Two Beautiful Things

This morning I rode over to the park and took a few shots of the Summer in Kansas Shawl so I could show it to you in all it’s glory.

That is a lie.  I took 93 pictures. 

I couldn’t stop. 

I was not even deterred when a small clutch of elderly gentlemen stopped what they were doing (playing chess) and came over to interrogate me in a language I don’t speak.

I managed to convey, using a graceful series of gestures and the sock in progress that I had in my bag,  that I had knit the shawl.

They managed to convey – through words I didn’t understand and kindly pats on my arm that they thought that was great. 

One of them stroked the shawl, and then tapped his forehead with a finger,  beaming at me in a stern sort of way, which I took to mean that he thought I was clever.

This was revoked when I laid the shawl down for those last two pictures. I don’t speak Ukrainian (I think it was Ukrainian) but it was clear he thought I should get it up out of the dirt. (I was tsk-ed at.)

I wasn’t able to explain to them why I was taking pictures of it, which was the part they seemed to find perplexing – but we had a pleasant, if mutually befuddling ten minutes. I’ll tell you what I couldn’t tell them.  Pattern: Summer in Kansas, Yarn- the rather classic Zephyr wool/silk in "Ice Blue".  4.5mm needles, which I wish had been 4mm, because I think this shawl could only be improved were it a little tighter. That’s personal preference though, and I’m not really disappointed at all. The big needles also mean that it’s a monster. About 2.2 metres along the top edge, and just over a metre down the centre line.

Beautiful thing the second?

These guys.  That’s my daughter Megan, her buddy Pato and our hero Ken (Ken is the technical genius who makes this blog go).  The three of them have, as they did last year, signed up for the Friends for Life Bike Rally to raise funds for the People with Aids Foundation. The three of them will, with about 400 other riders, embark on an epic journey, riding the 660km from Toronto to Montreal over a week in July. 
Last year Meg and Pato were the two youngest riders (17 years old)  and as proud of them as I was at the end of it (and I was stupid, crazy, wildly proud) I wasn’t sure they would do it again.  It was long, it was hard, and they’re young.  Young people change in their priorities all the time.  (Also, I can’t even talk about the way that Meg was chaffed, and where.  She’d kill me.  Trust me, it was ugly.)

This year, you could have knocked me over with a skein of cashmere when the three of them were among the first to sign up. Ken and Meg are kicking it up a notch, riding a tandem together. This makes them (as far as I know) the only KNITTING TEAM on the rally! (Pato doesn’t knit- yet…  but he is wool friendly. I’m thinking about forcing him to learn to get a bigger pledge from me. Would that be wrong? Knitting’s a life skill.  I’d be doing him a favour.)

Last year, your knitter support put these three squarely in the top fundraiser slots, and all three of them got the gold jersey for their efforts.  The organizers were stunned by two things.  First, the fact that the two youngest riders had raised so much, and second, by the statement from the three of them (That’s Team Knit to you) that "you can do anything if the knitters are behind you. The Knitters are a force. You don’t understand about knitters."

This astonished most of the other riders, and the organizers, and well… not me.

I am almost never surprised by what knitters can do – it is what my kid and friends can do that thunderstruck me.  A shawl is pretty rip roaringly easy compared to a 660km ride.  The three of them are training dutifully, getting ready for the big ride to change some lives, and I’m just so impressed that they are decent like this.  (Ken’s been decent for a good long time now, it’s the younger ones that seem to be really turning out.)  If you’re moved to support them you can do so by clicking on the links below.  They will be ever so grateful.

Megan
Ken
Pato

151 thoughts on “Two Beautiful Things

  1. Those are, indeed, beautiful things! Much good juju and luck to Team Knit. 🙂
    Love that shawl….

  2. That shawl is ABSOFLIPPINGLOUTELY gorgeous!!!!
    I also just shared Meghan’s page on my Facebook page so hopefully she gets some rolling in from there as well!

  3. The shawl is fabulous!
    And I had to convert the kms to miles (because 660 sounds like a lot but I had to be sure) and it’s freaking 410 miles?!?!?? All I can say is WOW! Go team go!

