WARNING: This post has LOTS and LOTS of LOVE in it. May cause diabetic comas. Consider yourself warned.
Yesterday? Well yesterday was a SPECTACULAR day. Seriously up there with one of the best. Why you ask? Well, I finished a pair of socks, which I expounded upon in yesterday’s post and then I went out and looked for pants. Let me explain. I’m fat – well – fatter than I’ve ever been and I have two pairs of jeans that fit and one is so worn it’s got holes up and down the seams on the legs. None of my cute summer crop pants or shorts from last year fit me and I’ve been DESPERATE to find something to wear. ANYTHING. I’ve tried on a billion pants and short – literally – and all of them, so far, have had a zipper that’s like an inch long. You know what I’m talking about. They hit so low it’s a miracle they’re covering my pubic bone. I can’t wear pants like that. I’m long waisted and it just doesn’t work for me. So I’ve been really depressed. About my body but also about the fact that I’m still wearing below average sizes for this country and I can’t find anything to wear. I even resorted to trying on MEN’S shorts the other day. I would’ve bought them too but there were a bit too big and I couldn’t stand to try on a smaller size.
So yesterday I thought I better try again because I’m leaving for vacation in five days and I pretty much have nothing to wear. I ended up at the Liz Claiborne outlet nearby my house and get this: EVERY SINGLE PAIR OF PANTS I TRIED ON LOOKED FANTASTIC!!! It was like some weird time space warp and everything I brought into the dressing room looked great. Pants. Shorts. Skirts. I actually had to decide what I was going to buy! IT WAS A DRESSING ROOM MIRACLE!
I LOVE LIZ CLAIBORNE!
And then – when I got in the car – high from my retail extravaganza – one of my all time favorite songs was on the radio. Best of My Love by The Emotions. I immediately rolled down the windows and SANG at the top of my lungs baby! WHOA WHOA! You’ve got the BEST of MY LOVE! WHOA WHOA!
I LOVE THE EMOTIONS!
Then, after trying on all my clothes and settling on one of the shorts I got dressed and went BACK OUT because I was so happy to have a pair of shorts that fit me. I went BACK OUT people. I never go back out. Ever.
I LOVE GOING BACK OUT!
When I got home, feeling so good about my day, I started a new project! Wing O’ The Moth! I LOVE IT!
It took me about five tries to knit the first five rows – just getting used to the new needles and the new (really thin – for me) yarn and the pattern and all that and then I was sailing along! I’ve got three repeats of the first chart done – only 11 more to go! (Hey Anne – if I add repeats in the first chart will I set myself up for a bigger shawl? I haven’t read that far ahead. Thanks!) Can I just show you a few of my fir cones?
OHMYGOD! Can I tell you? I am LOVING everything about this! The yarn – FANTASTIC! I love the color. I love the way it’s so light but yet I’m getting a fairly dense fabric. It’s freaking soft as all get out. It’s EXACTLY what I wanted. I might need to order like fourteen more colors. What is it? Classic Merino Lace Weight from Catherine at Knitting Notions! Go there now. It’s gorgeous gorgeous stuff. I’m knitting with the Green Apple colorway. And seriously, while the yarn is fabulous – Catherine is even more so. She gets the stuff out ASAP and was very helpful when I emailed her about needle size.
I LOVE CATHERINE AND HER KETTLE DYED MERINO!
Which brings me to my next love fest. I asked Anne and I asked Catherine – what needle to use? They both said 6s and I got myself a set of Lace Addis in 6s and started up. The yarn seemed so thin and my stitches seemed so big and I doubted. Truly I did. But then I persevered telling myself that since it’s a top down shawl I don’t need to really knit much to find out whether it’s going to work or not and they were RIGHT! The 6s are spectacular. And the needles? Well, I’d like to publicly thank Grumperina for her campaign to get Addi to make pointier needles. These are truly divine. I never knew what a difference the pointiness would make when knitting lace, but OH MY GOD! It’s AMAZING! And they’re not too pointy! I’m almost positive I will NOT be putting a hole in my finger. (Really though, I think it’s because I will never be speeding along with this project the way I do with socks and miters. I only poke the needle on the knit stitch and I have to pay attention on the knit rows with lace and the purl rows I don’t poke.)
