmth of her shawl, the light of the sun, and the love of your friendship for many years. I will keep her in my thoughts in the days to come.
Healing thoughts and prayers winging her way ~
Your thoughtfulness made me cry – how lucky your friend is to have someone like you in her life. I know your ‘wings’ will carry her through this difficult time. My thoughts are with you.
God bless you for being the friend that you are. May God also bless your friend and keep her safe and once again return her to good health.
what a lovely way to show your support for a friend through such a crazy time. my prayers are with her and her loved ones.
You. Are. Amazing.
Absolutely Magnificent! What a wonderful thing to do for a loved one—A prayer shawl was absolutely the best thing you could have given her along with your love and support. I will gladly pray for your friend as well.
The pink thing is very beautiful, worth waiting to see. 🙂
Best wishes to your friend.
Saying Medicine Buddha mantras for your friend today. WIth so many good wishes, prayers, candles and friends, surely she will emerge from this even stronger than she began.
Joy
Rewalsar, H.P., India
What a wonderful thing to do. Your story helped me today when I am going through a bad patch of ‘stuff’. Nothing nearly as serious as your friend thankfully. I’ll keep you both in my thoughts today.
The Big Pink Thing is absolutely wonderful. I’ve no doubt that your friend will feel wrapped in love, strength and courage when she wears it. Your friend, and all in her life, will be in my thoughts today.
My mother is going through her own battle with cancer. Don’t underestimate the power of good wishes or comfort from a distant friend. I am sure that your gift, so well thought out and meaningful, conveys the love and strength that you are passing to your friend. God bless her and grant her the strength for her battle.
What a blessing! By funneling your love and energy knitting this shawl and sharing the story with all your blog friends, you have greatly multiplied the healing effectiveness of the Aquila Rose Quartz Shawl. Thank you for being a conduit of love and prayer for your friend, and allowing us to help in the healing process she is going through. (Hugs)
Looking forward to seeing you in Petaluma next month.
I do believe in the power of the presence of that eagle and the healing it means to her. I love your being willing to create her her own eagle wings and for the power of your presence in that shawl. I have lived that kind of experience in illness, and I know what a difference the gift of one’s love and time makes. To life!
And Stephanie, thank you so very, very much.
Stephanie, beautiful, powerful feather wings, sending pink light healing thoughts her way.
A very dear friend of mine just went through a terrible health episode, to the point where she and her husband were saying goodbye to each other the night before her surgery, because no one (including her doctor) was sure she was going to come out the other side.
When it was clear she had a terrible something and well before the surgery, I started knitting. I told myself it was practical, because she lives far away and I can’t drop by with a casserole. I fussed with totem color and totem pattern. I picked a shawl, even though she is a wrap person, and nothing went right, and she continued to slide downwards. Finally one night, worrying about her and having given up any attempt at sleeping, I ripped it all out as the sun rose, found a new pattern totem, a new shape (a wrap) and started over. I told her husband what I was working on, a wrap for her to wear on their next trip to Paris, and added in a darkly humorous way “so tell her no funny stuff — you don’t mess with the knitting juju.” Being a wise and lovely man, his reponse was “Knitting juju? I might as well buy our plane tickets now.”
She did survive the surgery, and I knit furiously on it until she was out of the ICUs (two of them, the extra special ICU and the regular ICU). Now I am knitting to keep pace with her recovery. She and the wrap will be ready for Paris at the same time.
Juju knitting is pure prayer. I know your friend appreciates yours, and that it has carried its magic through the mail.
What a beautiful thing, the shawl and the love it contains. I will add her to my thoughts and prayers.
There’s something innately powerful about something beautifully made by hand for a specific person for a specific purpose. It transforms. It’s an incredible form of love. And this shawl…every part of it is full of the pure intent of loving your friend healthy. It is the most beautiful, healing energy.
Thank you also for sharing it with us.
You are a great friend, and that is a beautiful shawl. It looks exactly like feathers.
Beautiful yarn, beautiful pattern, beautiful knitting, beautiful shawl, most importantly beautiful love for your friend.
I am breathless…saying a quiet little prayer for your dear friend.
Both Big Pink and your words have wings. Now with all our prayers, may they gift her with better health.
She’ll be in my thoughts. And you’re one great friend she has.
Dude. Nicely done.
I had the surgery this year — you know the one where you end up with an empty drawer in the bathroom — and was told the pathology testing would be just routine — shouldn’t expect anything negative — just something that is done with this surgery. Well — it wasn’t nothing, and for a few minutes a felt really sorry for myself. Then I remembered all the friends that I have — those close and those that are miles away — and the love they all had for me just enveloped me. I’m lucky — the thing had already been taken out — and I just have to test and watch for recurrance for 5 years — but like your friend I felt fine too — and had no idea anything bad like that had been happening.
I’m sure every time your friend looks at that beautiful shawl or wraps herself within it she’ll feel the love you have for her. May it bless her with a speedy recovey. She will be in my prayers.
Laura
How could anyone not feel better for receiving such a beautiful, tangible expression of love and caring? It’s a wonderful thing you’ve done for your friend.
Without the sentiment, it would have been a lovely piece of knitting. With it, it’s amazing.
Now I have seen a prayer! amazing ……..
What a fitting and perfect way to enshroud Friend with love and fortitude
-via your beautiful gift
-via your true friendship
-via your ability to take the good lovin’ a step further:
Kudos to you for meeting the deadline and sharing this story today so that the blogosphere can send a world of healing and recuperative energy Friend’s way.
You’re rocking, today as always, but today in a very Rose Quartz kind of way. :o)
This is such a beautiful and meaningful present – one of the best I’ve ever seen. I’m thinking good thoughts for your friend.
You are one wicked knitter and one awesome friend.
I hope that if I am ever faced with something like that, that I have a friend as wonderful as you to knit for me, too. What a wonderful and beautiful thing you did for her, and the story it tells about the two of you is moving. I am sure that she will be on the road to recovery soon, wrapped in BPT!
Anyone who has you for a friend is blessed indeed.
Beautiful! Your friend is lucky to have someone like you in her life. Everyone deserves a friend as caring, supportive, and thoughtful as you!
She will DEFINITELY be in my thoughts today – best wishes to her, sincerely!
done. and remember, it will never be “just a shawl” or “just something you knit her”. It holds your love and friendship and is a great big (ok huge?) hug from you when she needs it the most.
and I believe that maybe there was a little magic in that there yarn. 8 ft shawl from 3 skeins STR?
Your friend – and you – are in my prayers. The shawl is beautiful and will surely be a comfort to your friend. As I looked at one picture of the shawl the design reminded me of tulips – a wonderful sign of new beginnings in the spring. May this be the start of new health for your friend.
Blessings on both you and your friend. An eagle totem is strong and a very good thing to have on your side. I’m sure the shawl will help provide that extra strength when your friend needs it most and be a warm, reassuring hug from you, even though you’re miles and miles away.
It’s absolutely gorgeous. But then, most things that come off your needles are. 🙂
Sending a sustained OMMMMM into the universe for your friend, and all those who love her. Goddess Blessings.
What a wonderful friend you are- and I’m holding your friend in my thoughts today. I admire your ability to knit a shawl from random bits of pattern books and have it come out so beautifully. Surely all the love you knitted into that shawl will work its magic on your friend, and heal her from the inside out.
It’s lovely. You’ve given the blessing of friendship. There is nothing more extraordinary.
That shawl is absolutely beautiful! You are a good friend.
Steph:
You are such a lovely friend to have put so much thought into the shawl. She will feel every stitch of that shawl as the love and caring you have for her. I will think of her today and keep her in my prayers every day.
What better manifestation of love for another person-and what a gift to you that you were able to do SOMETHING in such a situation. I am wearing rose beads as I type this-
When you knit and pray for someone what you end up with is the physical manifestation of the prayer. A prayer to wrap yourself in is the greatest gift a friend and knitter can give.
Linda in Oregon
Being the “hippie type,” you will know that the light and warmth you send out into the universe will return to you three-fold. You are an amazing friend. Best wishes to you both.
This is my first comment to your blog, but I’ve been reading for a while now. I have to tell you I got goose bumps while reading your story. We’ve all been able to tell you were in a mad rush to knit something and now we know why it was so important to you. You put so much thought and personal touches into that shawl and I know your friend will absolutely cherish it forever. My thoughts go out to your friend and her loved ones.
I wonder if the universe knows what a fabulously lucky universe it is to have you in it, not only watching your friend’s back but also covering it in lace, and shoring her up during a frightening and baffling time. I know that I feel fabulously lucky to have you here in the universe with us, and I’m certainly not the only one.
Thinking of your friend, over and over and over, and then starting all over again.
I can’t think of a more beautiful expression of your love and support for her. She will have you wrapped around her at all times… always with her in spirit.
Warmest caring thoughts to your friend who is obviously very loved:)
The shawl is stunning (I actually thought it might be a hammock) and I’m sure when your friend wraps herself in it, she will feel your arms giving her a big hug. What a wonderful gift. I will keep her in my thoughts.
Just beautiful. Your friend is in my thoughts.
I’m just starting to surface from five of the most intense months of my life– from taking my first physical in three years to “nothing, I’m sure” to biopsies to more biopsies just in case to diagnosis to surgery. Aged 22. Now I’m making plans for final follow-up stuff. Everything should be ok, but it’s still emotionally touch-and-go, and your post just made me bawl like a baby. Your friend is truly blessed to have a friend like you. She’ll be in my thoughts and prayers.
Thinking hopefully for your friend.
What a beautiful, friendly thing to do! I’m sure she will feel like she’s hugged by an angel when she wraps up in it — it’s just like giant eagle angel wings!
Stunning! What a beautiful and healing creation. Your friend is blessed to have you. She’s in my thoughts.
I just scrolled up and looked at the shawl once more — it is just stunning!
Your “big pink thing” is awesome Stephanie… and so are you. All the best to your friend 🙂
Such a lovely pink healing hug! Sending healing thoughts to your frind.
What a lovely physical manifestation of your love and support for your friend.
My niece had kidney cancer as a 4-month-old baby. They removed all of one kidney and part of another. They were scary times, but now she’s 22, married and pregnant with her own first baby.
