June 20, 2005

The truth about Birch

It's all worth it.

Fallenbirch

Every single stitch,

Littlebirch

each little leaf,

Birch

the 299 stitch cast on,

Birch-Rail

the multitude of ever decreasing rows that go on forever and ever. The way that the last 50 rows take a million hours longer than the first 50 (even though they are shorter...so I don't know what's up with that.) The physics lessons....
All worth it. Beautiful. I forgive it everything.
Rowan # 34, 2 and 1/3rd balls Rowan crack Kid Silk Haze in "Jelly" (What kind of Jelly is that colour?) , 4.5mm needles.

(Photo's taken this morning in Toronto's High Park, not, as Stephanie suggested, at my house. Though damn, aside from the mowing, that would be a sweet backyard.)

Posted by Stephanie at June 20, 2005 12:05 PM
Comments

Ah, dear Harlot, 'tis truely beautiful!

Posted by: Barbara at June 20, 2005 12:20 PM

We think it's worth it too.

Steph, you are quite the pusher/enabler. I'm now looking at some silk/cashmere laceweight and thinking, hmmmmm.....birch..........

Gorgeous. Simply gorgeous.

Posted by: Sandi at June 20, 2005 12:20 PM

Your birch is absolutely gorgeous! The pictures are stunning and so artistic! What a lovely setting!
And as for the last 50 rows taking way longer than the first 50 -- isn't that sort of like being pregnant? The 9th month lasts longer than the previous 8 months put together!

Posted by: Carole at June 20, 2005 12:22 PM

Lovely. Dandelion jelly is that colour.

Posted by: Norma at June 20, 2005 12:23 PM

Well, isn't that pretty! What is it about a finished project that makes you forget all the hell you went through to get to that point? Must be some mysterious knitting spell. Are those pictures taken at your house? It is truly beautiful - I'd kill for that view (not you though!) I haven't seen that much water since my last trip to the ocean (we don't have water like that in Wyoming). Congrats on a finished Birch, what's next?

Posted by: Stephanie at June 20, 2005 12:23 PM

My grandmothers mint/apple jelly came out that color! Your shawl is beautiful!!!

Posted by: Stacey at June 20, 2005 12:28 PM

Wow. That's just lovely. You know, you're not helping. Not. One. Bit. Because my LYS has KSH veddy veddy cheap if I noted the price correctly, and even though I swore I wouldn't make that shawl, Cassie can now mock me, because I might just have to walk by that store on my lunch hour and, well, you never know what might happen. Damn. 299 stitches? Really? Ugh. That might make me a little birchy.

Posted by: mamacate at June 20, 2005 12:31 PM

Your Birch looks wonderful. I get what you say about the black holes and such but still, you finished it up pretty quickly!

Posted by: Anita at June 20, 2005 12:32 PM

Birch is gorgeous! My mom made mint jelly, jalapeno jelly (which my little brother accidentally put on a peanut butter sandwich- wish I'd had a video camera!), and sweet pepper jelly which were all close to that shade.

Posted by: Tish at June 20, 2005 12:33 PM

What a beautiful Birch! Worth it, worth it, worth all the trouble. I can feel the pull to make one of my own.

"Jalapeno jelly is that color," said the girl from Arizona, "It's quite delicious; you should try it."

Posted by: Lauren at June 20, 2005 12:34 PM

Is it not kiwi jelly? Regardless, it's a great knitting photo-shoot.

Posted by: Jon at June 20, 2005 12:39 PM

That is just beyond spectacular.

Posted by: regina at June 20, 2005 12:45 PM

Stephanie, you are such an enabler. I bought four skeins to make the Birch after seeing yours and because I'm tall and plush/ample, I will cast on enough to make it 8-10 inches wider at the top... we'll see how it all turns out. And if there are problems along the way, I'll blame you!

Just kidding!

Posted by: lauragayle at June 20, 2005 12:54 PM

Ahhh how lovely! Oh .. the shawl too! Hmmm. Lace. 3 balls of Kidsilk crack that I won from Jeannette hmmm. AHHH must resist!!! Must knit book projects!! Ahh when will I ever be able to knit for myself again!!??


My Mother's Kiwi jelly is that colour! Yeah who knew Kiwi Jelly, from kiwi's grown in northern New Jersey none the less!