I LOVE GRUMPERINA!
I LOVE ADDI LACE NEEDLES!
I’m saving the best for last – Anne and her pattern. Even though I’m only three repeats in, I’ve already got the fir cone part memorized. It’s looking lovely and I can’t wait to finish this shawl. Especially those Coronas! Anne has graciously answered every question I’ve had – before I even cast on for the thing – and her pattern is clear and the charts are readable and it’s all good. I want to knit on this all the time – which, as we all know, is the best sign of a great project. Thank you Anne! I can’t wait to see it finished! Therefore:
I LOVE ANNE!
I have to say, though, that G has a little bit of a bone to pick with you. I showed him my new project last night and told him it was called Wing O’ The Moth and he was very taken aback! “What?” he said. “Aren’t moths the ENEMY?” Don’t be alarmed if I start calling it Wing O’ The Butterfly, okay?
Glad to see you so happy! I love the Wing O’ the Moth pattern. I used to think I wasn’t a shawl person and may not ever knit one…but I just went to Europe and it changed my mind a little bit. I might have to start my own!
I’m glad you had such a good bunch of experiences!
I hope every stitch of Wing O’ the Butterfly makes you happy, and I can’t wait to see it done (although the progress pictures are great, too).
BTW just curious — have you tried TrueJeans?
your excitement is contagious! thanks for sharing the love.
I knew you’d fall in love with it! And don’t fret the small yarn/large needle issue. In the end, its what makes it look like lace 😉
Your making me want to cast on another WOTM, like.right.now
Anne and Knitting Notions and Addi should pay you for the advertising you’re doing!
I don’t even WEAR shawls, and I hardly have any yarn budget left to speak of for this month but I am so desperately itchy to buy the pattern, needles and yarn, that I can hardly stand it.
I’ll last all of 3 days and then I’ll buy all three and probably some extra yarn “just in case” but which really translates to “because I’m worth it” and before you know it goodbye proper food and petrol in the car and hello Top Ramen and walking to work for the rest of the month* and also YARN and shawls!
*Even though I have a bus pass. When I do privation I go whole hog. Nothing says self denial like a hair shirt and walking to work barefoot and uphill both ways.
Also, by the way, I kind of idiom-snatched your “____s as all get out” or “is _____ as all get out” or “I’m ______ as all get out” because seriously, I love that! How ace is that?! (Answer: SO ACE.)
WOM is a fabulous pattern. I’ve actually found all of Anne’s patterns, and Anne herself, to be absolutely fabulous.
I love seeing people so obviously happy. Thanks for spreading the joy!
This post cracked me up, and made me even cheerier than I was three minutes ago!
Yes, I can feel the love tonight. Er, this morning.
So much love…you have inspired me to go shopping, and I hate shopping for clothes, specifically anything worn on the bottom…I need to find a brand to throw money at. Maybe I should pay my local Liz Claiborn outlet a visit. And the start of your shawl looks fabulous. Truly.
WOTM(B) is on my “to do” list, and you’re pushing it up the queue. I love the color you’re using. I have a few skeins of Alchemy Haiku in San Francisco Sky in my stash and am so inspired by Wendy’s WOTM in Dragon. Congratulations on finding pants that fit!
Damn you’re cute when you’re excited.
i have had one pants shopping experience like that in my life – in a banana republic in orlando. i almost had to pinch myself, it was so unreal.
Love the new project. And I am glad you found some shorts. It always feels good when you fin clothes that fit properly! 🙂
I have this picture in my head of you jumping up and down with glee and lots of “Look wha-a-t I did”s! Glad to know that you had a wonderful day. Maybe its purely selfish on my part, but your happiness put a smile on my face this morning.
Everything about your post is TERRIFIC!! And the green apple shawl….delicious!! I’m going to find my Liz Claiborne outlet pronto…I know EXACTLY what you mean about two pair of jeans. Thanks for all the good karma you’ve put out in the universe. We all need it 🙂
Got to get my “Wing of the Butterfly” OTN. Your’s is GORGEOUS and I’m so glad you found clothes that fit!