Wishing for a similar positive outcome for your friend.
Stephanie, you are truly an amazing woman. This story of your devotion and love for your friend is incredibly moving and inspiring. I add my thoughts and prayers to the hundreds coming her way. Group consciousness is a powerful thing. The Rose Quartz shawl is a gorgeous creation and she will feel YOU all around her.
Wow..so strange. I just found out my friend’s mother has kidney cancer, although it spread a lot before they found out. She totally felt fine as well.
While I’m not nearly as great (or fast) a knitter as you are, perhaps I can manage a chemo cap.
My prayers are with your friend and here’s hoping for a great outcome!
What a beautiful, thoughtful thing to do. Your friend is lucky to have such support. My thoughts are with her for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery.
Friendship is priceless … thank you for sharing the heights and depths you will go to comfort your friends … and thank you for showing us that it’s as simple as doing whatever we know to do!!
What a generous, thoughtful way to show your friend how much you care. The hand-knitted shawl, alone, is a wonderful reminder of your support, but the thought you put into the planning makes it even more amazing.
The shawl is beautiful and I am sure that your friend feels all wrapped up in your love and well wishes. I’m praying for her speedy and complete recovery.
Healing thoughts go out to your friend. I will keep her in my prayers, and you as well, because I know how hard it is to watch someone we love go through such painful times. There is something powerful in the thoughts of love and healing knit into each stitch of the beautiful shawl.
You are such a wonderful friend and human being, My thoughts are with your friend today, and the shawl is gorgeous.
I know hearing “They found something” when she’d only been expecting a minor test didn’t make your friend feel lucky, but I learned from my Dad that kidney cancer doesn’t usually send out signs until it has metastasized. Through your whole post I kept hoping “Let her be one of the lucky ones that finds it early because they were looking at something else.” I hope it’s early.
Stepanie You are a wonderful friend to knit such a thoughtful loving shawl for your friend. Knitters are special people and you are the best of the best. We are all inspired by your thoughtful kind spirit. Prayers and good luck to your friend.
I have been reading your blog for quite some time, but have never posted. This latest entry brought me to tears. Your shawl is beautiful and will surely bring stength to your friend. You can just tell by looking at it that it is a big, warm hug.
My prayers are with her.
Stephanie, you are probably the kindest, sweetest person I’ve ever heard of. Just reading what you wrote, my heart gave your friend and you a big hug. To hear of your friend’s trouble, then make a big pink, loving hug and send it off to her is just amazing to me. You are proof of goodness in this world.
Your friend is in my thoughts and prayers. How lucky she is to have such a friend as you! I am sure that gorgeous “pink thing” will help in her recovery.
Ruth
You are the very bestest of friends (no matter how many times I type bestest spell check doesn’t like it)
If you can’t be there in person a hug that is knit with love and so much thought into the symbolism is the next best thing.
The shawl is beautiful and she will know how much you love her every time she puts in on or sees it across the room.
Steph, the shawl is STUNNING! Your friend is truly blessed to have someone like you in her life. My thoughts and prayers are with her, and my wish for a speedy recovery.
Tell your friend to take heart. My four year old niece, Kelly, was diagnosed with T-cell leukemia. My sister, Kris, and her husband, Mike, were told that there was no hope…you see, T-Cell invades the brain and spinal cord and does not respond to a bone marrow transplant.
Kris and Mike didn’t believe the dianosis. Rather than surrendering to the devastating prediction, they sought the best medical, spiritual and holistic help that they could. Prayers were said. Agressive chemotherapy and radiation were prescribed. Diet and exercise regimens were followed. Our family all pulled together and helped in anyway we could. And you knw what?
On April 16, 2007 Kelly graduated from college in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She will celebrate her 22nd birthday this May 18th…..cancer free.
I believe the shawl will do a great deal for her. You are a truly beautiful person. Do print her a copy of this post and give it her with the shawl. I promise you she’ll treasure every stitch of it. You’re a good friend. All the best to the patient.
Your friend is truly blessed to have you for a friend. I’m sure the shawl, every stitch knit with care for her, will be a huge comfort during this time.
I knew I wanted something big and snuggly. Something she could take to the hospital and wrap herself in. Something she could leave lying around to look at. Something sturdy. Something safe.
A shawl.
I had crocheted myself a shawl a few years ago… On the day that my soul mate (my little black dog) was diagnosed with liver disease, I had the shawl on. As he lay on the examing table, IV catheter in his leg, feeling horribly ill, he was shaking from cold. The vet office was cold and he was getting cold IV fluids and he was scared. So was I – what to do to help a friend when you can’t explain to them what is going on?
The shawl covered him perfectly. He grew more relaxed – I stayed with him for hours.
The shawl covered him later at home when again he was on IV fluids for days…
He survived that round of the disease (just barely) and together we used the shawl.
He’s no longer with me, but in the end, I still have the shawl… it will never leave me.
You are a true friend. I wish this lady concerned all the luck in the world.
What an incredibly kind and loving gift. I hope she will come through this with flying colors. She is in my thoughts.
Praying.
What a wonderful friend you are. Thank you for sharing. The bit about the eagles sends shivers down my back. She will be blessed wrapped in a shawl that was made with so much love.
The world would be a better place if we all had friends like you.
Your friend will be forever blessed.
prayers and more prayers heading your friends way…
sharon
But knitting does have power. Lots of it and the beautiful shawl you have gifted her with is a hug from you when you can’t be there to hug her. She’s fortunate to have you for a friend. And She’s in my thoughts.
Your friend’s story, as well as yours, brings tears to my eyes. I’m amazed at the imagery she has experienced and the way you were able to incorporate it into such a loving gift for her. I only hope that one day I will be on either end of a friendship similar to this one.
Thinking good thoughts for your friend…what a beautiful gift. It can’t not have healing powers.
Wonderful thought went into the planning of the shawl and love went into the knitting. I’m sure she’ll feel the warmth from you even if you are far away. An amazing blog to read that is really helpful is LeRoy Siever’s “My Cancer” at http://www.npr.org I think people with cancer, their friends and caregivers can all get something valuable from it.
I found myself thinking of eagles this morning on my way to work–something that hasn’t ever crossed my mind before. I’ve made a point of thinking of your friend again today. All my thoughts to her.
Wow. What a gorgeous gift, and what a wonderful friend you are! Thank you for sharing this with us, and please keep us updated as to how she’s doing. Someone who can draw eagles to her is a very special someone indeed!
So, I am a nurse and I know all about the western medicine aspects of treatments with all the “cutting out of stuff” and the flow of real strong liquids into people to get rid of the “terrible invader”. I also have witnessed the power of holistic medicine and I believe that it is NOT accidental that STR is made in a “rose quartz” colorway or that the eagle visit have been coincidental. Your eagle wing shawl WILL help her. It will ease her through this and the warmth and comfort she feels when she is enveloped by it will be no less loving than if your were there in person to hold and hug her.
We will hold her in our thoughts and prayers not only today but as long as it is necessary. . . . as we will be doing with you our dear, kind, giving and thoughful friend!
Love you!
Having had a large and uninvited thing removed from my otherwise healthy (young) body, I can greatly empathize with your dear, dear friend. As a matter of fact, tomorrow is another in a long string of CT scans which will hopefully turn out to be gloriously perfect. I will hold the lucky recipient of a gorgeous, love-infused, rose quartz colored shawl in my heart.
What a thoughtful, beautiful act of love and friendship Stephanie. You truly are an angel and an inspiration to us all.
You are a great friend and an amazing shawl designer/knitter. I hope your friend is safe.
Oh, Steph. The shawl is beautiful. You have done a good thing. I realize that not all cancers are the same, but my Mom had kidney cancer & had a kidney removed eight years ago (at age 82). She is still doing very well & will be 90 in a couple of months. I hope your friend will find the same success. My thoughts & prayers are with you & your friend.
What a fabulous gift for your friend – a totemic hug shawl. I will send healing thoughts her way!
That is a fantastic good luck charm!
I hope that the Big pink Thing and all of our healing thoughts will bring your friend through this incident completely cured!
Farmgirlnow
Stephanie-
This resonates with me in more ways than I can say, so I’ll just add my good thoughts to the other hundreds traveling across the miles to your friend. And to you.
Knitters are the realest people I know. Bless you for sending her such a lovely, warm hug. Blessings on your friend as she travels this path. She will have many good thoughts going her way.
Dearling – I’ll read the preceding 422 messages (!) later. First let me say that I am proud to stand on the same continent as you; proud to be a member of your Community of Knitters, proud to exist in the same time frame as you. Eagles, of course, are powerful medicine to the First Nations people and seeing them or dreaming them is very positive. Also -the Creator gave us TWO of some things (kidneys, lungs, eyes) so that we can dispense with one altogether and live on. With all 10,000 of us, your Knitting countrymen, thinking healing, loving, warm thoughts toward your friend (only 400+ have written so far) her name will find the Creator’s ear as a song. This is a good thing. Oh – and Stephanie? The Big Pink Thing, as well as being eye-wateringly beautiful, is the very definition of a Mitzvah. Blessings on her – and on you.
what a beautiful shawl. Your friend is lucky to have someone who loves her and can knit such meaning and light into simple yarn.
I have no doubts that your friend will come through this better and stronger than before
The sister of one of my closest friends had the exact same thing happen to her this past December – Kidney cancer caught serendipitously, kidney removed, patient back to normal very quickly. I’m sure the same will be true for your friend. God works in mysterious ways, and my friend’s sister had a short-lived, unexplained pain that is not a symptom of kidney cancer (there generally are no symptoms until it is advanced)but her family nevertheless sent her to the doctor for the visit which led to the discovery of her early-stage cancer. She obviously has more to do on this Earth, and so the eagle is telling your friend as well.
The shawl is beautiful, she is a lucky woman in more ways than one.
I have seen some complicated, impressive, and wretchedly difficult knitting in my day. But THAT… is truly what knitting is about. It’s beautiful, and it’s making me cry.
the love knit into this wonderful gift will surly help your friend in this battle. I have had similar occurances in my own life. A baby blanket for a friend whose baby was born 10 weeks too soon… an Aran throw designed for a close family friend who had lost her husband to cancer. I know both projects helped me deal with the unknown future, or the terrible truth. I only hope they did the same for the repcient.