Posted by: Denise at June 20, 2005 1:02 PM

You know, now I'm going to have to go order rowan #34 and the Cracksilk Haze, hot weather be damned!

Posted by: The Queen of the Snow Cows at June 20, 2005 1:06 PM

Congrats on reaching the knitting escape velocity! My finished Lotus (thank you for the encouragement... oh, a YEAR AGO when I bought this pattern) is saying "Namaste" to your finished Birch.

It's Lovely, Steph! Just freakin' LOVELY!! Already your shawl has been getting out into nature more times than I this week... Time to start catching up.

And, I think maybe some kinds of luminescent jellyFISH are that color? Or, how about granny smith apple jelly? :)

Ooh, or antifreeze jelly?

Posted by: chelsea at June 20, 2005 1:06 PM

It's stunning. I'm so in love with that colour.

I'm jealous you're at High Park, I've always wanted to go.

Someday, when I'm not making Sophie Bags as a fundraiser, I'll knit something that detailed. Someday...

Posted by: Caren at June 20, 2005 1:08 PM

on the weekend i looked at the yarn harlot blog from a different computer and discovered that once again many pictures and colours look different on my mac:( On my computer the birch is so faintly green that at first i thought it was beige. Imagine my surprise to discover that it is actually a very nice colour of green.

Posted by: susanna at June 20, 2005 1:15 PM

Smashing! Accompany it to a lovely dinner at someplace pricey so that it may receive the admiring glances it deserves.

As someone who is already drawn to anything with a leaf on it, this is a hard project to resist. Perhaps a visit to my LYS is in order for tomorrow.

Posted by: Mindy at June 20, 2005 1:20 PM

BEEEEEAUTIFUL!!! Nice backyard! ;0

Posted by: Barbara from Nova Scotia at June 20, 2005 1:22 PM

Oh Stephanie...how beautiful! So delicate and lovely. You have made me want to finally learn how to knit lace.

Posted by: Heather at June 20, 2005 1:26 PM

Swoosh! she's through another one. Your knitting prolificness is astounding. How you get all you do into the same 24 hours we have I don't know.

I've just found you and went back to read all the back entries (cuz I'm weird like that). So bummed that I missed you as you swept through New England already.

Your December entries from last year have inspired the beginnings of this Christmas NOW, and thank you for that! Mom will love the Anatolian mittens. Cheers!

Posted by: Ami at June 20, 2005 1:31 PM

Oooh! Big OOOOH!

Posted by: Dena Shunra at June 20, 2005 1:34 PM

Life's a birch and that place is birchin', too.

Posted by: margene at June 20, 2005 1:37 PM

Very, very beautiful!

Posted by: Mary Fran at June 20, 2005 1:40 PM

Lord tunder and jezus bye, that there is one gorgeous piece of knittin!

Posted by: Dani at June 20, 2005 1:49 PM

Jalpeno jelly might be that color.

Posted by: Cookie at June 20, 2005 1:58 PM

Oh great. There is no fricking mercy in this damn knitting blog world. Anne brought me knitting books. Margene showed me her sock knitting. I hate all of you. I am going out in the garden and ... say, you know, that birch/mint jelly color would be pretty in the garden. Stop it!!

Posted by: Cathy at June 20, 2005 1:58 PM

I will only forgive you if you come over here and finish mine. I'm dying (no 'e') over here.

Posted by: Cassie at June 20, 2005 2:04 PM

I'm not sure about this, but i think apple jelly (a rareity among jellies) is green. Or it could be gold....like applejuice...anyway, beautiful birch, it looks soo soft and cuddly!

Posted by: Brittany at June 20, 2005 2:06 PM

Birchin', dude!

Well, now I know where I have to go for MY Birch photo shoot. Lovely, lovely pics, and I'm going to have to go get some KSH in that color. MMmmmmmm.

Posted by: Em at June 20, 2005 2:11 PM

What do you mean, aside from the mowing? That right there is a reason to get a few angora goats!

Gorgeous shawl!

Posted by: Amie at June 20, 2005 2:11 PM

Very nice "leaf-on-leaf" photography! Beautiful...

Posted by: Andrea at June 20, 2005 2:12 PM

Stunning. Kid silk haze is such amazing yarn. The knitting black hole picture and description were perfect. I am looking forward to your visit to Stash in Berkeley, California.