(that’s something I should also try to do soon…)
(((Hugs)))
Not ALL moths are the enemy…seriously, dude! I love it when you’re full of love…seriously, dude!
I love all of the love. Don’t forget that we love you, Cara.
Now you’ve got me torn for my next project – Wing o’ the Moth or Monkey socks with picots ……. great to read the joy & excitement, because it is infectious!
Yay Love!
Yay Happiness!
Yay Good Days!
Hope you have many more. 🙂
~snort~ you said pubic ~snort~
“Aren’t moths the enemy?” I’m cracking up over here. Seriously, that green is gorgeous. Just gorgeous.
toldya about them Addi Lace circs – now – since you’re such a “mover and shaker”, can you PLEASE get the Skacel peeps to make US 7s and US 8s???
happy mothing and vacay-ing!
Such a happy happy post! great to see it – it totally made me smile! I know what you mean about pants. I don’t know of any LC outlets around me, but thanks for the tip!
I need some of that knitting mojo as I am in a spring slump — as for the moth being the enemy — wasn’t The Tick’s (my favorite superhero) sidekick a moth? or at least an accountant in a moth suit? While I am not sure that either of them had any super powers they made me laugh — surely that can be the act of the enemy — oh, wait, you were talking about the enemy of wool — oops, nevermind.
It’s amazing how a positive dressing room experience can brighten an entire day. I’m glad you were able to find the lace needles for your new project. They really are fantastic — almost as fantastic as pants that fit!
Woo! What a happy post to read at the end of my day (graveyard shift)! I too know the drama of the “perfect fitting pants”. Good for you finding some!
Hah, Wing o’ the enemy!!!
Thanks for getting my morning off to a wonderful, cheery start. And congratulations on great clothes, a great song, and a great project!
Cara, I love you, too!
Glad the whole thing is working out for you!
I need some good shopping mojo like you got, though I think Liz Claiborne doesn’t typically fit me. And you know what else? If I lived in Secaucus, I’d be out shopping every day. For reals. It’s heaven there.
It’s a Giant Wool Moth. The moth made of wool, to protect all the REST of the wool from the actual moths. Kinda like Arnold being the good guy in Terminator II.
I have had the same problem–one size up from last summer, and needing a mostly new wardrobe. And most of the stores cater to the twiggy teens who wear their pants 8 inches lower than I do.
Glad you found a brand that works with your body type!
I want some of what you’re having! Or to have a day even HALF as great! :o)
Now that was a great post! One to make me a bit less grumpy today!
cara, if you add repeats of the fir cone, it will throw off the placement of the next sections. it is possible to add on, but a headache.
and really, this shawl will probably be plenty big! mine are both around 40″ long and 84 inches wide, using yarn in a similar weight to yours. i stretch my shawls more Wide than long, so my ends can be more scarfy, and still the length on my WOM is healthy. even the one where i ran out of yarn 12 rows before the end.
you know fearless fibers has the same soft yarn in to-die-for colors and great service too (and her laceweight is $9 i think!). just in casse you feel you don’t have enough options at knitting notions . . .
maybe the WOM can be like a decoy moth . . . big and scary to the other moths. you know, like those owls that you see on top of NYC buildings that scare away the pidgeons? it is named so for the big holes in the coronas.
You are infectious in all of the good ways!
That freaking song will be in my head *all day*!
Whoa-oh…
oh my! I have the same pants/shorts problem! We don’t have a Liz Claiborne outlet but maybe I could find something a Winners. The last two years my butt and hips have spread and I am long waisted and have one pair of jeans that fit comfortably and NO shorts. Crap!
Love the shawl!
Anne is so amazingly nice — I think she’s responded to every comment I’ve ever left for her. I plan to use my treasured skein of Sea Silk for her Japanese Feathers Stole pattern.
(And I second the rec for Fearless Fibers yarn (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=32548) — the superwash sock is *just* the right weight that I like for knitting lace.)
OMG! Your post just turned my day from good to GREAT. I smiled ear to ear while reading it. Yeah for FAB days! Whoa-o!
