Letters
Greater Love Hath No Hooker
Dear Ann,
I had a birthday last week. Just an ordinary, run-of-the-mill, nothing-to-see-here birthday. Until that afternoon, when a package appeared on the mail table in my hallway. It was not addressed to a certain Etsy-wild occupant of my home, but to me. I barely glanced at the return address before I ripped opened the box with my keys, and beheld this.
I do not know what I did to deserve this. I know for a fact that I do not deserve it. Who could deserve it?
What is it?
My gift is one of the world’s great granny-square blankets, from a pattern called the Brighton Plaid, designed by the Eclectic Gypsy, Cécile Balladino, of France. (In French, an afghan or throw is called a plaid.)
As soon as I saw this crochet blanket pattern, I coveted it. It reminded me of one of my favorite images of crochet, seen years ago on Ros Badger’s website:
How Did I Get So Lucky?
Liz Kaplan, friend of you and me and MDK, brings a lot of beautiful things into the world. Her latest large project, a collaboration with artist Laura Stillman Carraro, is The Seder, a beautiful reworking of the Haggadah, the book used every spring when Jewish families gather around the table to celebrate Passover. (It’s coming up on April 10th! Get to the store before they run out of matzoh cake meal!)
Liz also is a knitter and embroiderer and an ace at crochet. A few years ago, she and I did a swap. I got a giant granny square wrap I’d admired on some runway or another, and Liz got a Brooklyn Tweed sweater.
Later, Liz told me she was looking for more crochet to work on, and didn’t have a current project of her own, and she was up for another granny project for me if I’d like.
Clearly, Liz was in the thrall of some kind of powerful altruistic crochet mojo. Who was I to argue? Who was I to refuse to be crocheted for?
I packed up a bunch of luscious hand-dyed fingering weight yarns that I’d been collecting, skein by skein, sometimes even mini-skeins. Many of them were dyed by Emily Parson of Sophie’s Toes. A while back, I’d had some kind of knitted blanket in mind for these yarns, but I had lost the thread, and couldn’t really remember the plan. Wouldn’t they be perfect for a smaller, murkier version of that blanket I’d seen on Ros Badger’s site, and wouldn’t the Brighton Plaid, with its twinkling big and small motifs, be the perfect pattern? I thought so, and Liz thought so.
Pause for a second to consider Liz’s bravery in taking on another person’s vague, but passionately held, idea for a project. I don’t know if I could do that. The other day I was sitting with someone looking at shade cards and the same color was pink to one of us and orange to the other. It’s very hard to see what another person sees. I let go, and let Liz. It was going to be beautiful, I just knew it.
The deal was: it would be finished, or not finished, in the fullness of time. It was not a thing we were going to rush, or schedule, or even discuss. If Liz felt like working on it, she would. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t. My end of this deal? We’d figure that out in the fullness of time, too.
On March 24, without warning, Brighton Plaid arrived. And I did gasp.
It’s just a wonderful, wonderful thing to own forever. It’s more perfect in its color play than I could have dreamed. Liz’s interpretation of “bright (but sometimes not-bright) pops against a rich, dull background” is brilliant. And perfect.
How does one reciprocate a gift like this? I sure as heck don’t know. For the moment, I’m just feeling grateful and lucky.
Love,
Kay
Wowza! Looooooove.
Wow – just…. wow
That is one gorgeous throw! (And, happy belated birthday, too!)
A beautiful gift with wonderful and creative color sense. Just so darn cool and timeless. An heirloom and a great story of gifting without deadlines.
I adore every bit of this story Kay! First of all, belated birthday love. And then what a perfectly clever swap – I saw this marvel on Instagram, now knowing the story of how it came to be makes it even more wonderful.
Stunning. What a gift! And well deserved.
My feelings exactly, including the belated birthday greetings. I saw it on Instagram and thought it looked like a stained glass window. Sadly, I don’t have a knitting or crocheting friend to do such a swap. Will have to barter knitwear for something else, but what?
This makes my heart happy! Nothing beats a granny square… Swoon.
Wow, Kay, yes a friend with infallible colour sense & talent is a lovely thing indeed. Beautiful throw, truly. And happy belated birthday. (And the French will call things what they will– )
It is a marvelous gift, and a plaid of rare beauty. You inspire great things, Kay! Happy birthday
Agreed. Ordinary people don’t elicit such beauty and generosity in others. Extraordinary gift for an extraordinary woman.
Ohhh! Deep sigh. Reverence. Awe.
Now THAT’S a gift! And that’s a friend! A creative, generous, wonderful friend.