Posted by: Peg at June 20, 2005 2:13 PM

Beautiful absolutely ... what else can you say... it's one of the loveliest pieces I have seen! I am going to give lace a try.... although I am not sure I have the patience for it I'm going to give it a go.

Posted by: Michelle at June 20, 2005 2:16 PM

Ooooooooo...pretty......both Birch and the park.

Posted by: Teresa at June 20, 2005 2:22 PM

Birch looks splendid! I'm glad to hear it was all worth it.

Posted by: Bumblebee at June 20, 2005 2:23 PM

Mighty pretty lacy knitty, Miss Stephanie!

Breezy leaves of silky wool,
Coolness knit of whisper green air
Green with envy I am of thee
To have "Birched" escape velocity!

Ack. I just ordered 3 balls of KSH in pearl.

Posted by: S.Kate at June 20, 2005 2:26 PM

Birch is delightful in green.

Posted by: claudia at June 20, 2005 2:36 PM

OMG, I may have to cast on 299 stitches tonight. Looks beautiful, Stephanie!

Posted by: Felicia from sweetgeorgia at June 20, 2005 2:40 PM

Gorgeous. 'Nuff said.

Posted by: Dharma at June 20, 2005 2:46 PM

I think apple jelly. 'Tis a beautiful shawl and a gorgeous setting. Lovely!

Posted by: Vicki at June 20, 2005 2:48 PM

Well, at least you kept it clean. I was semi-expecting a shot of Birch on one pillow, you and a cigarette on the other, smiling...

And the OED ought to moniter this site -- I hear Cracksilk Haze becoming common usage. You should be hearing from Rowan's legal department soon.

Congratulations, though, on generating summer -- bet the possession of a completed silk-mohair shawl sends the mercury through the top of the thermometer.

Posted by: rams at June 20, 2005 2:50 PM

I seem to have successfully avoided pointing out the obvious -- like how beautiful it is...

Posted by: rams at June 20, 2005 2:51 PM

I was thinking, "Damn, Stephanie has a nice yard. She even has some sort of Asian statuary," until I saw the lake. Silly me!

Gotta say, I have no use for shawls, and would probably never wear one (still only where Clapotis around the house), but you make them seem so necessary... and beautiful.

Posted by: LisaPA at June 20, 2005 2:55 PM

Reading you and Cassie birch about the experience, I'm so glad I didn't have to make mine, but got it as a present. I do think I apreciate that fact now even more so. It's gorgeous. Natch.

Posted by: valentina at June 20, 2005 2:56 PM

Reference: page 235 of bookbookbook.
You don't look the least bit dorky, but in case you feel that you do - please feel free to send Birch to me.

Posted by: Judith the original at June 20, 2005 2:59 PM

Beautiful work, love!

However, I now have a craving for toast and jelly w/tea while knitting a lace shawl.

Crap. All of which I can't have/do while I'm at work.

Posted by: roggey at June 20, 2005 3:01 PM

Oh well, now I really have to do it as well. I feel knackered already, but it is a great shawl.

Posted by: Mothlady at June 20, 2005 3:21 PM

Beautiful. All of it, the background, Birch, the photography. I have some shawls to photograph, perhaps I should just send them to you.

Posted by: Valerie at June 20, 2005 3:24 PM

Your Birch looks lovely! I have some "Jelly" in my closet, and am thinking about doing something pretty and lacy with it . . . and am trying to convince myself that I do NOT need another Birch! And yet . . . they're so very pretty!

Posted by: Deb at June 20, 2005 3:24 PM

Your Birch looks even lovelier in that setting.

Posted by: ShelbyD at June 20, 2005 3:28 PM

Breathtaking is both Birch and the amount of $$ raised for the MSF!! Congrats. Love Kim

Posted by: Kim at June 20, 2005 3:39 PM

That's the most beautiful Birch I've ever seen. I think you've inspired me to do my own.

Posted by: Shannon at June 20, 2005 3:40 PM

I can see why you forgave it everything. It is super pretty, gorgeous.
(jalepeno jelly? I never knew...)

Posted by: Roberta at June 20, 2005 4:01 PM

Well, that WOULD make one beautiful yard. Too much maintenance though. Really.
Birch = happiness.
xoxo

Posted by: sandy at June 20, 2005 4:01 PM

I agree with every word! Your Birch is, well, just stunning. I dare you to leave it home any time you leave the house. Can you do it? I haven't been able to yet.

