Knitshamed Lace Shawl

Before my honeymoon, which was over two years ago, I bought a bunch of Patons Sequin Lace Yarn. I wanted a special project to knit on my honeymoon, because I’m just that nerdy about knitting. I was convinced that the best thing in the world would be to sit on my private deck in the morning with a cup of coffee and knit a shawl. I had this vision of Mr. Llama rising from bed after I’d made it through a couple of rows and he would order us room service while I said, “Just one more row, darling husband.”

Of course, that never happened.

Well, the room service and special moments on the private deck did, but there was no knitting involved. What I had dreamed about was this Romantic Era style honeymoon, but instead they handed me a glass of wine as we boarded the cruise ship and I never looked back. Our mornings involved more hair of the dog than “Mr. Llama, darling, join me on the veranda while I knit this shawl.”

Prior to our boozy nights on the cruise ship, I had made it as far as picking a beautiful pattern out of Meg Swansen’s A Gathering of Lace. I even knitted a few rows on the plane ride down to Florida and back again. But, now it sits forgotten in my project bin.

When Jac and I were discussing knitshame over the weekend, we veered from the usual “everyone does it, so why is it shameful” routine. (For us, the point of knitshame is to take away the guilt and embarrassment that comes with yarn crafting by joking about the things we all do.) We talked about how lots of knitters and crocheters have that one super special project that forever sits untouched in a bin due to a deep emotional attachment. For Jac, it’s her Tetris Blanket. For me, it’s my honeymoon shawl. Some people might encourage me to finish the project or use the pile of untouched yarn for something else, but after my talk with Jac, I realized that I’m content to let it sit in the WIP bin.

It’s come to symbolize something for me that until now I was unable to put into words. It represents the months leading up to my wedding, envisioning the ceremony and reception and how my life with Mr. Llama would be afterwards. And when I think about finishing the shawl, my mind immediately goes to that Romantic Era fantasy I had of us on the ship and I can’t help but laugh.

I suppose my point to this long-winded post, which was supposed to be more puns than sap, is that if you have a WIP you are emotionally attached to the way I am with my shawl, don’t feel guilty about it. When another knitter or crocheter stumbles upon that project you haven’t touched in over two years, don’t blush. Tell them why it brings a secret smile to your face and that you’ll finish it when the time is right. For me, that time will probably be eight years from now when Mr. Llama and I go on our second honeymoon.

~ Megan-Anne
But probably just the airplane rides.