A knitter in love
Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 10:59AM When you fall in love with a knitter, your life will be much easier if you can remember a few simple things.
1. You will live with lots of yarn. Some of this yarn was acquired merely because it was pretty and she wanted it and she may do nothing but look at and pet the yarn when she feels like it. Fighting this will just drive her desire for yarn underground, where she will have things delivered to her office, squirrel them away in the trunk of her car, or hidden in the far reaches of a closet so you won't notice.
2. Some projects are begun and never finished. This is acceptable. Do not presume to make suggestions, however gentle, about how her hobby should be pursued.
3. When yarn is brought into the house and she asks you to touch it and look at it and admire it, your interests are best served if you can muster up an appropriate degree of enthusiasm and admiration. Even if it's just colored string to you. If she wants you to feel how soft it is, for the love of Pete, do it immediately. And say something like, "Wow, that is really soft. That will be fun to knit with!" Even if you don't care. Even if you can't tell that it's soft. If she asks you to admire the softness, assume it is soft and beautiful and worthy of praise.
4. Yarn will have to be relocated to various places in the house at any given time. If there is suddenly a basket of yarn on the floor in a doorway, it's there for a reason. Step over it. Even if it means your wedding photographer will document the basket.
5. You'll have to accept that your beloved may want to knit all five of her bridesmaids shawls for your wedding. Admire her handiwork. Say things like, "Wow, I am so impressed by your skill and dedication. I'm cooking you dinner so you can have more knitting time."
6. When you look at your wedding photos, be sure to comment on the shawl each bridesmaid is wearing. It would also behoove you to make note of the bouquets, and to admire how nicely the colors she selected go with the shawl and dress. Someone spent a long time picking out just the right thing, and you might as well compliment her on it.
7. Take note of things like how even though each shawl is slightly different, they all suit the wearers and make your wedding seem more special than everyone else's wedding. Got that? More special than anyone else's.
8. Ask questions like, "Where did you find those amazing shawl pins? My ________________mom/grandma/aunt/cousin would love one."
9. Say things like, "The beading on the hem just adds something extra. How do you even get the beads on there? It blows my mind." The compliment phrased as question: work it to full advantage.
10. A little something like, "Each one of these shawls is more amazing than the last," would certainly not kill you dead.
11. Of course, it goes without saying that your knitting bride is the MOST radiant, MOST beautiful bride of all time, otherwise you would not be marrying her. And her dedication to her craft jut makes her all the more attractive.
12. Say that. Every day, if possible.
I'm sure Charles doesn't need my advice, because Katie describes him as the "coolest guy EVER."
They were married last November in bucolic Glyndon, MD, and Katie really did manage to knit five lace shawls (and a sweater for herself) before the big day.
Lavender and chocolate: I approve.
Katie wore the same crown her mother wore at her own wedding 51 years ago.
This wedding party looks significantly happier than many I've seen. I'm sure it's the shawls. I know I would be grinning pretty broadly if that were part of my bridesmaid ensemble.
The lace edging and the flowers on this cardigan are just beautiful, despite the tomfoolery happening in the background with the wedding party. (Note: I'm bringing tomfoolery back.)
A getaway car and reception venue befitting a knitter of this caliber.
I love the homemade canned goods as wedding favors! Those will be enjoyed much longer than a bag of Jordan almonds. And the label reads "Expiration date never: Katie and Charles"
Some more deets for the curious:
-- Shawl yarn: Lilacs (a club exclusive) on McClellan. The bride wore a barely-there version of the colorway.
-- Shawl patterns: Celes, Samovar, Seascape Stole, Astilbe Feathers, and Peacock Shawlette
-- Despite the fact that the groom's house burned down three months before the wedding (while the bride was there! knitting!), all the knitting was saved and the wedding went off without a hitch.
And they knit happily ever after.
Reader Comments (19)
I am completely blown away!!! I loved my wedding, and I wasn't much of a knitter at the time...but...but...to knit shawls for the bridesmaids and a cardigan....so stunning!!!!! They are all so amazing!!! I've never seen anyone do the "slightly different" and have everything match so perfectly!!! The patterns and the flower details are different, but the colors are all the same lavender and chocolate...and....I can't imagine a more perfect wedding. Except my own, which was perfect because it was my awesome husband and family and friends, but WOW! Of all the silly brides magazines and supposed "dream wedding" photos I've seen, none come close to this. What an amazing combination of beautiful, elegant, and personal. Wow. And if I had thought of something as awesome as homemade preserves for favors, I might have done favors! Brilliant!! And seriously- a house fire in the middle of all that?
Aw, so sweet! I love the photo posted on Ravelry as well, which showed the bridesmaid taking a swig from the flask!
Who would EVER leave such a messy basket of knitting in the middle of the floor on someone's wedding day!? What kind of sisters does this chick have!?!?!?!?
8-D
Beautiful knitting and beautiful wedding. Congratulations!!
This is the sweetest thing ever! And I must say that each shawl is more amazing than the last! And the bride and groom make a radiant couple. I enjoyed this. Here's to many years of yarn and happiness together!
That had me tearing up. Really, really lovely.
Beautiful wedding!
Wow. I could not imagine that. I'm currently planning my wedding, and it vaguely crossed my mind to do some crafting for the wedding, then I went, eh, not really what I want to be doing... you know, the stress and stuff.
BUt for someone who pulled it off, kuddos to you!
That is such a great story.
I am in awe of your unique wedding outfits. I am not much of a knitter but did sew my wedding dress.
Found your blog through Twitter and thought you might like to see mine, we've had a bit of yarmstorming going on near where I live and I've included some photos of some very interesting knitted creations that appeared overnight on the pier...
http://re-ravelling.blogspot.com/2012/03/knitting-olympics.html
That is very neat, Sarah! Thanks for the link!
WOW! I am awed by the whole wedding! The most unique, heartfelt, homespun thing I have seen in a very long time. Hats off to all who made that wedding what it was. My favorite part, I love the crown!! The cardigan is simply lovely & went so well with the dress. Breathtaking in my opinion.
Love it - your posts always make me chuckle. Thanks for the morning break!
Wow, and I thought my knit veil was a huge undertaking. Those shawls and the sweater are gorgeous!
My poor hubby could really have used those rules.. He's still fighting the yarn battle 4+ years later. ;)
Hey, look! It's my wedding!! Thank you, all of you, for the sweet and complimentary things you've said. Especially you, Yarnista!! I made my husband read the blog and he chuckled through the whole thing. Let's just hope he remembers all your sage advice. The wedding, and all that led up to it (well, with the exception of the fire) was SO MUCH FUN!!! Like my sister said, we really were coming up with new ideas up to the day of the wedding.
Incidentally, the idea for the canned foods came from a random, 30-second conversation my sister and I had with another bride at our LYS, Woolworks, so it really, really was a knitterly wedding!
Everything is just so gorgeous! I was going to forward your list to my husband but I really don't have to. He so totally gets it that it sometimes astonishes me.
I haven't knit five shawls, but I did knit one for myself with swarovski chrystals for my wedding in 6 weeks time (!?!?!?!) that I'm very proud of. I'm also knitting lavenders out of lace weight for the button holes for the bridal party. This wedding is very inspirational.
ooooh!
I need to take compliment lessons from The Yarnista. My reaction was more like "Holy crap, it's all so pretty!" which might be lacking in the weddingyness department even if it was honest and heartfelt.
wow. just wow.
Katie: You did a great job. Beautiful knitting and wedding. You are a thoughtful, and talented.
Knitting is one of my talents, also.
Faye
(your Mother's class mate.)