  4. Cheers to Megan, Ken & Pato. I lost one of my best friends to AIDS and I get so scared that people (particularly young people)have forgotten the danger of the disease. I will be rooting for them!

  5. Will definitely be supporting them again – go TEAM! (Can Megan knit while Ken is peddling?)
    My teen is in New Orleans this week rehabbing houses with a group of friends. He left me a phone message thanking me for sending him (after some reluctance to go).
    Aren’t they all amazing? We knitters may march to a different drummer, but it’s a darn good tune.

  6. Kudos to the riders.. and the shawl.. I agree w/ my Phoenix.. flipping drop dead beautiful!

  7. You know, as you were describing the old men’s reaction to your shawl and the gestures they used, I was thinking they sounded Russian. So if they were Ukrainian I wasn’t far out. Cute eh?
    Beautiful shawl and you are so right to be proud of your Meg!

  8. Stephanie, that shawl you created is beautiful, but not nearly as beautiful as the child(ren) you created. Both are works of art. As proud as you are of them, they should be proud of you and all the good this blog does. I’m off to offer a donation to your baby, as I can only afford one. And Ken, thank you from the bottom of my heart for making this blog go.

  9. This one is for Meg – get her some Chamois Butt’r before her next ride. It saved my arse, so to speak, when I did the Aids ride from Minneapolis to St. Paul.

  10. Lovely shawl. Loved your “conversation” with the men in the park. Sometimes a common language isn’t necessary when admiring something as beautiful as your shawl.
    Go Team Knit.
    Off to donate….

  11. Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! I’m so very impressed AND inspired.
    And the shawl is lovely, too!
    You go good work – all the way around!

  12. The shawl is stunning – definitely a work of art. Your chat in the park cracked me up (knitting in public while I study in europe has started some facinating conversations, and some of the reactions to my knitting pictures have been priceless…). But beyond anything else, congrats on having raised kids who not only have their priorities straight, but are also wise enough to choose friends who also have their priorites straight. Best of luck Meg, Pato and Ken!!!!

  13. The shawl is just gorgeous. You are justified in being very proud – I would have taken 93 photos too if I had made something so beautiful!
    You should also be proud that you raised your daughter to be a good person! How did you do it? I could do with some tips!!!

  14. Can I ask you a question, as one not very tall woman to another? Do you find that shawls, beautiful well knit, elegant shawls, at least the triangular kind, add ten years to your age and ten pounds to your frame? I love shawls like this, but am not sure how to wear them.

  15. The beauty of the shawl is only eclipsed by the beauty of Meg, Pato and Ken.

  16. I’ve been reading through your archives and finally decided to just start reading your current stuff (I’m only in 2007 – you blogged a lot!). And seeing that picture of Megan made me feel awfully old seeing her all grown up. Even though I’m 23. It’s the little things.
    The shawl looks great!

  17. The shawl is absolutely stunning, worth it’s time in the naughty corner and all your hard work! Beautiful.
    Go team knit, the bike riding is pretty awesome 🙂

  18. I love your shawl! The pictures are beautiful. I’m glad Megan, Ken and Pato signed up for the relay again. I love their statement about knitters. It is so true.

  19. If those elderly men were Ukrainian, I’m sure they must have said “dobarah!” (Good!)

  20. Good work on both the shawl and the daughter! Yes, pato must learn to knit. It’s a life lesson, like typing and driving a stick shift car. Something you need to know how to do.

  21. Good work on both the shawl and the daughter! Yes, pato must learn to knit. It’s a life lesson, like typing and driving a stick shift car. Something you need to know how to do.

  22. Wow to the 1st and WOW to the 2nd! Remind Megan not to ride in flip flops, it can be hazardous to your toes! I dislocated one once–the pinky. OUCH!

  23. Beautiful shawl set in a beautiful park!And Good Vibes to tour riders- I’d have trouble riding in a car for 660km-forget about actually riding a bike that far!!