Dontcha just love it when just the right song is playing on the radio? In the summer? On a sunny day? With no traffic? AND new clothes in the seat next to you? Yea BABY!
I must say that I never thought about it but, G is right! Tee hee. I like Wing o the butterfly myself . . . . . . .
I agree wholeheartedly with your love fest. I am 6 rows away from completing the fir cone part of the shawl. Can’t wait to get to the next part to see what it looks like in the flesh(yarn.) Check out the blog for pictures. Anne is wonderful and a friggin’ design genius. And my next project is a swallowtail out of Knitting Notion’s laceweight. OOOHHHH! Can’t wait. So much fibery goodness.
Blessings!
wow, that’s some good mojo.
you must have something going your way!
i’m working on my own fabulous day… but i do have to find that place where things will fit me…
gotta LOVE the LOVE!!! 🙂
doodle-oot doodle-oot doodle-oot doodle-oot OW!!!!
What a fun fun post!
🙂 what a lovely post.
OMG- the color of that yarn is A-MAZING! I LOVE IT! (Look- you got me doing it now.) As for pants shopping, you are far braver than I. I’m still not ready…
reading you feels so good 🙂
haha i love all the happy YELLING in the post! I LOVE YOU CARA!! that shawl looks so lovely!
I have to agree with G. Moths are indeed the enemy! ICK!
Sadly, I was in the same position with the clothes shopping last week. Big party (parents’ 50th) and nothing to wear. Finally found a skirt/sweater combo that was cute enough and didn’t cost a fortune AND didn’t make me look like the cow I’ve become.
Where in SF are you going? I’m in Sausalito, if you make it up this way – would love to touch base.
I am so glad you had a day of sunshine. They are the best! Enjoy it!
I’ve also found that Talbots has some nice stuff sometimes – hip stuff even which surprised me. I got a really cute skirt there.
Oh how wonderful… a good day in a dressing room. In the last 15 years I have bounced arround from size 8 to 22 and back and forth every where inbetween, and the best day I ever had in a dressing room was that I didn’t breakdown into tears! Even starving myself down to a size 8 was horrid…23″ waist, 40″hips. Right now I’m a size 14 but still wearing my 18’s….. not a good look, but beats the dreaded DRESSING ROOM!!! BUT you give me hope!!!! I’ve got a few more pounds to go to fit into 12’s and at that time I think I will brave the trip, and my first stop will be LC to see if I can have that wonderful day in the DRESSING ROOM like you did. Thanks for giving me HOPE!!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for making public the plight of the shrinking zipper! I have the same problem with pants and shorts. I wear a junior size, but dude, I’m a little old for 99.9% of the styles thay have. You should get yourself some more stuff while they’re there. I knew before you started that this would be another gorgeous work of yours, and happy is the knitter who’s love knows the enemy!
Not finding pants/trousers to fit, is the reason I sew, I hate dressing rooms. I love your new shawl, so pretty.
Wow, that yarn really is beautiful! I admit, I clicked on the link in the post you wrote about it, and ordered some for a shawl. Now I can’t wait to get it.
Your Moth…er, Butterfly…shawl looks lovely so far. I knit one a few months ago, and I was so sad to see it end. It is truly an enjoyable project to knit, from start to finish.
Pants that fit???? I’m am sooooo going to Liz Claiborne now. Back in a minute…….
Oh dear! You sound the same as I did after eating Belgian chocolate. Ain’t it great?! LOL…lie down and wallow in it, girl!
Yay for having such a good day.
I may be a naturally skinny girl, but I agree 100% with the sentiment against stupid 1-inch zippers. What the hell is that? I may be skinny, but once you step outside the typical body type these pants are created for, for larger or smaller, they DO NOT FIT. It’s a choice between a tentlike size up or horrific cameltoe, which is really no choice at all. I’m so glad you found the store that fits you!
Wow! Thanks for that infectious cheeriness – I think you just improved the day of many knitbloggers. When you’ve had a day that great, it’s nice to pass it on!