Your friend is in my thoughts.
I will certainly keep your friend in my thoughts. It’s wonderful of you to make the shawl. My mother-in-law-to-be is going through the same thing. Lung cancer found when she had pneumonia, and then a partially blocked coronary artery found when she was being cleared for lung surgery. And she feels fine. We’re hoping for a speedy recovery before she becomes my full fledged mother-in-law at the beginning of June.
My mom had kidney cancer, found just about a year ago. Her lymph nodes were always swollen and the doctor’s thought it was a lymphoma, but it turned out not to have anything to do with her lymph nodes, and they would never have looked at her kidneys if the lymph nodes hadn’t been acting odd. Her surgery completely treated it, which is good, because it is the only treatment for her type. It took her a long time to recover, but she says that if she had to get a cancer, that was the type to get because it was treatable.
I don’t know anything about holistic medicine, although I try to bring in some Ayurvedic principles when I can. The funny thing about your story, is that I gave my mom a rose quartz heart, about the size of an egg yolk, when she was sick. I didn’t know that it was connected to kidney health – maybe the things you think are pretty, are pretty for a reason.
I hope your friend recovers comfortably and fully.
Wow. That shawl is so beautiful, so meaningful. I am certain it will help your friend. Bless you Stephanie, and bless your dear friend.
Oh wow, Stephanie, what a story. I hope your friend gets well soon. And that shawl is just absolutely gorgeous. What a friend you are. It is beautiful and how special. I’ll keep your friend in my thoughts.
Well, I’m an allopathic empiricist, and I think it helps. Way better than prayer.
ok
so this is my first comment/fan letter…how do I love the Harlot… my mom (who taught me the love of knitting and yarn) sent me a link to your blog…it wasn’t about knitting but about raising daughters… you got me . I kept reading and eventually bought all your books( awaitng the newest..)I got even more hooked with your being a doula (had my child at home with a midwife and later doula help)… thru out you hooked me with your ” wholistic medicine hippie chick” person, i feel a kindred spirit…
the shawl sounds perfect and full of all the aspects of comfort and healing for your friend… she will be added to my prayer list and I shall light a candle in her honor…
THANK YOU for sharing yourself with me
you raise my spirit, knitting and otherwise
Karen
The Big Pink Thing is lovely. As is the story you told to go with it. Your friend is blessed indeed.
My prayers are with her, and you.
Absolutely stunning! Tearfully sending many good thoughts and prayers to your friend. Thank you for sharing your gifts. You are a remarkable woman.
A special friend and knitter made me a comfort wrap when we lost our son – I still cuddle in it and feel hugged everytime. Beautiful shawl.
Remember what I once wrote to you?
“Knitting, for me, is hope as well as beauty — something rewarding to make, something pretty, but also something with a future of usefulness and enjoyment.”
There’s a ton of hope in that Big Pink Hug. From all of us.
Best wishes for your friend from me as well – and I’m really thankful I got to meet the part of you, which you want to share here. You are an inspiration in many way’s.
Your friend will be receiving as many loving thoughts as I can possibly send to her!
She already has an amazing headstart though, with an incredible friend like you..
I love the idea for the big pink thing, it is stunning!
Wow, what an amazingly beautiful way to send a hug long distance. It’s so amazing and now I see what you meant about the BIG pink thing.
I love it. Wishing the best for your friend. She’ll be in my thoughts and prayers.
This is what knitting is about, making people feel good. Whether they just need a smile, or need a true spiritual uplift, anything handmade will do the job.
I hope your friend has a quick and easy recovery.
She’ll be in my thoughts. Skill to the surgeon, speed to the recovery, comfort to the friend.
Your friends speedy recovery is in my prayers. What a beautiful gift to give her, I know that those wings will give her peace.
I have never been moved to comment, since my thoughts have not been very original. This time, however, is different. Thought not original, I must comment.
What you did was a beautiful thing! With tears in my eyes, I marvel at the thought, talent, and love you put into the shawl. Your friend is blessed, and I hope more blessings are bestowed upon her.
The shawl is beautiful, the thoughts are beautiful and you are beautiful.
The power of comfort, support and positive thinking are quite well documented in medicine, so your “holistic, hippie” knitter thoughts will, in fact, help her care and recovery.
Prayers to you, your friend and her health care providers.
You are a beautiful person, and so is the shawl.
She’s in my prayers. Please keep us updated.
What a beautiful and thoughtful gift you have given your friend. She will remain in my prayers.
Done.
What a wonderful shawl/hug for your friend! I’m sure that it will provide comfort to her through these coming days & weeks…
Truly beautiful in so many ways. From the many feathers of shawl, to all your thoughts you put into the shawl to most of all your kindness and consideration of your friend.
You brought me to tears.
Praying for the best for your friend. That shawl should remind her of those beautiful eagles she keeps seeing. (The shawl is my favorite of all the projects you’ve shown us on your blog.)
may you and your friend be blessed by your love and kindness and may others (including me) be touched by your words and turn and help others. may she have a complete and swift recovery. the power of strangers thoughts for healing are powerful in ways i do not understand (but am convinced are why i can type these words today). you are one hell of a special woman stephanie. thank you.
Prayers going up! And yes, the gorgeous big pink thing…it will help. Lovely.
This is my first post and I am tearing up, not only because that is a beautiful shawl but it is a beautiful act of friendship that you have done. She is most definatly in my thoughts today…
Your friend will be in my prayers… but so will you. Out of your busy, hectic life, you take time to knit a totem shawl from your heart to hers. Stephanie, you’re a good woman.
its lovely. you have a wonderful heart and i am sure your friend will appreciate the love you have surrounded her in. i will send good thoughts her way.
Prayers out for your friend…
I was an Oncology RN for several years. Don’t underestimate what the big pink thing will mean to her & what it’s affect will be. Most of all she’ll feel your arms wrapped around her & ponder something good when things may not be so good at the moment.
(((Hugs)))
I truly can’t help it, you are one beautiful person! How wonderful to gift your dear friend with a big pink hug, one where her eagles visit her every time she looks at it. Your friend will be in my prayers.
It’s a lovely shawl, made for a special person, by a special person.
We should all have such a friend. Blessings to you both.
I hope all went well, she has been in my thoughts all afternoon. You have sent her a truly magnificent hug!
I’ve only de-lurked once before, but I felt I must tell you that this blog post inspired me. You not only proved your are a wonderful friend in knitting such a beautiful gift, but that you cared enough to personalize it just for her at this time in her life with the feathers and wings and rose-quartz colored yarn. Next time I knit something for someone I care about, I will definitely follow your example.
I really think you should run the world. It would be a much better place if you were in charge.
That is one of the most wonderful things I could imagine to give. It’s beautiful, and I’m sure she feels extremely lucky to have such a thoughtful friend. It will probably help the healing process accelerate!
What a wonderful friend you are! I have a friend in a similar situation, different body part, and her family has been using Caring Bridge as a method of communicating progress with friends and family, I can’t tell you what a difference it’s made in all our lives. http://www.caringbridge.org/
Sending my thoughts her way!
It’s a good thing to knit a shawl for a friend having hospital time…in my experience, hand made things in the hospital attracks better care, even for those ALREADY recieving good care…medical people gravitate towards the hand made things, and chat more with those covered with them. And the colors brighten up the boring hospital rooms..very important. And all my relatives, who needed my quilts for the hospital visits got better. Including the one who had a bone marrow transplant…that guy got a quilt with green and orange, for healing, sneakily worked into his request of maroon and blue (7+ yrs post unrelated donor transplant…NO MEDS!)! May your Big Pink work as well!
She is in my thoughts today, as I work on socks for another friend going through hard times when I can’t be present, but can knit.
It’s absolutely stunning, and a perfect representation of everything that you’re sending her way. I’ll send good thoughts, too.
Your friend will be wrapped in my meditations every morning, the way she’s wrapped in the Big Pink Thing you knitted for her, and I’ll mention her to my brother who belongs to a group that does Healing work, so that they can add their energy to mine.
Peace to you both,
Lill
I always believe there’s a story in the knitting, and you really have told a beautiful story here. It’s the perfect gift. Look at all of the energy right here for your friend.
Simply……….. Beautiful!
There is some big healing magic and love in every one of those stitches. They fairly jump out of the photos!
That is totally fantastic. Well done, Stephanie! Dobby would be very proud of you.
I hope your friend gets better!
The shawl is beautiful! Your friend will be wrapped in the comfort and love that you have knit into it! I’ll be praying for her health.
I know you get so many comments and I’m having to type one-handed because my son is in the midst of a nursing marathon, but I just had to tell you how amazing that shawl is, and how all of the love and thoughts you put into it will help your friend tremendously. People who know they’re in the thoughts and prayers of others recover more rapidly and having such a tangible reminder should make the recovery faster still.
My throughts and prayers are with your friend. What a wonderful gesture – a shawl – knit with all that good karma in it. good to know about rose quartz. My dad in law has a scan tomorrow on his adrenal gland (near kidney) – they juice him up with radio active stuff, do the scan, etc. I think I’ll go find some rose quartz and get him fixed up with thaty hippy voodoo stuff.
You’re so kind. And thoughtful. I’m sure she’s deeply touched and reassured. I hope things go well–fingers crossed!
What a beautiful, thoughtful and powerful gift.
Will definitely be thinking good thoughts for your friend, and will light a candle tonight for her recovery.
The shawl is beautiful, and I hope having that symbol of your love for her helps her heal more quickly.
My comment is late, but my thoughts and hopes have been with your friend since I read the post earlier. May all go well.
Oh my, the Big PinkThing is amazing!! Everyone shouod be a friend and have a friend like you . Prayers and all the best for your friend.
If you chart it, we will buy it, & funds can go to cancer research or other good causes…what think you?
That is the softest, most beautiful armor I have ever seen. I’m sending prayers and positive thoughts to your friend (and to you) as she goes through this battle.
As someone who has been through a seriously tough personal battle, I can say that a personal gift like yours is more help than can ever be expressed in words.
blessings and strength
Stephanie, that is the most wonderful gift.