Posted by: Teresa C at June 20, 2005 4:07 PM

Simply spectacular. Never cared for knitting shawls but I'm being converted.

Posted by: Kathleen R at June 20, 2005 4:15 PM

Fab !
Really beautiful.

Posted by: Emma at June 20, 2005 4:18 PM

Wow!!!! And Annie's right- Angora Goats. Then you have your own personal source of mohair! I got 3 kids a few weeks ago and they are beyond sweet! Back to your Birch- wow!

Posted by: Mindy aka Puff (the Magic Rabbit) at June 20, 2005 4:20 PM

Dear Stephanie- My friend Pat has just finished her third Kiri/Birch, and I have to say, there is no way you can go wrong with any of the colors!!! She's finishing "Candy Girl" now, and it is too scrummy for words.
P.S. I think it's jelly made out of Kermit the Frog.EEEEEEEEWWWWWWWW!!!!!

Posted by: Lorraine at June 20, 2005 4:22 PM

What a happy rock that gets to wear Birch. I adore the colour. I wish mine was that green. Now you get to say "The Birch is always greener on another's side" and I'll laugh.

Posted by: julia fc at June 20, 2005 4:24 PM

'Tis absolutely beautiful! It was definitely worth it.
I bought some Jelly KSH several years ago and always wondered about the name myself.

Posted by: erica at June 20, 2005 4:24 PM

Beautiful shawl! Now I'm really anxious for my Kidsilk Haze to arrive so I can start birching too.

Posted by: Risa at June 20, 2005 4:29 PM

Ooh, almost forgot. In case anyone else hasn't said this already: congrats, over 500 Bloglines subscribers. Impressive :)

Posted by: Mothlady at June 20, 2005 4:30 PM

Stunning! I have to stop reading now as I keep thinking about making my own...
dun dun dun

Posted by: Linz at June 20, 2005 4:37 PM

It's absolutely gorgeous, Stephanie!

Posted by: Madalyn at June 20, 2005 5:03 PM

Isn't mint jelly that color?

Your Birch is gorgeous!!! I've only done 5 repeats on my Birch & am loving it.

Could you tell me how you blocked your Birch?

Posted by: Eilene at June 20, 2005 6:10 PM

P.S. Gorgeous artsy nature photos!!!

Posted by: Eilene at June 20, 2005 6:11 PM

Fabulous shawl!

Jelly here in the UK means the Jello type stuff more often than the Real Thing made with fruit - the lime one is definitely about that colour...

Posted by: Liz at June 20, 2005 6:21 PM

It's beautiful!

Posted by: sedie at June 20, 2005 6:22 PM

Wow, so inspiring! I always want to start another shawl when I see your finished works of art. Loved the park too.

Posted by: Birdsong at June 20, 2005 6:41 PM

It's truly beautiful and I continue to be tempted to try birch...

Posted by: michele at June 20, 2005 7:47 PM

Stephanie, your Birch shawl is gorgeous! So gorgeous, in fact, that I couldn't resist - it's going to be my summer knitting! My Kidsilk Haze is in the Candy Girl color, and I'm trying to keep myself from casting on now!
BTW, I have to tell you how much I enjoyed your book. Hope there are more to come!
Maria

Posted by: Maria at June 20, 2005 8:36 PM

No wonder there was no blog on Friday. When I grow up I want to knit lace shaws just like you. Guess I had better hurry since I probably have fifteen to twenty years on you. Still up to nothing but socks (lacey pattern though) here in Pickerington.

Posted by: Sue at June 20, 2005 9:24 PM

YES, YES, YES!! DOWNRIGHT STUNNING! I WOULD JUST WALK AROUND DRAPING IT ALL OVER THE PLACE IN GORGEOUS BACKGROUNDS AND SAY "WHY YES, SOMEONE VERY SPECIAL MADE THIS FOR ME ... VERY SPECIAL AND WONDERFULLY TALENTED. AN AMAZING PERSON AT THE VERY LEAST!"

YES, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD DO IF I OWNED THAT BIRCH, I WOULD!

Posted by: mary erdman at June 20, 2005 10:03 PM

Hats off to you, it is beautiful, looks perfect for a cool summer evening, enjoy!