  24. I meant ‘your’ riders not ‘tour’ riders.(Although they are ‘touring’ the country.)

  25. the shawl is stunning! I have that pattern (I think I bought it back when you first cast on – ha). Must revisit possibility of knitting it, because it’s so gorgeous!
    I love the biker photos. SO AWESOME and also completely endearing. Good luck to them all! 🙂

  26. Hi! What a shawl! I have been tempted to knit that one more than once – I might just have to put it on my list again.
    And those gorgeous, ambitious cyclists! I could not resist joining “the force of knitters”. That should definitely be the noun for a group of us, shouldn’t it?
    Hope the ride is bunches of fun and raises tons of $$ for the cause.
    And yes, Pato should learn to knit.

  27. Of course, I’m going to support all three of them, but Ken has to get a little extra because dude makes the blog GO! Not enough ways to say thank you for that.
    Love the park story — it’s always lovely to get appreciation from an unexpected source. You knew we would love it!

  28. the shawl is so utterly beautiful that it gives my heart a funny, aching, longing and really makes me think, “hey! i should take a leap of faith and try that too!”
    then the whole story of your “Team of Loved Ones” was even MORE beautiful and my mom-heart ached in another way imagining your pride in them. best of luck (and strength!) to them all.

  29. maybe it’s your writing, maybe i have my man pms, but i got misty from this post. i don’t have much to spare but i’ll be making a donation when i get home.
    go team knitter!

  30. Go Team Knit! Love the tandem – I hope they have a great ride!
    And that shawl. You took some gorgeous photos. I can understand the tsking. I walked outside in my bare newly knitted sock the other day to take some pictures. My husband said, “what in the world are you doing?” He was right. tsk tsk! 🙂

  31. Oh
    My
    Gosh!
    That is one ravishingly beautiful, stunningly gorgeous shawl!! I’m so proud of you for finally finishing it!

  32. What Siobhan said: Chamois Butt’r. To be gotten at bicycling shops. Failing that, Desitin is a diaper rash product that works ok, too… it’s just not as “cool” if somebody finds it in your bag.

  33. I love this post so much. Gorgeous shawl, gorgeous kids. Ken’s pretty gorgeous, too. And “Pato” means “duck” in Spanish…is your daughter living the film “Pretty in Pink”? And if so, are you Annie Potts?

  34. I bought my cyclist hubby a great item at the cycle shop. It looks like a deodorant stick, but it’s an anti-chafe product. You’ve probably heard of it by now, but if not, Megan should check it out. It’s for triathlon participants, and it works great. Congrats on having such an admirable kid!

  35. I’m so happy to back this team again. I hope, when they finish, I don’t mist up again. “Mist up” is a euphemism for the red eyes and runny nose that I really had. They’re so young and so decent and the future will be safely in their hands some day. Good to know.

  36. Wow I cannot believe it’s been almost a year since the last ride – I clearly remember reading about it and it seems that it can’t possibly have been that long. Good luck to them again this year!

  37. Just shows what happens when one gets out (both the shawl photography and the cycling trio). Good on both subjects.

  38. It’s so worth the 500 flippitybajillion edge stitches you had to pick up for the edging. Nice work, Steph.
    Did you tell the chess players that the shawl can be washed if need be?

  39. Have Meg try using Glide – it is in a container that looks like a solid deodorant and you can get it at sports stores like Dicks (here in the US). It stops the chafing!!! I walked the Breast Cancer 3 Day (60 miles in 3 days) and had no blisters or chafing due to using Glide. Wonderful stuff! Ride on!!!

  40. Maybe the gentlemen were Greek? I could come visit and definitively solve the mystery…

  41. Unbelievable shawl! Hope you wear it often; you’ll be the best-dressed woman in the grocery.

  42. Love the Shawl…but Love Love Love the bell on your bike….I WANT one….

  43. Your shawl is amazing. But you and your daughter inspire me. I hope I am able to be the type of mom that raises a daughter has beautiful inside and out as yours.

  44. Gorgeous, Stephanie. Your photos are really wonderful, too.
    Oh, that’s just terrific about the bikers. I’ve biked 15 miles in the last two days — that’s more than I’ve biked in the last 20 years, no even longer — so, really, I’m just parroting, but padded bike shorts and Chamois Butt’r sort of seem indispensable. Day 2 and I’ve employed both!

  45. Wait a minute, you didn’t even get ONE shot of the chess players and the sock or shawl? I’m very disappointed in you Stephanie!