Your post really brought me into the situation and yet did not seem intrusive to your friend. You really do have the most wonderful way with words and expression.
I send my thoughts of healing energy up in honor of your friend. I hope everything goes well.
Peace.
that is so awesome; i will keep your friend in my thoughts this week. i hope it all comes out well . . .
Thinkin’ pink, thinkin’ peace…healing thoughts for your friend.
Amen… may all be well.
The good thoughts are there. That is a beautiful gift.
What a breathtaking shawl that is! I absolutely love all the thought and intent you put into it. There is no greater gift than the gifts of love, prayer, and time, and your shawl is the most touching representation of those gifts that I have ever seen. Beautiful, beautiful work! Thank you so much for sharing it.
And this, Steph, is why I think it must be wonderful to be your friend. I know you’re only human like the rest of us, but sometimes you transcend that simple existence through kindness and love for your fellow man & woman. May your friend be well.
Stephanie – the shawl is beautiful and obviously knit with much love and meaning. I will keep your friend in my prayers.
What a kind and thoughtful thing for you to do for your friend. I will hold her in my thoughts and hope for the best possible outcome for her.
You’re an angel — and you’ve knitted your friend wings. What a beautiful, caring thing you’ve done! Just look at the amazing amount of positive, healing energy you’ve created for your friend. Never under-estimate the power of knitting for those who need it.
Steph, you are the best kind of friend. I am lifting your friend up in prayer and hope they get her fixed up real fast.
My prayers and thoughts are with her.
Vada
PS: Let us know if there is anything we can do. 🙂
I can’t say which is more beautiful, the shawl, the post explaining it, or the thought and love that went into making it.
I read, I cried, I got goose bumps. I read the comments, I cried again. You are amazing. Thank you for being a force for good.
This is absolutely stunning. I know just the idea of wearing something as beautiful as this, I know your friend will be strong. She is in my prayers.
Wow – just wow. How fitting to get a pair of wings from an angel like you. If the Power of Nice means anything, I’m sure she’ll be fine. My thoughts and prayers are with you from Maryland, USA. God bless.
Words can not express how beautiful your knitted hug is and the love that it expresses. She will feel your caring every time she wraps it around herself or runs her fingers over the feathers. I will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers.
“I’m putting up a good vibe
Tryng to keep the day from the night
I want to dance a litle longer
I’m gonna let my light shine brighter”
Good Vibes
John Brown’s Body
“This time
this is a precious time
this is a holy time for us
…
Forward always
In this meditation
let the memories fill my heart
More times I find myself remembering
Times like this”
Forward Always
John Browns Body
You sent her your love, in tangible form, to wrap around herself. You’re a true friend. Hugs to both of you.
Your friend is in my prayers. May she soar through this on eagles wings!
My sister calls me a “New Age Twit”–bear with me, this story has a point. Several years ago when I used to babysit my nieces, they would be afraid to go to bed at night because of the “monsters”. I had an inspiration to use room freshener spray, telling them that monsters didn’t like places that smelled good. It worked. We’d always use “monster spray” in the room before they went to bed and they fell asleep without much fuss. This posting has generated so many prayers and healing vibes, and the symbolism of the color and pattern of the shawl, well, “monsters” don’t like being around so much love either. You put your heart and soul into that shawl. Every. Single. Stitch. The monster doesn’t have a chance.
What an amazingly wonderful gift for your friend. Any time she needs to, she can wrap herself in your love for her. Best wishes to her.
I have a best friend who is also not well. But it got much further than “being fixed by surgery”. We’re still hoping and trying to keep things light. We’ve both been knitting like crazy (when her hands can take it).
You’re lucky that you’re “younger” – the older you get, the worse the “something” can be …
love and wings to your friend.
and big wings to my friend – may she come through all of the garbage in one piece.
we hope.
Mother Teresa said, “We can do no great things; only small things with great love.”
Care, concern, friendship, love… these are not such small things, but they are the substance of grace.
Ghandi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
It is good to know that there are people that live this way instinctively…
My prayers are for you both.
Thinking of your friend, and of you.
For sure she is in my prayers, Stephanie, and so are you. I am sure that she will feel the healing thoughts and prayers worked into every stitch of that beautiful shawl.
Katherine
It’s all been said, far better than I could hope to do. Add mine to the long list of healing thoughts going toward Steph’s friend.
Your friend is lucky to have you in her life. I will send healing balls of orange and green energy to the Universe so that she can absorb them and get better.
You have discovered that it is possible to heal the world – one stitch at a time. It does work miracles – you just have to believe.
With so many good thoughts headed her way, she’s bound to beat this thing. Add mine to the long, long list. Your shawl is a warm embrace. Beautiful.
Wow. Good luck, Friend of Steph. We’re all pulling for you. (Gorgeous feather/wing shawl, by the way. Just absolutely lovely. I want to knit like you when I grow up.)
Your friend is very blessed to have a friend like you. The Big Pink is a thing of beauty. May the love and hope and prayers you knit into it bring comfort and healing to your friend. Add my prayers to the list.
Aw, you made me cry. You have the biggest heart, you hippy.
Also: if I had kidney cancer, I would be seriously pissed.
Considering the purpose of the kidneys, don’t think this pun was lost on me. You are an awesome, punny, big-hearted hippy. 🙂 Healing thoughts for your friend.
You are the very best kind of friend to have. The shawl is stunning, and nothing could be more healing for your friend than the love, thought and power that went into it. I indeed hold you both in my thoughts.
Steph, it’s amazing and beautiful, just like you.
Your friend has been in my thoughts all day. Please let us know how she’s doing.
I send healing energy – high vibrations ( I too, am a hippy natural-medicine type) to your precious friend. Your gifts to her are wonderful! Pam
So when I read your blog, I regularly get an overly emotional reaction to the sensitivity of your use of language, the prose that I read, the everyday kindness in your acts as a knitter, mom, friend and wife and today I was truly touched in a way that words or my tears can truly tell you.
I met you recently, briefly at the Frolic this year, it was a rushed moment (as you were rushing trying to find a friend) whereby you were a little short with me and were much more earthy in voice/disposition than I anticipated. (See http://www.yarnaholicinto.blogspot com for our pic – you look fab!) It took me a little while to connect the person that I envisioned you to be with that of your real life actuality and so I when I came back to your website the past few days and have been reading about the big, pink amazing eagle shawl – I came full circle with reconciling the Yarn Harlot of my imagination with the real true you.
You are a lovely, warm and true friend and that is an trait I admire tremendously. I feel confidant in saying that I am sure your friends feel blessed to have you in their life and if a warm heart could heal the world what a better place we all would be living in.
You are being the change you want to see in the world – You go girl!!!!
It’s all been said. However, I, too, had a friend with a medical emergency far away. I knit a lovely feather and fan scarf. It was my therapy and a year later, she wears it proudly…and with great health. Knitting works. It heals. One stitch at a time…or in your case, many, many stitches! Your friend has been in my thoughts all day.
What a wonderful, beautiful, thoughtful, and loving gift. Thank you for sharing and reminding us all to call our friends and tell them that we love them. Your friend is in my thoughts.
What a wonderful, loving way to keep your friend “in the pink.” You’re both in my thoughts.
you knit words into poetry
That is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I will keep her in my thoughts and prayers.
somehow i couldn’t knit fast enough or pray hard enough to save my friend from the cancer that took her away … i pray it will be different for you and your friend, stephanie. i know what it is to knit prayers and blessings into blankets and shawls for loved ones far away.
Sending all the good healthy feathered thoughts I can muster. And then some.
Well… I suppose you can manage with only one kidney… I just hope that the cancer hasn’t spread elsewhere.. I’ll light a candle for her.
Normally I don’t comment because I worry that it will get lost in the hundreds of comments you get each day, but I just had to send my wishes to you here. I’m sorry if this is too long.
I was so moved by this story and by the kind gesture that you have given your friend. The best thing about using your talents to make a gift like this is that your meditations on her health and your friendship and your desire to help her through this have all been woven into those beautiful wings. You know, the thing that has really struck me about your blog, aside from the profound and natural humour you seem to have about life and knitting, is the size of your very genuine heart and your wisdom. If a friend had knit something like this for me, I think I would only have been able to lay it out in front of me and stare at those beautiful wings. The emotion that your creation and your words invoke is incredible. I love that you care so much about your friends and family. I love that you give your absolute all in everything you do for them and still find the energy and the time for your readers. It’s amazing that you haven’t worn yourself out taking care of everyone else. I sincerely hope that you feel this love in return. Stephanie, you are an incredible woman and I am absolutely sure your friend will MORE than appreciate the support and love you have shown her by making this shawl and just being there to listen to her. You’ve given her beautiful wings to bring her totem animal to her when she needs it most. I am thinking of your friend and I send her bright blessings during this very difficult time in her life. I’m doing my best to send you both as much energy as you need to get through this. All good things.
M
It’s the most beautiful and healing shawl I’ve ever seen–it shall wrap around her and its eagle feathers shall keep her safe through whatever trials lay ahead. I hope today’s surgery went well and my thoughts are with her.
That’s a beautiful gesture (and a beautiful shawl). Only you could find a way of turning a rose quartz crystal into a knitted object!
You are the best kind of friend. We can all only hope we have someone like you in the worst sort of circumstances.
Your friend is in my thoughts.
So beautiful, and she is so blessed to have a friend like you! I will send prayers and good thoughts her way!
I will keep her in my thoughts. She is so lucky to have such a tangibly beautiful piece of your love to carry her through her healing.
You are a wonderful friend. Sending good, healing thoughts her way.
You are good friend.
Prayers and healing thoughts are sent her way. Your post made me think of a favourite quote:
“It’s amazing how much goodness you can see if only you believe.
The more I believe in Angels, the more I see them all around me.
Author Unknown”
When I moved to Edmonton, Alberta from Berkeley, California, Gelly was the most welcoming of my new husband’s friends. She knit me a pair of gloves. One of my beloved golden retrievers ate one of the pair. As a non-knitter, I asked for a replacement mate to the pair. Gelly, of course, knit me a whole new pair, because where was she going to get another skein of exactly the same shade with which she made the first pair? Now a knitter, I have shown the gloves turned inside out to my knitting circle because I love the way she wove in the ends of the yarn. Not at all the way the books tell you to. She lived with breast cancer for about 10 years. A tough, tough, woman with a heart of honey gold. Anyway, she came to mind when I read about your own dear friend. Please don’t read this as prognostication. I wish your friend many many years of health with her family, and with you who love her, and with her big pink shawl.
