Monday's Musing

"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." - Winston Churchill

Have a great week and be true to yourself!

Sakaki report: beaded shawl finished and ready to be blocked. Pattern test knitted. Corrections and clarifications being made. Pattern to be released this week.

Dilemma: to what charity shall the proceeds be donated? MSF is not earmarking funds for Japan but they are doing a ton of work there. As much as I admire the Red Cross, a little too much of each donation goes to overhead for my taste. I am inclined to give the first sales through some period of time (perhaps June) to a charity that allows earmarking for Japan, and the remainder (up to 10,000 patterns sold, like Brandywine) to MSF, even though they are not earmarking donations. I admire them tremendously and I know they will continue to work in Japan until they are no longer needed.

Do any of you have suggestions for a great charity doing work in Japan?

knit knit knit; test test test

First of all, I think a little sneak peek is in order, don't you?

Are you getting excited?

How about now?

I am loving how reversible the Sakaki pattern is!

And how nicely it drapes using the lovely Sunna yarn from Spirit Trail (Acadia colorway).

And now, just to make it as irresistible as possible (because I so want to maximize the funds going for Japan support!), I'm doing a red version.

And what a red!!! Alisha (who has a new etsy shop with lots of goodies!) gave this skein (On the Vine colorway) to me at TNNA, and it is sublime! A perfect ripe tomato red.

No leaves on this one, but plenty of beads.

I found some hexagonal bronze seed beads and they look amazing with the red.

I'm really enjoying the knit in the evening while watching my latest acquisition: the full Deep Space 9 series. (squeeeee!)

All should be tested and ready soon. :)

knit knit knit knit knit

I am knitting furiously away as I try to get my Japan aid shawl finished, written up, tested and released. And I'm enjoying every moment of it. The yarn is lovely; it's Sunna from Spirit Trail Fiberworks in a gorgeous deep green colorway called Acadia. Jennifer sent me a delectable, sumptuous incredible care package, and this one was included. And when I'm disturbed - and who among us is not disturbed at the news from Japan? - I always reach for green.

It calms and soothes me, and always makes me feel better.

This shawl is named Sakaki, after a scared sacred (sigh - thanks to the commenter who mentioned my hilarious typo!) tree of the Shinto religion. I wanted to make sure that I wasn't dishonoring the tree by naming a shawl after it, so I asked a dear friend from high school, whose mother is Japanese, if she could set me straight. She asked her mother and the verdict was a good one; the name would have nothing but good connotations used in this way.

So Sakaki, the shawl, became a tribute to the Japanese people and their incredible spirit. The pattern will be sold to benefit the relief effort in Japan (much like Brandywine for Haiti).

It is knit side to side, and features a small branch of Sakaki leaves up the spine.

The edging creates a ruffle.

But best of all....

One of my very very favorite parts of this shawl is that it is completely reversible.

Mr. Romi likes the first side best. And I like this side the best.

But we agree that they are both quite nice.

I am knitting away to finish this one as quickly as I can, but there will also be a plain (no leaves) beaded version. In red. :)

I will share the legend of the Sakaki tree with you soon. Back to knitting knitting knitting!

Monday's Musing

"Think globally; act locally." - unknown (because everyone has said it, haven't they?!) :)

I've been catching up on everything and with the little bit of time I've managed to put aside, I'm working on a shawl pattern to sell for Japan relief. I've asked a friend who lives in Tokyo to help me name it. She's made it here to the US with her kids, thank the FSM, but her husband is still in Tokyo.

Meanwhile, the fabulous Janel Laidman has a new shawl pattern out, Eiki (strength):

and, through April 30, she is donating all proceeds from sales to the Japanese Red Cross. Go Janel!

Have a wonderful week, everyone!