  46. best chafing, heat rash relief & healing product on the market:
    columbia antiseptic powder (www.columbiapowder.com)
    google it to find out where you can purchase it. and, yes, you can make fun of the name. ‘->
    anyhoodles, beautiful never-ending shawl. beautiful generous souls.

  47. What a beautiful shawl and I love it that it is named after my state of Kansas! I want to learn to knit lace now.
    Can’t imagine how one could ride a bike that far! Fabulous! You must be so very proud.

  48. Hey, did you get a new bike or has it always been aqua (it’s aqua on my screen)?
    Shawl is great! I bet you are glad you finished it now that it’s done.
    😉

  49. Congratulations on all fronts: shawl, kid, kid’s boyfriend, blog friend, international(language) relations! I’ll donate to all three.

  50. Do you read Terry Pratchett? When you speak of “The Knitters” it’s like you’re channeling Discworld. Which is very cool.

  51. I am completely impressed by both stunning accomplishments! Way to go!
    I am not in the means to be supportive financially at this time, but will be thinking strong “wind behind you” thoughts to these 3. Safe travels!

  52. Lovely, heartwarming story about the shawl photo shoot. When I was newly married, almost 27 years ago, my husband and I had an apartment near the park which I believe is “your” park. I do not recall any encounters with elderly Ukrainian men at that time, but your tale made me feel warm and fuzzy anyway. And ditto for the upcoming bike ride — best wishes to Megan, Ken and Pato! (Our second place of residence was Montreal, and having driven between Toronto and Montreal countless times, I have a very healthy respect for anyone who can undertake the trip on a bike!)

  53. Your blog makes me laugh out loud! I LOVE your descriptions, wit, photos, stories, etc. Not to mention the knitting! Of course!
    And yay for your daughter et al… They are awesome! 🙂

  54. WWWWWHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! Why can’t I knit like that!!! ‘SNIFF” I just can’t do that. Try as I may I have yet to knit a shawl like that or knit a shawl at all.

  55. Bodyglide. It’s the best to prevent chafing. Thanks for the links–they’ll be great riders again!

  56. I know that you know this, but your daughter is one amazing girl!
    LOVE the shawl, BTW!
    I think that people find us strange when they spy us taking pictures of our knitted lovelies.
    The garbage truck workers got an eyeful of me running back and forth hitting the timer button on my camera and then running back to my brick wall to stand in front of it with a half-knit sock with a ball of yarn attached.
    We’re odd but lovable.

  57. That is a wonderful thing indeed that they are doing. I only hope that my daughter will grow up to be half as amazing.
    That lace is also amazing and makes me want to dig through my stash and knit some of my own. I only wish I could figure out a way to knit anything from a chart when I have crawling baby trying to “help”…guess that’s what naps are for.

  58. Breathtakingly beautiful! As for the chafing, try Bodyglide. Chafing will be a thing of the past.

  59. Knitting a fabulous looking shawl – a few weeks (total elapsed time) of work!
    Bringing up a socially aware, responsible, caring young adult – a lifetime of hard work!
    But both achievements are something to be proud of.
    Permission granted to be smug for weeks!

  60. Go Team Knit Go!
    I’m shameless. I’d ride the 660k just to have an excuse to ride that much in a week.

  61. Love love the shawl! The design and esp the color ! I have come back twice to look at ….now ordering . Beautiful !

  62. Wonderful! And I keep wondering – when do we get knitting to the point where we knit 660km and people sponsor us for AIDS or MSF? Cuz that’s got to be what’s in that shawl, right?

  63. I just love how much more you’re doing with your knitting photography!! Love the shawl in the bike basket. Can’t imagine what those Ukranian men must have been thinking as the shawl “hit the dirt!”

  64. You must indeed be busting your buttons with pride. All three of the Team Knit riders can count on my support again.
    Lovely shawl: the infinite-self-renewing edging was so worth it! And the Ukrainian men had their perspectives broadened….though I’m sure they’re rather befuddled still. I expect they were intrigued to see a lace shawl in the 21st century, newly knitted.
    Oh, and I thought of you when I sang “O Canada” with my daughter on Thursday when I got home from work, in celebration of one of our favorite countries. But I know the words best in French, having learned them first in high school French class, and she knows them in English. So it was a rather amusing bilingual duet.