What a beautiful sentiment and a gorgeous shawl. I hope it brings her a fast recovery.
What an amazing gift. My thoughts are with your friend.
You have inspired me to knit something special for a friend who is also in need of love and comfort at a difficult time
The first thing that comes to mind is the quote “Write about what you know.” It’s not so different with knitting. It may not seem like much to give a knitted gift to a friend, especially one in a very difficult and sad situation, but you know, as well as so many others, that the goodwill and hope and love that go into a knitted gift carry a lot of power. All of my prayers and positive thoughts are with your friend tonight, I hope that she’ll will get through all of this, and come home from the hospital healthier than ever.
I think most, if not all, of us guessed the big pink thing was a shawl, although I don’t know if anyone of us could have envisioned something so beautiful. You are a wonder and a dear friend.
You know, I had a feeling this gift was for someone who needed a hug (and that’s what you sent). I just had an uneasy feeling about this story.
What a blessed friend you have! She’ll be in my prayers tonight.
Praying for your friend this evening that all went well during the surgery. Prayers will continue, in the days to come, that her healing will be rapid and complete. The BPT is such a beautiful expression of your concerns and friendship.
You did include in the package, or will soon tell her, how the shawl came to be –type of yarn, color, choice of patterns, etc.– didn’t you? She will gain strength from that knowledge along with the comfort of the hugs you put into the shawl with each stitch.
Hugs to those who’ve made comments indicating problems/needs. You will also be included in prayers.
Wow, that’s amazing! The story behind the shawl is incredibly touching. I love knitted pieces that have stories behind them.
I’m sure your friend will love it. I’ll be thinking good thoughts for her. 🙂
what an amazing gift of love. It is gorgeous, and simply radiates the sweet touch of eagle wings. It will surely help her as she heals from this surgery.
Prayers of healing and love go out to you and your friend.
Beautiful, powerful wings, Stephanie – and I’m thinking of your friend, and will be, often. My only brother recently finished his radiation; we’re hoping he’ll be ok. (He went through a radical treatment for prostate cancer, because he was young for it, although he’s the elder of the two of us.) And a dear cyber-sib is still fighting bladder cancer. I know how it is from the friend side. Hugs to you and your friend, in addition to the wonderful hug you made for her.
Like many others have seemingly done today, I went looking for eagle quotes. Found one I loved, although not Native American. By Sidney Sheldon, of all people, which surprised the heck out of me. But it’s a good one. The last line is tough and beautiful, just like your shawl:
“The Eagle’s wings are silken, but its claws are made of steel.”
Your friend has the wings. Let her have the claws, too.
I have a lamp, on my desk, that my hubby and kids bought me when we visited the Field Museum in Chicago last fall – it is a 4 inch high mini-monolith of rose quartz with a light bulb inside.
It is 1.20am where I am, and time for bed, but in the morning when I get up I will put on that light and let it shine for the whole day for all of our friends who need a little rose quartz in their lives.
The shawl is beautiful, inspiring, and utterly harlot, you did the perfect thing for your friend, the perfect thing.
Hugs to you!
She will me in my thoughts. I wish her nothing but the best. Your gift is beautiful in thought and in execution.
I’m sitting here crying as I think of my father and his probably nothing that turned into something. He has surgery for prostate cancer later this month.
I know how what it’s like to feel as if you can’t do anything. But you have done something wonderful. Something beautiful. Something pink – and that’s always a good thing.
Both you and your friend will be in my prayers.
In my thoughts and hoping that everything will go well. What a beautifull shawl stephanie and it shows your love for your friend.
8 feet? Isn’t that right around the actual wingspan of an eagle?
This is an incredible post. I understand the wish/need to wrap your knitting around your friend when you can’t be there to wrap your own arms around her. I’ll be thinking of her and wishing for the best.
Love has power. You have power. The gift will carry that power from you to her. I hope very much that her medical treatments are successful. Your lovely shawl will be a great comfort to her no matter which way it goes. Don’t underetimate your contribution; you have brought love and beauty to her when she needs it most.
Mel said: “Well, I’m an allopathic empiricist, and I think it helps. Way better than prayer.”
I’m with Mel here. Well said.
PhilB
Beautiful post, shawl, friend and spirit that will continue to keep her strong. She’s in my thoughts. Shawl is absolutely magical!
That is a beautiful gift. And so thoughtful. I have a chronic bad illness which keeps me confined a lot too. I’ve been trying to figure out what knitting would give me that feel. Pure lace for something was one thought. But you have definitly given me a tons more ideas with the shawl. I’ve only just started knitting lace shawls, so I keep forgetting that they don’t have to be in lace weight.
I send thoughts of goodness, health and strenght to your friend.
in peace,
charli
It’s beautiful, and it’s so much more than a big pink thing. It’s love, and it’s something she can hold on to. I’ll be sending my good thoughts her way as well.
how dreadful of you to do something so wonderful and worse yet to write so beautifully about it as I sit here and read it in my misserable hormonal pregnant state and cry because there are knitters like you knitting big pink things for people that they love. how wonderful. i guess if i must cry, (and I must) that this is a worthy cause.
What a beautiful shawl! And you’re a great friend, too.
It’s beautiful. You should consider selling the pattern in aid of cancer research, I know I would buy it:-)
What a beautiful shawl and an even more beautiful gesture. I will think all happy, healing thoughts of your friend today. And I too would buy the pattern in aid of cancer research.
I’m thinking of you and your friend; it’s a bad time for you both. I wish everyone who needs one a friend to send them the love and warmth of eagle’s wings.
Dear Wonderful Harlot,
I read your post today with tears running down my face because I know exactly how you feel. You see, my friend Dot has recently been diagnosed with lung cancer for the second time and we live 1464 miles away. I have all my friends praying for her or sending good thoughts her way. Last week, I sent her a shawl that my friend Liz made for her. She was so thrilled that she turned the temperature on her air conditioner way down so she could wear it in the house all day ( She lives in Louisiana.) Her cancer was discovered during a routine exam and like your friend, she felt fine. She had too much of her lung removed last time she had lung cancer, so this week she starts radiation and chemo. She’s such a trooper you wouldn’t believe it. Six years ago when she had cancer the first time, they gave her about a 15% chance of survival. This time they gave her a 30% chance and she figures that if she beat at at just 15%, she’s got this one pegged LOL! She’s just amazing. I’ll be happy to put your friend on my prayer list, please think good thoughts toward Dot. She doesn’t knit yet, but I have a bunch of wonderful friends that have given me money so I can fly down to go see her. One of the things she’d like to do when I visit is to have me teach her to knit. She wants to learn to knit so she can teach her granddaughter, who asked Dot to teach her.
Your shawl is truly amazing and it’s definitely big. I’m sure that whenever your friend wears it, she will feel like you’re giving her a big loving hug. As for the eagles, I’m with you and your friend. I’m one of those people who have funky things like that happen to me too and I’ve learned to pay attention to those sorts of things. Thanks for sharing this with us. Your friend is in my thoughts and prayers.
What an inspiration you are, to make such a beautiful gift, a courageous, loving, protecting hug for your friend in her difficult time. I’ve made chemo caps for friends (both male and female), but you’ve gone far beyond that – this must be a very special friend indeed. I’ll keep both of you in my thoughts, because when something awful like cancer happens to someone, the people who love them feel bad, too. It’s amazing, and wonderful, how knitting can help both the recipient and the maker/giver feel better. I hope your friend has a speedy and full recovery!
Stephanie, please never doubt the power of your writing. No other knit-blogger conveys the strength of emotion and power of hope that you can in just a few simple words and images.
The shawl is beautiful, and generous beyond words. Remember though, that while it will bring comfort to your friend, you will bring her strength through your strength.
Peace and light to you and your friend.
The shawl is beautiful. Your friend is in my thoughts.
Stephanie, you are a true friend and I’m sure your friend will find great comfort in her eagle shawl.
I will keep your friend in my prayers for her safe recovery and will look to hearing how the healing power of knitting love works.
Dorothy
Wrapped in your love and our prayers, she will be strong.
She is in my prayers.
I was moved to tears by your piece about your friend. I am sure you must have shed many as you wrote it.
I have said a little prayer for her and send positive vibes across the miles.
The Rose Quartz shawl is just a genius idea.
I think your shawl is very, very beautiful and it would make an outstanding fundraiser for a charity whose aim it is to help people with your friend’s condition or even to raise funds to send your friend on a special convalescent holiday.
What a beautiful gift for your friend. She has prayers and blessing from so many whom she has never met. You are a special gift in her life and of so many others. Thank you.
i hope your rose quartz envelops your friend with love and comfort.
I have been a reader of yours for a long time. I find your humor to be so silly and it always makes me smile.
Today, you made me tear up as I read your beautiful act of kindness and caring. I truely belive that you have completely embodied what it means to be a knitter.
You are a kind a beautiful person. I hope your friend will be fine. I know that she is blessed to call YOU friend, and that having this kind of support in this situation is half the battle.
You will both be in my thoughts.
You are a great friend!
That’s a very thoughtful present and I hope it helps your friend during that difficult time. My best wishes and thoughts with her.
That is such a special thing you did with the big pink thing. I have had such a good time reading about your trials and tribulations with it, but I did not realize it was for such a worthy cause. I think in a way you are part of her totem as well. I am sure your gift touched her in ways we can not imagine. I hope she has done well in surgery and that she is on the road to recovery soon.
Often, the simplest ‘all we can do,’ is the best thing to do. What a lovely expression of love and concern for your friend. I think it has an element of encouragement built right in. Well done. I’ll be praying for your friend.
Ang
Right before I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I joined a group who knits prayer shawls for anyone who needs one. Being enveloped in a shawl filled with good loving thoughts of the person who knitted it has to be good! And good for the knitter as well. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your friend.