Posted by: tree at June 20, 2005 10:53 PM

Oh that's so pretty! It looks like you have wings and are about to take off.

Posted by: Silvia at June 20, 2005 11:38 PM

Just planted a birch outside our home...sounds like kismet. 299 stitches? yowza......if mine would look like yours, it would be worth it....stunning, Steph.......

Posted by: Lisa in IN at June 20, 2005 11:45 PM

um, apple mint jelly? forgive me for that culinary faux pas, lol. tis truly delish. i may have to get on the birch bandwagon for that. where did you get the pattern? i've got a ton of mohair sitting in my stash unused because i havne't had the moxie to come up with something to make it with.

Posted by: minnie at June 21, 2005 12:23 AM

Purty. I really have to learn to like mohair but even writing the words make me shudder. I dislike fuzz.

But Birch is so purty.

Posted by: Steph at June 21, 2005 9:58 AM

Simply lovely! So, how many times did it take you to get that cast on to be 299 stitches? Just curious :)

Posted by: Vicki at June 21, 2005 10:20 AM

So in the time it took me to knit two repeats of Birch, you finished the *whole thing*.

Wow.

Just... wow.

Posted by: Beth S. at June 21, 2005 10:37 AM

Oh! That is sooooo beautiful! I love it! That color is amazing as well... I am now contemplating making that because of you :)

Posted by: Dani at June 21, 2005 11:07 AM

Gooseberry jam!!!

Posted by: jean at June 21, 2005 11:11 AM

It is beautiful. And it just makes that view even better.
:)

Posted by: Micky at June 21, 2005 11:25 AM

Another triumph! Just a fabulous job, Stephanie.

In terms of jelly, rhubarb jam will be that nice shade of green, as will green tomato mincemeat.

Posted by: blueknitter at June 21, 2005 11:41 AM

Beautiful! The weird thing about birch though is how it totally doesn't look like anything on a birch tree. Birch leaves don't look like that.

Posted by: monika at June 21, 2005 12:57 PM

Aha! I have found my self-bribe. When I finish my summer class, I can get what I need for Birch.

Posted by: Kat at June 21, 2005 1:16 PM

Gorgeous, Steph. Are you keeping this one?

Posted by: LauraA at June 21, 2005 4:14 PM

For the first time in a long time, I'm REALLY SERIOUSLY bummed that mohair and I get along so poorly.

I WANT to knit this. I wonder, after the itching and sneezing and eye rinning through the knittin gprocess... would a layer of clothing protct me from it enough to wear a birch?

Is there any othe ryarn that will make it as gorgeous....

Helen,
lusting after Birch

Posted by: Helen at June 21, 2005 11:05 PM

Wow your birch shawl is divine. I don't think I would have the patience to knit this. Kiri maybe but not this one.

Posted by: Tess at June 22, 2005 2:03 PM

When I knit my Birch (still need to block the thing), I cast on the 299 stitches while fairly tipsy. Some might say drunk. It worked remarkably well. Perhaps the use of stitch markers also helped. But I love my birch.

Posted by: Gail Lucas at June 22, 2005 5:04 PM

Birch is posed quite nicely in the exact spot where I posed on my wedding day. :) A happy reminder.


Posted by: Bextoronto at June 23, 2005 3:18 PM

Stephanie
I am a jeans and sweater kind of girl--I have never worn a shawl and will look seriously stupid in a shawl but Birch is so beautiful that I just ordered 3 skeins of the kidsilk haze (in Liqeur) and Rowan 34 and I am on the path to my very own Birch.
Nancy

Posted by: Nancy DeMere at June 23, 2005 8:55 PM

My dad made some kiwi jelly once that was that same shade of green. Absolutely gorgeous. Makes me want to cast on right this minute!

Posted by: Casey at June 25, 2005 5:51 AM

There is an English lime marmalade I try to find as it is the best preserve to me...it is that color, but not jelly. A friend from England introduced me to it...perhaps the reference it to an English jelly we are not as familiar with in North America?

Best,
Susan

Posted by: Susan at July 7, 2005 11:02 AM

Steph, I know I'm way behind but that Birch is truly gorgeous. Amazing.

Posted by: Jenny at July 12, 2005 6:03 PM

I'm struggling with Birch. Any good tips you could offer?

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