a year ago, almost exactly, I came to my friend at work and told her I wanted to knit. I had been flirting with the notion for several months verbally and for about a year, mentally.

all thanks to ysolda. in my opinion, the most talented artist of all things knit and beautiful! her designs actually haunted me at night. her sweet and whimsical style stirred in me a passion to step further outside my creative bounds.

I always had wild fantasies of all of the grand creations I could muster up in my minds eye. shawls, gloves, scarves, sweaters and hats. they were gorgeous and dreamy wooly wisps  inside my head.

I never imagined a year later I would be selling my own knit designs on etsy and ravelry. these were just high expectations in the form of hopeful aspirations.

but I did it. with my friend’s encouraging and helpful coaxing. she helped me get down the basic knit stitch and purling. (casting on came much later, trust me!) and just when I thought all hope was lost, she introduced me to the world of Continental Knitting. as a Crocheter, I found it extremely difficult  to wrap my head around the whole concept of English Knitting (or Throwing).

I found, once I started knitting Continental, it just flowed. I found myself shelving all of my crochet hooks and building up my stockpile of knitting supplies, as if I were some crazed squirrel, bent on stuffing as much wool and needles into my hypothetical tree hollow.

knitting is my new vice, my drug of choice, my life blood, my crutch, my freedom. goodness, what would I do without it? I shudder to think, really!

so, then….you will understand the very cusp of my excitement and glee when I awoke Wednesday morning to find that I had a ravelry pattern sale to who other than……my inspiration! Ysolda!

she purchased my Fisherman’s Wife neck warmer crochet pattern and left this absolutely elating message in my inbox:

*silence*

my reaction was just that. I was wisked away in a giddy stupor. words could not express my gratitude and glee at such a generous act from a complete stranger (albeit, my biggest knitting hero. but STILL!).

all that I COULD manage to rally were tears and sobs. YSOLDA! THE source of my inspiration. THE person who sparked in me the desire to push myself. words cannot express how her gesture moved me. well, I’m attempting to right now, believe me!

this all may seem trivial to some. especially to those who have wonderful things happen to them on a daily basis. but to me, this was huge! my life is full of little bits and pieces of wonderfulness from the hands of my husband, my daughter, my sons and close friends and family.

but this was somehow……. paramount. let’s just say it was the cherry on top of my remarkable life.

there. that’s it. the cherry. the very last ingredient. just when you thought it couldn’t get any better than that massive dollop of whippped cream on top. a giant cherry falls down on top of it all.

and then you’re more content than you could possibly express.

thank you, Ysolda. and thank you, Amy. you two are truly why I have gotten as far as I have creatively.

xoxo

love,

kalurah