If Liz is anything like me, you have already reciprocated in the best possible way. She sent her love out to the world in handmade form – a scary thing to do – and it was loved back.
Indeed. Nothing like having your work praised and photographed on a big-time blog for all the world to see! And boy, does that gift deserve the praise. Beautiful indeed.
Happy belated birthday!!!! What an amazing gift from your friend!!!
Happy belated Birthday , you are very rich to have a such wonderful friend !
To see more extraordinary “plaids” and get all inspired to become a master crocheter RIGHT NOW, go look at the archives of a blog called clothogancho2. It’s in French, reminding me of how much I’ve forgotten, but all so beautiful.
This has become one of my favorite Pinterest obsessions: I look at the clothogancho2’s pictures all the time, and have been trying to figure out how I make at least a pillow in that style. French crochet i has been a revelation to me.
oh OH Oh oH – I just took a peek. The first thing I saw were hand stitched squares of muslin with hand prints. I LOVE hand stitching. Too. Thanks for the link.
I’m going to check this out!
This callsfor cake.
That is spectacular and I could look at it forever. I’m grateful for it too! How many color-combo ideas will I crib from this beauty?!
yes, you are a fortunate woman.
That’s amazing…and perfect! You reciprocate by…giving her a kidney if she ever needs one??!!!
Happy Birthday Kay 🙂 Wow, that is one awesome divine wonderful blanket. I can just imagine one cold winter’s night, you sitting knitting on your latest wip, tea/coffee/wine and snuggled under it. Jealous much??? Love you and Ann. I just started a new shawl called All the Shades of Truth with the Wyndham mini skein. I’ll post pictures shortly.
This is too beautiful for words. The force is with you.
I love it!!!
I think you just flat out deserve it. Liz has you sussed, what a great friend to have. Gratitude (like revenge) is a dish best served cold. Your chance to reciprocate will come.
It’s beautiful. And very, vury, vary, impressive.
I have disliked every granny square object I’ve ever seen, until now. THAT is beautiful.
There is special magic in knitting a gift and knowing to whom it is going all the while. Each stitch on the journey has a thought of that love and friendship in it.
Belated Happy Birthday! You are blessed with wonderful friends, indeed. The throw is stellar and beautiful. Lucky you!
Wow … what a lovely birthday (or any day) surprise … Happy Belated Birthday!
I already have 10 pounds of matzoh.
Well, that’s just perfect. Those background greys just speak to me: the most beautiful setting for those beautiful brights.
Wow! That is incredible. Happy Birthday Kay!!
So beautiful…real artistry there. Kudos to the talented maker and to the lucky, blessed recipient. A gift you will undoubtedly use and remember for the rest of your days. Those are rare. XOXOClare
That is crazy beautiful. For the first time ever, I now desperately want to learn to crochet.
That is a work of art. It’s going to have to be a really, really beautiful sweater in return. Happy Birthday!
Wholly guacamole. This is mind-blowing, from original chitchat to dazzling finale. Well, the finale of Chapter One. Best of luck with Chapter Two, Kay. Whew! The only adequate reciprocation I can think of is a couple of socially-bonded cashmere goats. But you are a much better knitter than I am and will probably not have to resort to gifting livestock!
Oh my gosh, I just read the comments and saw the suggestion of reciprocating with a donated kidney – this makes the cashmere goat idea sound TOTALLY SENSIBLE.
#callme
You know next year is a pretty big birthday for me. Kind of a goat birthday.
Happy birthday, a little late.
What a beautiful blanket, throw, whatever you’d like to call it. Gorgeous colors.
Lucky you. A wonderful gift.
Just found my granny square not yet finished blanket in my new workroom. Started it in 1970. ( any of you living then?). I just might finish it, after seeing your lovely gift.
! was 20 in 1970! a few years ago I finished the baby quilt I started for my 2nd daughter–who was born in 1981—I finished it for her first baby-a boy! by then the fabric was “vintage”–the quilt had appliqued bears on it –so it was fine for a boy or girl. I had packed it around with me for years—the squares were mostly done, just needed to complete 2 and sew it together. She was so surprised when I gave it to her at her baby shower! She already had a quilt her sister and I had made for her as an adult —but the “baby quilt” had been languishing for years…you might be surprised how much satisfaction you will get from finishing your granny square project. ps. I’m not really a quilter–just dabble at it.
I love your baby quilt story. That is such a happy ending for a UFO. And Jane, you should definitely finish that granny square blanket!