  65. Congrats on the beautiful shawl and to your daughter and friends. When I saw the photo of her on the bike, I cringed when I saw her choice of footwear–flip-flop shoes. I am hoping that this was just for the photo—please tell her that they are an accident waiting to happen! Flip-flops are black-listed by podiatrists everywhere due to lack of support and a high rate of injuries. I couldn’t bear to read a blog post with another family injury/disaster!

  66. The shawl is stunning. The photo’s of it are just so lovely,especially the one where it is blowing in the breeze.
    And Team Knitter? What’s not to love about these three? Seriously wonderful all three. But even if you do teach Pato to knit and I think you should, how can you top that beaming smile of his while holding the ball of yarn for Megan and Ken.He seems to have figured out to do his part of the knit thing for the team and as we all know it’s a pretty important job, the keeper of the yarn.

  67. To think this beauty could still be confined to the closet never again to see the light of day! And now on this glorious day is photographed fluttering in the breeze, basking in sun/nature, being admired by strangers! Stef you’ve done a good thing, a VERY good thing and you make us proud…excuse me while I dig into my closet.

  68. Have you thought about auctioning a YarnHarlot knitted item to raise money for team knit?

  69. This is definitely one of my favorite blog posts. It’s things like this that make me proud to be a knitter. Gorgeous shawl! 🙂

  70. Amazing shawl, amazing girl!
    To do the ride once is brave – but to do it again, really knowing what they face, is incredibly gutsy. My hat is off to all of you.
    (wool-friendly – tee hee!)

  71. Your shawl is beautiful!
    I have gone back and started reading the blog from the beginning and thanks to you I’ve gone on a cherry binge and have an overwhelming urge to knit mittens. And I live in Florida.

  72. Will do – support Team Knit. I have a deep affection for that shawl…it really is Summer in Kansas. Thank you for the pix.

  73. The shawl is AMAZING!! Even more beautiful than when being knit or blocked on the bed! Go Team Knit!! As an aside – how I wish the US used the metric system as it’s main standard of measurement! Life as a knitter and quilter would be so much easier. (Not to mention life as math teacher in the US, which I was for 24 years!)

  74. The shawl is amazing! I never knit a shawl. I just finished my first sweater after almost a year, a few curse words, and a big smile as it is drying now with pins sticking out of it. I am inspired. I am also inspired by this incredible bike ride! Way to go! Your blog is always great, and I look forward to it.

  75. That shawl is truly a masterpiece! How about a photo of you wearing it? Lot of talent in those little fingers………….

  76. that’s more than 410 miles for us to the south…wow and wow!! brought tears to my eyes reading your description.

  77. Beautiful shawl! Good luck to Meg, Pato and Ken on all their training and their ultimate ride!
    For Meg, I have been there – not fun! A pair of bike shorts with a nice padded chamois and a saddle designed specifically for women might help prevent the sore bits! Good luck!

  78. Go team! I loved hearing about the ride last year and look forward to hearing about it now. I have to confess the first thing I thought seeing that Meg and Ken were going tandem was “oh good, the one on the back can knit while peddling.”

  79. The shawl is gorgeous which you already know. The kids are turning out great which you also know. Will donate when I get back to home turf and the on-line CC. The tandem Team Knit is the best news. Loved doing RAGBRAI on a tandem with Craig. Hope to do it again someday. May be on a trike tandem.

  80. Keeping up with a tandem while riding a single means Pato will be working extra hard. I hope they’re practicing their ‘drafting’ so that he can ride behind and take advantage of Captain Ken and Stoker Meg making a path through the wind. It will allow him to conserve his energy to stay with them.
    Gorgeous shawl – and wonderful story about your ‘cultural exchange!’

  81. Reading about Meg, Ken & Pato’s adventure last year, and that they’d signed on to do it again, brought a (proud) tear to my eye. I can’t imagine what it does to you! Congratulations on knowing three such great people, and for making one of them!

  82. So much to celebrate here, where to even begin! Congratulations on the shawl and the well-raised daughter and maybe some merino roving to pad the seats would help?

