She's Mine, ALL Mine!!
A grrl can change her mind…I have. I can’t part with Oriel. She was to be a gift for my sister (third in the sibling line) for her 50th birthday the last day of March. It’s a special day when you turn 50 and it would be a nice gift for her. But, I have put in months of work and have fallen in love with Oriel, the yarn, the color, the pattern…the all of it. I can’t let her out of my sight. You most likely, dear reader, are a knitter…you know. I come to you for validation of this feeling of desire, attachment, and pure love. It is rare that I become attached to an object, even an object of beauty….even knitting that has had countless hours of time invested. But, I want Oriel to adorn ME. She is like a breath of pure, crisp, spring air.
Besides I can knit a Flower Basket Shawl in a weekend and what would my sister know? She’d love it as if it took me…months. She doesn’t knit. She knows nothing of Oriel. She may never even see Oriel. The only way she’ll know about her is if ‘this one’ tells her and I think I know where she stands and I can always take back Charlotte in revenge, if need be (which she stole from me in the first place).
Keep Oriel or no? It’s a rhetorical question at this point. My mind is made up…she’s mine…all mine…my Zen-ness is on holiday.
Happy Birthday, Cassie!!
Sounds like a perfect solution - mke the FBS in a gorgeous yarn (something from Twinkletoes, perhaps!) and keep Oriel. If you let it go - you will alwaya wonder - is it being worn? appreciated? loved? You made the right decision!!
Posted by: Jackie | February 23, 2005 at 04:56 AM
You should totally keep it--it is absolutely lovely, and only you know all of the work that went in to it. The FBS is very pretty too, and she will love it all the same, I am sure. :)
Have a good Wednesday!
Posted by: Lolly | February 23, 2005 at 05:24 AM
The Flower Basket Shawl is an extraordinary gift. It's also very wearable and I'm sure your sister will use it more than Oriel. She is yours. It's a good decision.
Posted by: Judy | February 23, 2005 at 05:40 AM
You stinker! "I can knit FBS in a weekend". I will let you know when mine is done (it's halfway so far). Probably next year! (haha). Anyways it's the process, RIGHT?
She will probably be so happy to get FBS, it really is gorgeous! Then you can keep Oriel! Perfect solution, methinks.
Posted by: patti | February 23, 2005 at 05:54 AM
Yup, non-attachment is certainly taking a holiday.
;-)
Posted by: claudia | February 23, 2005 at 06:01 AM
Oh I am sure anyone who knits can understand this. Enjoy Oriel...it is beautiful!
Posted by: Karen | February 23, 2005 at 06:04 AM
You're right to keep it. She will love a flower basket shawl....it is a beautiful knit.
How's that for validation?
Posted by: Wendy | February 23, 2005 at 06:12 AM
If she's not a knitter, she won't really know the different. FBS for her, I'd say, and enjoy your Oriel!
Posted by: Cassie | February 23, 2005 at 06:48 AM
Yes, totally keep Oriel!
Posted by: Liz | February 23, 2005 at 08:01 AM
I was told by a long-time knitter the other day that you never really know who a project is for until it's finished. The project decides. So, just tell her you can't help it, it's not for her. I'm sure she'll love something else just as well!
Posted by: Kimi | February 23, 2005 at 08:27 AM
keep Oriel in a death grip! Don't let her have it!! :D But yes, be nice, make a FBS... I'm beginning to think you can never have too many of those. I'm gonna make one or two for the market and see what I can sell them for *lol*
M
Posted by: Miriam | February 23, 2005 at 09:03 AM
Ditto. Amen. Oriel should be yours.
Posted by: Nathania | February 23, 2005 at 09:05 AM
You absolutely MUST keep Oriel. :)
Posted by: Annie | February 23, 2005 at 09:23 AM
I agree. You "need" it.
Posted by: Norma | February 23, 2005 at 09:49 AM
Your sister will love her Flower Basket Shawl. ;-]
Posted by: Emma. | February 23, 2005 at 09:56 AM
Good for you on keeping Oriel!
Posted by: monica | February 23, 2005 at 10:01 AM
Who could blame you? Oriel is so beautiful.
Posted by: christina b. | February 23, 2005 at 10:05 AM
If it's validation you need, it's validation you get. Yes indeed, we've all been there. Oriel is speaking to you. She has a right to say who gets custody of her. She knows that you and she have imprinted...it would be harmful to her psyche to make her go live with someone else. You and she are soulmates, plain and simple. You can't deny a profound connection. No one should tamper with it. Enjoy her with a clear conscience.
Posted by: Sharon | February 23, 2005 at 10:07 AM
I wouldn't dare tell...Charlotte's mine, all mine. I got her fair and square. :-)
Posted by: Neena | February 23, 2005 at 10:33 AM
If your sister never sees Oriel, the she can never miss it, right? The flower basket shawl is also a lovely pattern and she will be thrilled with one of those I am sure. This way, you both will have something lovely!
I know I have done the same before too :-))
Posted by: kim | February 23, 2005 at 11:05 AM
Just wanted to add my support for your decision to keep Oriel.
You deserve it!
Posted by: Teresa | February 23, 2005 at 11:32 AM
Keep it. Or send it to me. Your sister will like the Flower Basket one.
Where is the Oriel pattern from, anyway? I've googled and can't find it. I actually have the perfect yarn for it, for a change, and wouldn't have to shop.
Posted by: Lorette | February 23, 2005 at 11:43 AM
Yep, keep it sounds good to me!
Posted by: Tracy | February 23, 2005 at 04:17 PM
This reassures me that you are a mere mortal after all. The FBS is darned pretty.
Posted by: stephanie | February 23, 2005 at 05:36 PM
There is no such thing as an entitlement to someone else's knitting. Neena's cool. She won't rat you out.
Posted by: Shannon | February 23, 2005 at 06:42 PM
So I guess suggesting that you send Oriel to me as a way to diffuse any sibling dissatisfaction won't work, eh? Is that pattern available anywhere besides the class you're taking? I'm actually counting on your answer being "no" because I really don't *need* another project, but I have been drooling over this one for awhile now...
Posted by: jenifleur | February 23, 2005 at 11:34 PM
oh yeah! Hey, your sister will probably *prefer* FBS. I think it would be quite *wrong* not to knit a FBS for her. Selfish Margene thinking for a moment that you could get away with giving her Oriel. Oriel, by the way (and I know you know) is divine!
Posted by: Sally | February 24, 2005 at 02:06 AM
I agree - projects don't have owners until they're done. Oriel has obviously decided she's yours. Your sister will love a FBS.
Posted by: Melissa | February 24, 2005 at 12:26 PM
Keep it!
The flower basket shawl will make an absolutely lovely gift!
When giving non-knitters/crocheters/crafters hand-made gifts I find more simple is often better... because when they don't give you the "OMG - you must have spent YEARS on this....ooooh....the intricate detail....oh and look how wonderful your kitchner stitching is (OK so maybe i'm a bit overboard there)..."
but you get my point. I did that one Christmas...made my gal pals really intricate scarves that I worked on for MONTHS...only one of them had ANY idea just what went into it... one of them (scarves) I STILL wish I'd kept. Not that I don't ADORE my friend who recieved it mind you... but you get the drift!
Posted by: Kimberli | February 24, 2005 at 01:12 PM
Oriel is so beautiful, I don't begrudge you for keeping it one bit. I saw in your album who the pattern was by, did you get it from a LYS? Apologies in advance if you already covered this.
Posted by: Cathi | February 25, 2005 at 12:38 PM