When I had treatment for leukaemia last year the lap quilt that my sister-in-law sewed for me made a real difference. It didn’t just cover my legs, it made me feel cared for and made the hospital room feel more personal, right through the sixteen weeks or so I was there. I’ll add my prayers too for your friend. I have some idea of what she is going through and I think your shawl is a great idea.
Steph, the love you have knit into this beautiful shawl carries with it the healing love of all of us who sit out here and care for you from afar to your friend. You’ve given her something much larger than the “big pink thing” we’ve all been waiting to see. You have given her the love of literally thousands of knitters the world over. How can healing not be hers?
Blessings,
Kathy
What a beautiful thing to do!
Tears in my eyes, warm thoughts in my heart.
Beautiful shawl from a beautiful person. Positive thoughts to your friend.
I am in awe of that piece.
its beautiful, your friend will be so comforted by it.
Stephanie,
Perfect.
My thoughts and care to your friend, and my thoughts to you as well as you think of her.
She is in my prayers, as are you, for giving her eagle’s wings.
It’s beautiful. 🙂
Lighting a candle filled with prayers. Will keep her and her loved ones in my heart and prayers today.
There are no words..the shawl is beautiful!
Your friend will be in my thoughts and prayers.
“And he will raise you up on eagles’ wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of his hand.”
May the thoughts and prayers of all those here lift your friend up and give her peace in this trying time.
Absolutely stunning. How can she not be well, wearing that. Sending positive energies her way.
I was browsing through the comments, thinking about what to say about how beautiful the shawl and the gesture is, how moved I was by it. I just have to second what waitandsee said: that is the most beautiful armor I have ever seen.
Just standing up to be counted as another who is thinking good thinks.
Never thought I’d say this, but you’re absolutely wrong when you say that it won’t do anything to care for her. It will be a tangible reminder, when things are at their darkest, that someone loves her enough to create something of such beauty, such magnificence, just for her. And if that doesn’t take care of her, then I’ve no idea what will.
Silly knitter.
Your post and the shawl are both so beautiful I could weep. (I’m picturing a shield maiden with eagle wings)
Even though I am agnostic, I do believe in the power of community amd what people call prayer, and if these comments constitute something like prayers, then she should be buoyed by them, as she will be by the loving hug of that shawl. You embrace her in many ways, Steph.
May the godess protect your friend and cradle her gently.
Your friend is in my thoughts and prayers. I know what you mean when you said that you are a knitter and that is what you do. A friend of mine has breast cancer and I have knitted a couple of things for her.
Raquel
Stephanie,
You’re friend must surely feel the love and caring that is wrapped in that shawl. She is very special, as are you. I will keep you all in my thoughts.
You are both truly blessed to have each other.
Beautiful – both the shawl, and your ability to put thought and feeling into words.
Your friend is very lucky to have someone like you in their life.
My thoughts are with you both.
That is so beautiful. Your friend will be in my prayers.
That is such an amazing labour of love.
I’m sure it will work it’s magic and she will come through this!
You are a wonderful person and friend.
Wow. Talk about putting things in perspective. I’ve been waiting, waiting, waiting patiently to see what the Big Pink Thing was — looking a couple of times a day for updates and consumed with excited curiosity. Then to find out it was a shawl for your friend who is sick? It was like a gut punch. Talk about a wake up call. I (we’ve) all been waiting, so excited, to see what you are up to next, and this whole time you have probably been so sad and worried.
Life can change so very fast and sometimes it just isn’t what you expect it to be — or what it should be. My prayers are with your friend. May she fully recover and know that she is loved. Whenever she doubts, she can pull out the BPT and know that thousands of people have prayed for her and watched over the genesis of her BPT healing shawl.
That is a spectacular creation of love! My grandmother was diagnosed with uterine cancer 3 weeks after I had my 3rd baby, and had to have major surgery. I struggled mightly to get a pair of happy healthy thoughts crazy pink socks knit for her to wear while she was tackling that beast- to let her know that I love her and even though I couldn’t be there I was there in those socks. Your friend will be comforted knowing that you are there for her. My thoughts of health and happiness go to her. Thank you for sharing your creation with us!
What a marvelous way to give your friend hugs when you can’t be with her. She will know the knitting of it was truly a labor of love. The symbolism of the yarn and patterns you chose will give her added strength each time she wraps herself in her bautiful shawl and feels that love anew as she overcomes this major obstacle in her life.
Prayers will be joining the many, many others for her.
Do keep us posted as to her progress. Perhaps surgery will be all that’s necessary. From personal experience -though it had to be done more than once beginning 37+ years ago and over a 12 year period- that’s possible.
Should you decide, as has been suggested by others, to produce the pattern as a fundraiser for cancer research I will gladly be a purchaser.
How beautiful, both the sentiment and the shawl. I will send thoughts of healing and strength to your friend today, and those thoughts will be shaped like eagle feathers in a rosy dawn light.
That is so beautiful. What a wonderful gift. I’ll send lot of healing energy that way too, wrapped in rose quartz colored bubbles.
Wow, what a wonderful thing to do for your friend. It is as beautiful as the heart that went into the making of it.
You made me cry! Sending prayers and good wishes to your friend (and you – I’ll bet you need them, too).
Virtual hugs and healing energy are being sent her way. The shawl is beautiful, it made me cry.
I’m a crafty girl but not a knitter. Not because I don’t want to be a knitter but just because I’ve already spread myself too thinly with other things. My colleague and friend is a knitter…big-time. Through her I found your blog. I was so curious to find out what the “big pink thing” was and today I know. I just wanted to say that I would give anything to have a friend like you, someone who would do such a beautiful, personal, thoughtful thing to bring some comfort to a friend going through something really scary. Your efforts are very inspiring and touching and clearly we’ve all been affected by your gesture of friendship. We should all be so lucky. I too will be adding your friend to my prayers and thinking about her today, along with all of the others who are suffering from this terrible disease. Thanks, just thanks. ~winks~
She, and you my friend, also have my thoughts of hope.
Love,
Jenn
If wrapping yourself in love cannot help, what can? I think that you did an amazing job. Absolutely, I will hold her in my thoughts. Best wishes going her way.
*
This is just lovely.
All the best to you and your friend.
*
What a beautiful, huge, pink hug for your friend. You are a true friend. We will continue to lift your friend in prayer. Please keep us updated.
The love you have knitted into that shawl can be felt even here thousands of miles away. How potent must the love be when actually wrapped in it. And how it must’ve helped you to knit this particular shawl. Knitting helps, coming and going.
You both are in my thoughts.
anna from finland
That is so beautiful, both the wings and the reason behind the wings. What a dear friend to do such a labor of love for your loved one.
She will be good, she will be wrapped in the comfort of your love. You have given her wings, and she will fly above this and will soar with good health.
A gorgeous hug from a beautiful person. It really will help, having this shawl. She’s a lucky person to have a friend like you.
Your friend is fortunate to have you.
She is in my thoughts & prayers
Astabeth
What a great friend you are! Having worked in urology for the past 20 years or so I can tell you that the good thing about kidney cancer (if there is such a thing)….is that if the cancer has not spread beyond the wall of the kidneys, typically surgery to remove the kidney is the cure, follow ups of course, but no further treatment. So in the scheme of things if you have to get cancer and if there is a “good” cancer, the best two are kidney and testicular in that if they are caught while contained within the organ, it is removed and you have a cure, no chemo, no radiation, etc!! We have had MANY patients with this issue and as long as it is contained……they are fine! My dear friend had kidney cancer and told me that honestly her gallbladder surgery was harder than having her kidney removed…she was home in 2 days! Best wishes to your friend…I know it is scary!!!
Your friend is going to be all right. The eagles know what they’re talking about. You’ll be giggling about all of this again soon.
A friend of my mother’s passed on last night after a devastating battle with pancreatic cancer. When Mom called with the news, all I could think of was your Wings. I think there must a replica of your exquisite shawl in heaven somewhere being worn by this beautiful soul! Peace and light and comfort may it bring to all. Brava!
What a beautiful gift of healing, love and inspiration you have sent your friend. My thoughts will join those of all who are praying for a safe and quick recovery from this invader. It is the lie, not the truth. We don’t believe lies.
The shawl is beautiful; the thought and love you put into it is sure to help your friend recover. Best wishes to your friend for a speedy and complete recovery.
This is a stunningly beautiful testament to your friendship, and a profound gesture of love and connection and healing. Thank you for sharing it with us. It’s an inspiration… and a breathtakingly beautiful shawl. She will continue to be in my thoughts.
It is so beautiful, and such a touching gesture. Its absolutely perfect.
Well, that sucks for your friend, but she will have a big heapin’ helpin’ of positive energy coming her way. Plus if that shawl isn’t a positive life affirmation that can become her mantra of “I will get better”, I don’t know what is. Good work.
Oh, Stephanie–I’m so sorry your friend is going through such a scary ordeal. But I truly believe that your knitted gift WILL help her, even though you can’t be with her. It will give her psychological strength and physical warmth. It’s a beautiful thing to look at when she needs to be reminded of your caring, too.
My thoughts are with you and your friend as she begins this difficult process.
–Judy
Your friend is wrapped in love cleverly disguised as a big pink thing. She is in my prayers.
A beautiful post Stephanie and a beautiful shawl. I will keep your dear friend in my thoughts and prayers.
My best friend of over 30 years was diagnosed with breast cancer in August. a radical dbl mastectomy was scheduled on her 50th birthday. I finally finished knitting her Irish Walking Scarf. It took and shameful amount of time…but I kept telling her it was for when we went to Ireland to celebrate our 50th birthdays.
We aren’t going to Ireland after all… BUT we are going kyaking inJohnstone Strait in BC in July. We are celebrating our 50th birthdays together and she is cancer free.
Your friend has one of the most powerful totems one can possibly have.(Eagle) Additionally, the powerful totem of women who knit healing thoughts, prayers and love into shawls of protection.
Peace
I saw an account of someone who was a caretaker for a bald eagle (because the eagle had just one wing), and then when the caretaker was going through an illness, the eagle wrapped him in what was, quite clearly, a deliberate hug. I love that what I perceive to be the direction of the eagle feathers on your shawl are the same direction as if an eagle were hugging your friend, wrapping its wings all the way around her. My love to you both.