  83. Absolutely gorgeous shawl! A wonderful bike team. She is wearing those special padded shorts for bike riders, right? Girls’ shorts are padded differently because well…you know.

  84. Excellent ambition – I love biking but 660 km is FAR! I pat myself on the back for doing 14 km…
    Your shall is amazing – I continue to be shocked by what you Knitters can do with those two little hands of yours.
    I just finished reading your Yarn Harlot (2005) book and I absolutely loved it. I actually wrote about it on my own blog. Not that many books have succeeded in making me laugh outright – I look forward to my next trip to the book shop when I can snatch up another of your books. I’ve also been enjoying your blog thoroughly!
    So… thanks!

  85. Megan: Body Glide is the answer to all your chafing and blistering problems today.
    Extra curvy, thigh-rubbing-challenged knitters: It’s a godsend to us, too.
    And no, I don’t work for Body Glide or its affiliates. I’m just one of its grateful fans.

  86. Tell Megan to look for a product called Body glide. My daughter, the real knitter in the family, told me about it and it is SSOOOOOO nice on that chapping problem!!
    p.s. love the shawl.

  87. I see you’ve received other suggestions for the chafing/chapping problem. Personally, I’m a fan of Anti Monkey Butt powder. Their web site is the same as their name mushed together.
    The shawl is gorgeous.

  88. The shawl is so beautiful. The story about the Ukrainian men makes it that much better.
    I am also overwhelmingly proud of your team. What an amazing thing they’re doing. And my heart is especially warmed by the propagation of biking culture.
    Cheers!
    Daisy

  89. I volunteered for the local Friends for Life for a long time. I’m so proud of them! I will be donating as soon as the bank holiday for the 4th in the US is over.
    And the shawl? It’s just stunning. I admit that I would have been just little tiny wee bit alarmed at it being in the dirt, too. It might have caused me to mutter a little in Cajun French. Then you wold have had to reassure me with the universal gesture for “beer.”

  90. Lovely shawl, truly worth the wait!
    Hope the chaps go well on the cycling – great going!
    And I can see why Aussies and Canadians get along (generally).

  91. Hey, I think I recognize that bike!! I just got the yellow 3-speed version and I am in LOVE. And I can’t imagine riding 660 km – that is a pretty amazing thing they are doing….again! The shawl is nothing short of stunning.

  92. It’s good seeing that they are doing it again. And after my last half marathon’s poor clothing selection, I can totally sympathize with the chafing. Ouch!

  93. Soooo….when are you coming back to WEBS for a talk/hangout/beer? It was, for a couple of years, a perfect time and place to meet far-off friends and enjoy your comedy and skills. Come back!

  94. ok the shawl is beautiful.. the kids are amazing.. Ken is of course wonderful.. but please tell me Meg is not doing the ride in flip flops….

  95. last weekend i did the ride to conquer cancer (2 days, 220km in the foothills of the mountains). knitters got me there. 2 weekends before that we did the ms tour (160 km). ditto on the knitters. (you know us.. the calgary bunch from make1) these same people have sponsored me for two trips to mexico to build houses for the poor.
    knitters can accomplish anything; and they do.. all the time. xoxo

  96. sorry about the double post. my computer is acting up.
    i thought i should mention that if you donate to any of the riders, above, you’ll get a tax receipt. it’s a win/win situation.

  97. 1. shawl too beautiful as usual (thinking of adding it to my queue)
    2. loved that your world is full of people that you cannot talk to, but communication still works!
    3. so happy that it’s time for the Life Bike Rally–they’ll do great
    4. but can you tell us more about your bike, in such a great colour, handlebars that look like they work and such an effective front basket?

  98. Tell Megan if she hasn’t used it in the past, to invest in a good chamois cream. You can’t beat it on a long ride. And of course, it should be the only thing she is wearing below the waist besides her bike shorts, but I’m sure she already knows that.
    Beautiful shawl, by the way.

  99. Shawl is drop dead gorgeous. I have already gone to the sponsor spots and done my bit for the riders. Hope the knitters get the jersey again this year. I am proud of them…I remember the chaffing I had when I rode a long, long, long way. Ugly is being kind.

  100. can we please have a paypal option? Or am I missing something. that sponsor page looked a bit confusing to me.