What a great surprise to wake up to! It was my great pleasure to create and give away. Thank you Kay for the letter and thank you all for the appreciation of my work. xxoo
P.S. you can see more of Laura’s beautiful work @lauracarraro.com.
“Let go and let Liz”! She needs a mug or tee shirt with that printed on it. And one way or another, you never fail to make me smile with your clever thoughts and clever words!
that is soooo gorgeous!! Happy belated birthday! what a wonder gift! I find crochet much faster than knitting–but even so completing a crocheted afghan or blanket (or plaid) seems to take me forever. Maybe because I am a sporadic knitter and crocheter? —I take my current project with me (if it is not too big) or at a meeting or event,knit early in the morning with my tea, but rarely devote a whole afternoon (let alone a day) to knitting (or crocheting). Lately daytime is bead embroidery time –if I’m not doing graphic design or event organizing for my part time job.(I am blessed to work from home). I am always so impressed with folks here who “bang out a sweater” —I don’t thing I have ever done that, but I sure would like to. Anyway, this plaid is a real treasure, lucky you!
Gasp….gorgeous and a true statement of friendship. What joy. I’m pretty confident it was made for you because you are also that kind of friend.
Now, I’m off to Ravelry…I do crochet too and i want that Plaid.
Gorgeous. Happy birthday!
Thank you for the beautiful, colorful tale of friendship. And a belated Happy Birthday!
That’s so gorgeous. And now, even though I’m in total and utter denial that Passover is approaching, I’m off to check out her book.
What a beautiful blanket, and what a great gift! You say that this was ” an ordinary, run-of-the-mill, nothing-to-see-here birthday,” but I think you must not be correct. Whatever the number is, I believe that it should now have a designation, like anniversaries do. Henceforth, whatever-number-birthday-this-is shall be known as the Blanket Birthday. Happy Belated!
For Passover it is either a giant matzoh cover or a great place to hide the afikoman I think!!!!
I’ve never been overly wowed by granny squares. This has changed my mine!! It’s absolutely to die for.:)
What a beautiful blanket! Happy belated birthday, Kay!
Absolutely beautiful! Happy Birthday!!!!
An amazing gift – I imagine I would feel the same to receive such a gift (undeserving of such beauty), but I have no doubt you were deserving. What love!
I think this is one of those amazing handcrafted items that slides into my “rarest of rare” categories. I feel this way about Vicki’s (Knitorious) Parcheesi Blanket. About Cauchy’s Syncopation Blanket. They are works of art. There are no words for this gorgeous blanket!
It is too undeniably circular to be labeled granny ‘squares’! Bravo!
OMG! That’s gorgeous! It actually makes me want to dig out my crochet hooks! (Also – happy birthday! I had 8 Facebook friends with birthdays on the 24th. One was a very good friend, and most were library people, so you are in very good company!)
happy belated birthday!
I’m wondering if you ever knit up that sock kit in the post about the Brooklyn Tweed sweater! That pair of socks would be a fitting return gift, I’m thinking!
But maybe you have already knitted them up and worn them out…
Happy birthday! Also, grateful and lucky is the right response. That’s the kind of gift that’s only done for love (both of the recipient and the work) and the only graceful response is to enjoy!
I believe first born puppy or a lifetime of chocolate are appropriate for this delightful heirloom. you are one lucky duck!
I’m going to go with the chocolate, in one form or another.
Cup of tea. Ravelry. Designer search on Eclectic Gypsy. What do you see? ……wonderful things. Down the Rabbit Hole I go!
forgot a step. this only brings up one design. open that one. Now show everything from this designer. Experience the awesomeness!
She’s incredible!
That’s a great blanket….I actually got a surprise granny square blanket for my birthday a few years ago! I once said to my best friend, I like the blanket on the couch on The Big Bang show….and she remembered!
Happy birthday! And now you have a tangible memory!
I’d say this kind of swap merits a First Born Child of some sort.
This is just the best thing ever!
Gorgeous. Happy belated!
This is such a stunningly gorgeous blanket! As evidenced by your post, you are so very touched and grateful, I can only imagine. In my lifetime I have only ever received two blankets, crocheted by my Grandmother’s hands and heart using Red Heart yarns and although they are (30 and 40 years later) still so very scratchy, they remain cherished and special. They will be the only precious handmade gifts I will ever receive in my lifetime. We are so very blessed to have (had) such lovely people in our lives!
This is truly, utterly amazing. I’m so happy for you. It’s a work of art, a thing of beauty… and full of love!! And happy belated birthday, too. 🙂
Whoa. That is one nice blanket. Happy birthday to you indeed!
This is the best!