Oh Stephanie. As soon as I saw the first glimmer of pink, I figured you were making some magic for a sick friend. You know, there’s a lot of work in guided meditation for healing that says we should envision wrapping the ill person or part or thing in pink. Some pink. A pink cloud, something. It’s a healing color. Your instincts, of course, are perfect. I’m sure your friend is feeling every bit of it. I put a piece of rose quartz in the ground near my stream for you and your buddy today.
Wow. That is some SERIOUS knitting mojo. I am confident it will help her heal. I, too, will send her positive vibes.
Sending tons of good energy to your friend. We’re all thinking of her and praying for her. You inspire the rest of us to care for our loved ones with knitting.
Harlot, you are a true friend and a blessing.
You and your friend are in my prayers.
Yesterday we found out that my mother (age 82) has breast cancer that has already spread to her bone and liver. Today they will do a biopsy for more information. We know that she will not want to fight knowing that it has already spread.
The same day my sister was told that she has a nodule on her left breast and will do an ultrasound to confirm, then a biopsy. And that she will also be going for an endometrial biopsy to rule out endometrial cancer as a cause for bleeding.
After reading all this, I now know what I should do.
Wow, the shawl is absolutely gorgeous, sure hope it helps bring your friend some comfort & major mojo! Good thoughts for her!!
The shawl is incredible. It’s like you are right there with her, holding her hand.
We are all thinking of your friend today and sending all of the positive thoughts and prayers we have.
Kathy
Beautiful! I just wanted to drop a note to say that as I was reading along in “Cast Offs” about the on-line community, my computer informed me that several comments had been posted on my new and quite limited blog. Suddenly I am connected. Having that feedback on what I’m knitting absolutely made my day. Sigh. Isn’t knitting wonderful?
October fifth of last year, my husband looked up my radiologist’s report on my CT from the day before. I had a huge mass that had taken over my right kidney. After years of brutal medical training, my husband doesn’t cry often, but he cried that morning, and then he went into super-internist mode and got everything arranged for me to see the urologist who would do my surgery.
You know it’s bad when the surgeon won’t make eye contact with you after looking at the films. He told me that I had a less than 1% chance of it being benign, and he gave me a week to prepare for surgery.
A week later, I went under and woke up to ungodly pain (morphine doesn’t work at all on me, which we didn’t know then). It was bigger than expected, it looked worse than expected, and I felt pain worse than expected. It was horrific. I needed that necklace that a friend had made by a First Nations beader with the rose quartz beads and bear pendant, and I wore that thing for weeks.
It took a whole damn month, during which I talked with an oncologist friend and tried not to totally freak out from the very scary updates, but the fourth pathologist finally said it really was benign. Scary, spreading into local tissues, but benign and with clear margins. I still have deep down fears that it’s the scary cancer they said it looked like, that the pathologists were wrong, but there’s nothing on my CTs or my bloodwork or anything.
You are a blessed person to wrap your friend in hope like that. I know the fear she’s in very well, and those talismans and symbols become so important, if just to breathe. Kidney cancer is a bear to treat–the surgery isn’t easy (don’t let her read the surgeon directions, like I did–better not to know the step-by-step way it’s done), the chemo options suck, and the only thing they can really do is wait to see if it comes back, which it only does for about 30-40% (depending on the study) of patients. It comes back to bad places, though.
Seven months later, and I still wear the socks I whipped up for the hospital. I thank God every day that I’m breathing, and I try to forget the fear while respecting it and getting my tests done and keeping in touch with my doctor. My Knittyfriends sent me a shawl kit, and I clung to that shawl, while knitting it and while wearing it in my comfy chair during recovery. Mine had butterflies. It’s right that hers has eagle feathers.
Sorry this is so long. I’m just so sorry that your friend is going through that hell. Please tell her that so many are praying for her, and that there’s a knitter out there lighting a candle for her kidney sister tonight.
Oh my…if wishes had wings, and rose quartz has healing powers, then mixed in with the prayers from all around, may your friend feel the love you knit to surround her, while prayers and good healing wishes gently carry her through this phase and onto a fast healing! How wonderful she’s got you in her corner – not only to knit, but to request the thoughts and wishes for her corner!
That shawl..is beautiful, but not nearly as loving as your feelings for her. Bless you both, and your friendship!
Stunning work, and my thoughts are with your friend. Tis a difficult thing to be far away from a friend when they need you. You have found a way to be with her in spirit. If possible, could you share the pattern? I am moving soon and would like to make a shawl for my friend whom I will be leaving. She is ill also, and I would like to leave her with something to comfort her. Your work is absolutely incredible, filled with meaning and strength.
You have created such a wonderful healing gift. I like to think of knitting like that scene in “Like Water for Chocolate” where the lead character’s emotions get mixed into the food, and everyone absorbs her emotions. If you’re knitting good, healing vibes into it, your friend is sure to get them.
I’m sending healing vibes too…
If every stitch is a letter, the ‘big pink thing’ is a very long prayer. It’s beautiful with the little feathers flowing into the big feathers.
You have created such a wonderful healing gift. I like to think of knitting like that scene in “Like Water for Chocolate” where the lead character’s emotions get mixed into the food, and everyone absorbs her emotions. If you’re knitting good, healing vibes into it, your friend is sure to get them.
I’m sending healing vibes too…
What a beautiful shawl, for such a terrible event. I know it will keep her warm while she walks through this trial. Our thoughts and prayers are with her, and you.
A few years ago I had to have sinus surgery. It’s minor compared to what your friend is dealing with, but did require an overnight stay because I also have sleep apnea. My partner knit me a big blue blanket since she thinks hospitals tend to lack color and that their sheets and blankets are stiff and nasty from all the disinfecting. There is nothing like waking up, disoriented, in a strange place, on pain meds (so that you can barely think straight), knowing that you aren’t where you belong and then being suddenly grounded by the fact that your hand moved and touched something from home, something soft and cuddly and filled with love. IMO, attitude has a lot to do with healing and such a beautiful shawl, incorporating so many wonderful elements, is bound to help your friend feel cherished which can only help her attitude. Blessings to you both.
I’m a firm beliver in the healing power of knitting! When I was pregnant with my son, there was a minor abnormality detected in the ultra-sound. My first instinct was to knit him a blanket. I poured all my healing and protective thoughts into that blanket. He still has it and he’s a perfectly healthy 5-year-old.
Warm and safe thoughts to you and your friend.
What a beautiful gesture on your part. Healing vibes are headed towards your friend from Germany.
If I had to explain to anyone why knitting is worthwhile, all I would need to do is show them this post. It sums up the best things that knitting has to offer – creativity, ingenuity, beauty, comfort and most of all, love expressed in tangible form. You have my heartfelt admiration for a beautiful shawl and a wonderful entry. I’ll also add my wishes for your friend’s speedy recovery. I have my fingers crossed for you both.
I hope your friend is healed soon. And the big pink thing is amazing. I’m sure the love and care you put into it will hug and comfort your friend. She’ll be in my thoughts and prayers.
Prayers upon prayers upon prayers.
Wonderful way to send a hug. Make sure Joe gives you one too. It’s extremely hard to be the observer when someone you know is going through this kind of tough times. Been there still doing that. Adding your friend to the prayers that all turns out fine in the end. Your “Big Pink Hug Thing” is where it will do a lot of good. “The Blog” understand if your mind wanders while blogging over the next while. Hugs to you, Alice
Wow, Stephanie, you’ve chosen the perfect gift to help your friend find strength and comfort during this rough time. It’s beautiful and she is very blessed to have a wonderful friend like you.
It is beautiful and perfect.
It’s beautiful. And you are a beautiful friend. I’ll keep your friend in my thoughts.
Last summer, I was terribly ill. Horrible vertigo that left me black and blue from constant falls, double vision that kept me from driving, no way to work to pay the rent, multiple hospitalizations…. My sister, who is an Episcopal priest, knit me a prayer blanket. A prayer blanket is one where the knitter puts a prayer for the recipient with every stitch she knits. (It may have been intended as a shawl, but it’s a quadrilateral so I call it a blanket.)
I was finally diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and knowing what it is makes it easier (plus having the right meds). But what makes life on my own bearable is the blanket my sister made for me. I sleep with it every night (it’s my “finky,” which is what her 5-year-old daughter calls HER safety blanket). When I wake up in the middle of the night, cold and afraid, I find the blanket and I clutch it to my heart, and I know that I’m loved. It keeps the screaming meemies away.
So never, EVER doubt the intrinsic value of your gift to your friend. You put your heart into every stitch; every time she wraps your shawl around herself, she is wrapping herself up in all the love that’s in your heart. She knows it, even if she never has the words to say it.
I, too, knit prayer shawls. Yours, Steph, is the most gorgeous well-thought of piece of knitting I’ve ever seen. My prayers for your friend.
“We have a problem; you have a brain tumor”. The scariest words I’ve ever heard in my entire life and it was much the same situation. I had no idea that thing was growing inside my head. I had emergency brain surgery less than 48 hours later and the Dr was able to remove all of the tumor. It was December of 2004 and part of my head was shaved for the surgery. My dear friends crocheted and knitted me several scarves and hats to cover my head. To this day, I’m grateful for their love and gifts of kindness in the form of items to help keep my head warm. You are an amazing woman. I too am a holistic medicine hippie type and most of my gifts are purple because purple induces peace and healing. Your friend will treasure your gift in ways you will never know. Healing thoughts and comfort to both of you. Namaste
Prayers and comfort offered here. Beautiful work, hopes for healing and miracles.
prayers from here too
We’re sending loving thoughts and prayers from down in Virginia…what a beautiful thing you did for her.
that’s an incredibly perfect gift for your friend during this tough time–a permanent hug, if you will.
how very touching, it moves me to tears. you are a wonderful friend an an inspiration to those of us who have friends in tough places in their life walk.
Praying special blessings and healing for your friend.
May you be blessed as well for ministering to your friend.
What a beautiful shawl! I’m glad your friend came out of surgery well.
Oh, Steph. What a beautiful thing to do. I will hold her in my thoughts, too.