They ARE the enemy! G is SO right! 🙂
The Moth is my proudest knitting accomplishment to date. Though I had to laugh at your “can I insert more repeats” because my moth shawl is HUGE! I could probably camp under it if it didn’t have so many holes. 😉
I love you Cara! Thanks for bringing a smile with your (infectious) happiness 🙂
That is one of the chief reasons I have been unable to knit Wings o’ the Moth and the Luna Moth shawls. It makes me a bit nervous, but they are so pretty and I want to knit them. I may just have to get over it.
Also, finding pants/shorts/etc that fit is awesome! Congratulations!
Sweet? My teeth are aching. AND, as is perfectly appropriate, guess which photo I saw on the banner on this visit. Guess! GUESS! The pink STR jaywalkers with the picot cuff, of course.
Thanks for sharing pics of your cones. I knew that you don’t hold much back, but this was unexpected. Har har. (Where did that come from? It’s my husband’s fault. I used to be so guileless.)
I love Liz Claiborne too! I had two pairs of jeans that I wore for like 10 years until they were just decrepit, and I tried on jeans, jeans, jeans until I thought my eyes would pop. The one brand that fit consistently? Liz Claiborne! That company deserves a medal.
A shopping trip where everything fits? Heaven!
I’m lovin’ me the happy.
So happy that you are so happy. Life is truly divine when all things align, especially shopping. Frothing over the new yarn – have fun with the project!
It’s so great to have a positive shopping day. I had a half positive shopping day recently when I went bathing suit shopping(ugggg. don’t get me started) but I did find a dress to wear to a friend’s July wedding – so unexpected and necessary! Anyway – I recently started a Seraphim Shawl and I was nervous that it wasnt’ looking right, so I checked your Seraphim and it looks like mine’s working out right, so thanks for all your fabulous photos. The Wing O’ the Butterfly is beautiful – those fir cones!!!
We love you Cara!
I loved this post!
Anne’s patterns ARE wonderful and your yarn compliments it perfectly!
I completely understand the fat thing…….I’m glad you found something that made you feel good, because feeling good is so important, right?
Aaaaah, the stars were aligned, and life was so very good for you. I must’ve felt it, because I blogged about your beautiful mini Monkeys yesterday.
It’s so nice to see such an effusive outpouring of love for so many things all in one place. May the trend continue, and may your shawl continue to be beautiful.
I think I’m going to go home tonight and then GO BACK OUT! It sounds like way fun.
Yep, I’ve got a plan.
Lovin the color of that yarn. Can’t wait to see how your shawl turns out.
LOVE your lovefest! Maybe you can call it wing of the luna? Your shawl and the..ahem..moth..are both green! It looks great! (and btw I’m long waisted and at 46 not quite the same size as at 30…not big by commercial stds, but it is SO HARD to find things that fit right!)
those days are so awesome. glad you had one like that! 🙂
u make me wish we were neighbors!
Spread the love! 🙂
ooh pretty shawl pattern. I made a lacy shawl for my neice/god-daughter’s christening and have been wanting to do another for me ever since (4 years…). And that green apple colour is fantastic.
I’m excited for you about the clothes shopping too. Trousers NEVER fit me quite right. I started making my own so that I could have some that fit me at the waist and hips and were the right length all at the same time.
Wow, that’s a lot of lovin’ in one post. Congrats on finding the pants, the beautiful yarn, the great needles, the fantastic pattern… and thanks for bringing a smile to my face.
Did I tell you that I love your blog?
Cara, no matter what size you are, nothing in most stores fits. It’s just the way of clothing manufacturers in this country, I think.
I love the Wing O’ The Moth shawl! Actually, I love all of Anne’s stuff. She’s super nice, too.
Liz is a goddess, I’m long waisted, hippy & short, her petite jeans fit without hemming & I can bend over without exposing myself, a real bonus for those around me!
Oh man, Addi Lace are awesome! I got a pair for the shawl I’m knitting and they are fanTAStic. I love them so so so so so much – especially the red cable. 🙂
Oooo, I hatehatehatehate low-slung pants too.
HATE ’em.
Congratulations on finding some real pants. And let it cheer you back up! Pants that fit are goodgoodgood!!!
Love you, love your blog!!! More love!!!
Woohoo!!! Lovely to see J1 on a high! Love Anne’s shawl and must start it soon.