  101. a shawl of that size and gloriousness–not to mention colour–could very well be borrowed by a friend for a wedding: not only fulfilling several of the whimsical requirements in the old rhyme, but providing a lightweight, gorgeous warmth when out-of-control air conditioning got to be to much…just a thought! =)

  102. Just back from Shetland (where they grow those fabulous shawls)……your blog was the first I caught up with, after family mail. I missed it!
    The shawl is beautiful, the kids are awesome. And I love your Canada Day message – I learn so much about your wonderful country from it, every year – so a late Happy Canada Day to you! Wish I could visit Canada some year – when I have seen all of my own country.

  103. The shawl is stunning! I’m sorry I said it wasn’t “you.” It is perfectly you. The riders are fantastic too. Go team knit!

  104. With pictures like that, how could you choose just one Team Knit member to donate to?

  105. That is one gorgeous shawl.
    In regards to Meg’s chafing, get her something called Bodyglide. It looks like a stick of deodorant and you rub it on areas prone to chafing. It is amazing stuff.

  106. 1. Amazing, fantastic, beautiful. I winced as well when I saw that you’d lain the shawl down in the dirt. The Ukrainian man was right. But wow, is it beautiful.
    2. From a friend that has “issues” when doing horse riding holidays – just use lots of neosporin. From a website called bike to live: “Chamois Butt’r (Butter), DZ Nuts (which I think is hilarious…and now has a version for women), and Assos Chamois Cream (I hear this is good). Some that you don’t hear about often are Noxema Beauty Cream, Udderly Smooth, and Bag Balm…this is applied to your nether regions” If it’s not in her nether regions, Glide is great for your thighs.
    3. Those kids (even the big one!) are turning out okay. A friend of mine died from AIDS and the incidence is increasing again as the visible side effects can be managed with drugs.

  107. So pretty! I went exploring out of town on Saturday and visited, of course, a knit shop. Flipping through a book of patterns, what do I come across but Summer in Kansas. I almost did it. I did laugh, though, and turned around to share what was funny but there was no one else in the room. So I just giggled to myself.

  108. Your posts always remind me that our knitted stuff is to be used, loved, and maybe tossed about a bit. Of course the reminder came only after I cringed at the shawl going from being jammed in the basket to being laid in the dirt.
    And yes, you definitely grow great kids.

  109. Three cheers for Meg! Suggest she finds a product called Chamois Butt’r. A cyclist myself, it works wonders at preventing, er…chafing in the tender areas. Lovely shawl.

  110. How awesome What a great daughter and friends she and you all have. AWESOME…GO KNITTING TEAM!!

  111. How awesome What a great daughter and friends she and you all have. AWESOME…GO KNITTING TEAM!! Shawl is FABULOUS!! I haven’t knitting any lace shawl knitting but its beautiful. Not sure if I have the patience for it.

  112. I have two words for Meg – gel seat. Trust me. Totally worth the money!

  113. Ah! A perfect pattern for the miles of dogpaca I’ll be spinning this winter! I live in Kansas, after all…
    If the job comes through, there may be a donation in the team’s future. Fingers crossed for all involved!

  114. Hi, I plan to support the bikers again. When I clicked in Megan and started filling in the blanks, I could only get provinces and not state to populate the donation form. Am I the only one?
    Also, I agree that PayPal would be a great addition. Thanks!!!!! Julie in Ohio

  115. Beautiful shawl!
    Awesome about your daughter doing the bike rally. Does she know about Bike and Build? http://bikeandbuild.org it’s in the US but maybe they have something similar in Canada or would know of something similar…

  116. For Meg’s chafing she should check out bodyglide. Runners use it all the time to prevent the thighs from getting chafed and I use it to keep my running shorts from riding up. Vaseline works too but it stains which bodyglide does not.

  117. I was wondering if you would do a short video for youtube or your website on how you hold your yarn (which direction you wrap yarn around each finger), which finger is actually throwing, which is moving yarn from knit side to purl side? You are so fast in the videos I have seen I cant make it out. Thanks:)

  118. It’s official – team knit has restored my faith in humanity! Just the dose of goodness needed to make up for incredibly rude customers. Well done to team knit, and knitters everywhere!

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