My heart goes out to you and your friend. My 20 yr old DD has been diagnosed with a “they found something”. She goes for surgery this month. It has been sudden and I’m frantically searching to knit something, anything but it must be for her. Only I must knit something light purple as it’s her favorite color and it is a soothing color for her. I will continue to pray for you and your friend.
I am going to cast on some more rose quartz for her, too. She will be getting healthy thoughts and big hugs from this family. 🙂
The pink shawl is beautiful and comforting. The healing thoughts that went into each and every stitch carry energy and power. A good friend of mine discovered he had kidney cancer in a similar way- went for a test for something else and there it was. That was 5 years ago and he’s as healthy as can be now. Your friend will be too. She (and you) are in my thoughts and prayers.
I had to write. My husband had kidney cancer and had to have his kidney removed about 1 1/2 years ago. It was also a freak discovery and we were very grateful that it was discovered at that time, while the tumor was still small. He also had no symptoms and no reason to suspect anything could be so wrong. He is now okay, although he will have regular checks for some time to come. I pray that your friend is as fortunate as my husband has been so far. It is one of the few times in my life that I have been truly grateful for what modern medicine can offer. Please let your friend know that she can survive this and that life is still beautiful.
It’s such a beautiful gift, and your friend will love it more than you will ever know. I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in March and am halfway through my chemo. The way your friends rally around you and provide support in whatever way they can is so moving. People do what they love for the people they love, and it’s a wonderful feeling to be the recipient of that. My prayers are with your friend.
The shawl is gorgeous. I hope when your friend wears it in time of need she can feel your warm safe hug for her since you can not be there to do it yourself.
Positive thoughts to your friend. If I was a religious person I would pray. I hope those that are do for her.
Katt
Wow. What a truly excellent example of love and care and healing. Not to mention kick arse knitting. May she wear it for many long years and you feel proud of yourself.
Trust me, Stephanie, the shawl will help. I am part of a prayer shawl ministry group and have seen how shawls knitted with love bring happiness and comfort to those in a crisis. You have done a marvelous thing for your friend. I don’t think it was an accident that the span of the shawl very nearly matches that of the eagle’s wings. And I also think your friend’s cancer doesn’t stand a chance with all of the prayers and good wishes being sent her way. And now I’m going to go to the LYS and find some rose quartz yarn.
That’s wonderful! What a great way to wrap your friend in strength and love. I had a similar experience last summer and wrote myself an exercise to do whenever I felt helpless to help. Another friend told me the exercise was helpful to her, and maybe it will be to you too: http://thoughtfulclam.blogspot.com/2006/11/healing-energy-for-sick-friend.html
Big hugs.
ltg
You are a great friend. She will feel the comfort with each use.
This feels like magic to me. Luckily your friend and you know how to connect to that something deeper.
This feels like magic to me. Luckily your friend and you know how to connect to that something deeper.
what a beautiful shawl…and such a loving gesture… I knitted a shawl to reach out to my beloved ex-mother in law after a painful divorce from her son. I think the shawl is a perfect metaphor for healing….may your friend feel the love that surrounds her….from all of us.
This feels like magic to me. Luckily your friend and you know how to connect to that something deeper.
Would you ever write up that pattern? I ask, because my dear friend just had a bad thing removed from her brain. Now starts the chemo and I love your “Eagle Feather” shawl…I’d love to make it for her when she has to go in.
Your friend is in my thoughts.
How precious a thing to be able to find a way to wrap wooly loving wings around someone you love.
Now, I don’t cry for anything or anyone. I just don’t (having had *that* kind of childhood). Your post about the Pink Thang got me crying. If nothing else, it prompted old memories of my mom, when she was at home, dying of metastasized breast cancer, curled up on the couch in our family afghans, like some little bird. :o)
Thanks for the opportunity to revisit those memories, and please know that beacons of faith and hope are burning for you and your friend in my little corner of Montana.
I love the shawl but, more than that, I love what it will bring to your friend.
That shawl is absolutely stunning, and I know that your friend will feel the wishes and love that you put into every stitch.
What about selling the pattern as a benefit? Because, really, that’s one powerful set of wings right there.
Please, please write the pattern!!!
In Hawaii they call it “mana” the power in an object that is put there by the maker or the user that imbues that object with life force. Lots of mana in that shawl Stephanie. I know it will help your friend.
And so I shall.
That is fantastic! And you’re fast.
My neighbor completed treatment last year and had a sudden relapse just before Easter. She was sent home and receiving Hospice care, and I started a faroese shawl for her. I wasn’t able to finish it in time. Her memorial was Sunday, and I’m still working on the edging. And it’s nowhere near 8 feet wide!
Most people thought I was crazy, trying to knit something so special for someone actively dying, they said she wouldn’t be able to adequately appreciate/use it. But I felt moved, I wanted to do something, and I’m a knitter. It’s what I do.
If nothing else, her poor husband would know that we care about him and his family.
Your shawl is lovely. What a wonderful gift. Best, Laura
A little, or a lot of pink makes everyone feel good.
Loving pink thoughts go out to your friend.
Blessed Be.
So many people have posted on this that you are unlikely ever to even see mine. That’s OK. I need to send my love and support to your friend anyway, and joy to you for knowing exactly the right thing to do – for both of you.
It’s lovely–the color, the shawl, the sentiment…good luck and good health to your good friend.
Another voice adding positive thoughts for your friend.
The shawl is lovely. I’m sure when she wraps it around herself, she’ll feel warm and snug and know how much you care for her.
thank you for sharing this with us..prayers for your friend, and i am sure the shawl will be all you hope. its beautiful and i am sure your friend will find the comfort in it that you sent with it. lovely.
It’s perfect! Your friend is very lucky to know you and I’m sure she will love it and be comforted by it.
Chiming in late here…
I thought about your friend on her scary day, and what a beautiful thing you did for her–not just in making the shawl, but also in mustering a whole bunch of people to pray for her.
Knitting is magic! With every stitch, you made something healing and loving.
Your friend is lucky to live in modern times where doctors can spot trouble before it’s way too late and remove it surgically. But even though the modern-woman part of you feels obliged to discount it, I think you know intuitively that there is ancient wise woman healing as well and that rose-quartz eagle feathers, knit with love (and contempt*) are also healing. The doctors removed the invader, but surgery is an invasion as well and your friend still has a lot of healing to do. I think you can be assured that the love and comfort and symbolism of the shawl are also good medicine.
I meditated on your friend and pictured her standing on a high spot, perhaps a hill or cliff, with the sun on her face and the wind in her hair and a deep, invigorating feeling of strength and well-being and joy and aliveness throughout her being. Because I know nothing about her, when I tried to visualize her I saw her from the back, holding the shawl with her arms outstretched. And it occurred to me that because you showed us the shawl, and it is the only visual image we have, it is like a totem representing your friend. Our thoughts and prayers are in a sense attached to the shawl. So perhaps your friend might think, when she wraps herself in the shawl, that each feather holds many, many prayers and healing thoughts.
(* contempt is a form of anger; anger is the kind of energy that rejects the status quo – it wants action and therefore can be transmuted into a source of healing as well.)
Behind on reading blogs…
this was a beautiful post, and what a lovely gift.
I’ll do a little mojo for her.
Pink thing is beautiful, thoughtful and created from love..
Wow. That is the most fabulous hunk of get-well magic I’ve ever seen. You’re a good, good friend.
Stephanie – How beautiful – both your love for your friend and your gift to her! She will be in my prayers. I logged on for the first time just now to tell you how much I enjoyed your new book. When I saw this post, I felt an even greater connection. I was going to try to explain how I have found such comfort in the pages of your book – so much so that I am reading it through a second time. I’m a new knitter (just learned to purl last week!) but already am addicted to the feel of the knitting in my hands. And when I’m not knitting, I love to read about knitting. But the comfort comes on the heels of my younger sister’s passing away only a few weeks ago. The sadness is so overwhelming that, at times, I can hardly bear it. She left behind 8 beautiful children and my heart aches for them more than for myself. I was going to try to explain how the feel of yarn in my hands gives me some of the only peace I’ve known these past weeks. But then I realized I don’t have to explain. You already know! My best to you and to your friend. Thank you for sharing a wonderful part of yourself with us.
Beautiful, simply beautiful! How could she feel anything but strength and love when she wraps up in it…perfect to have with her on this journey.
Beautiful. Your friend will be in my thoughts.
She’s very much in my thoughts. All the very best.
What a wonderful thing to do, I loved the idea of knitting it in Rose Quartz. Your friend will be in my thoughts and I will send healing vibes her way.
x
What a gorgeous shawl, and you are a wonderful friend to make such a beautiful gift. She will feel your love every time she puts it on, which will help in the healing process. I said a prayer for her. Good luck to both of you.
It’s beautiful….our thoughts are with your friend during this difficult time. I have a friend who recieved a similar diagnosis involving her ovaries…she’s getting squishy red “stirrup Socks” for the huge ammounts of OBGYN visits she’s been enduring.
Hi Stephanie – Blog-free Lou here! Met you at Camp Cockamamie (the one who’s chicken you posted on your blog and who showed off the Kaffe Fassett intarsia sweater). Just wanted to say your gorgeous gift to your friend really moved me. It was such a beautifl, symbolic gift of love. I am sure she is comforted by it and feels the love you knit into it!
Hope she is recovering swiftly from her surgery.
This is my first post to you and I love you! I have been on vacation which is why I am late with this post. You have cared for your friend in the best way possible and I know that your gift of love will sustain her throughout her treatment. I am a 13 year breast cancer survivor and pray your friend has good luck also!
That is so beautiful Stephanie! The shawl, the intention, the symbolism. Such a gift you have and have shared with your friend.
Incidentally, on the West Coast encounters with Eagles are very sacred and are said to bring direction and blessings to your pathway.
The Feathers pattern could not be better chosen.
A beautiful shawl, made with so much love.
She is in my thoughts also.
This is so beautiful and the meaning behind it is amazing. I wish your friend all best wishes and I don’t see how this couldn’t help. My best friend is having an operation to remove a cancer this week and I was feeling lost and sad. You’ve inspired me to make something for her (a little bit plainer than this artwork but nevermind) and I’m imagining entwining good vibes and love into the stitches. Thank youfor the idea.
Nice site. Thank you:-)