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Bobble-icious

It seems to me that I have been trying to write a blog post for weeks. I wake up with really good intentions. I make my coffee, grab my laptop and curl up on the couch for a think and what I consider a chat with everyone. Then, before I realized it’s happened, I’ve been interrupted in one of the many ways that happens here, sometimes it’s the phone,sometimes a cat, but most often it’s someone comes in from the barn with a yarn emergency or a dye dilemma.

Although lately, most of the interruptions are related to Sock Summit, which is reasonable to expect since we’re mere weeks away. Shhh…. don’t say that too loud. Yesterday, I went to put an appointment on the calender and almost passed out. I know how many days away we are, but seeing it…well, that is a whole other kettle of yarn.

I’ve been wanting to tell you about. This design and it’s designer are very close to my heart. Working on the publication of this pattern has made me think about our first Sock Summit and how cool it is that we are here again. That full circle of life thing that I find such joy in.

My friend Anna (Zilboorg) designed this sweater just for me,hence the title,Tina’s Sweater. She called me one day the spring before last and said that she needed a project to focus her attention through a challenging time. She want to make me a sweater because I had put some colour back in her life. ( That sentence still sends me reeling.)

What do you say when your colour and knit heroine makes such a statement?  With tears streaming down, your face you say, “Yes ma’am. I’ll put yarn in the mail. What colour do you want? “

Anna wanted me to pick the colour since it was for me. I chose Tumbleweed because I have a thing for anything green and it looks good on me, or at least I think it does. So I shipped off some of our BFL Sport yarn in Tumbleweed to her. Over the span of about 6 months, I was regaled with its progress or what I think of as its knitting into being.

I was very excited and, to be honest, a little afraid. Anna and I met because of Sock Summit. We met when I rustled up the courage to call and ask her if she’d like to be a part of Sock Summit. She said yes, she’d love to which made me cry. (Ask Debbi. I scared the daylight out her with that hysterical phone call and dance and song and squeal.) Hell, I was thrilled that she answered the phone, much less talked to me. So a “yes” was beyond thrilling.

We formed a fast friendship after that first phone call. I like to think that she and I are chromatically connected in some way. Maybe our souls have the same hue; I don’t know.  What I do know is that my friendship with Anna is one of the best gifts I got from Sock Summit.

Anyway, why was I excited and afraid about the sweater? Well, it’s like this. Anna designed a pair of socks we were maybe going to use for the Rockin’ Sock Club.  This was right at the beginning of our budding friendship. I still was rockin’ the fan girl thing pretty hard. Anna called it my tendency to gush and thought I should just get over it. So here come these socks in the mail from my knit heroine, no less, and for my club…—you can feel the excited crackling in the air right? I rip open the package and there I have in my hands a pair of socks covered in bobbles. You could have knocked me over with a wisp of cashmere. Bobbles? Really bobbles? Big bobbles. Lots of bobbles.

I was stunned for a brief moment until I realized that I was going to have to call Anna Zilboorg and tell her I was not a fan of her bobbled-covered socks. When that thought hit me, I lost it. Just lost it. Called Steph, had a good cry and then when I’d composed myself (this took hours), picked the phone up and called Anna. Of course, Anna was awesome. She told me to get over my bad self that we all had our own opinions and tastes and it was not a big deal. She then wanted to know what the hell was my problem with bobbles? She regaled me with the wonder of bobbles and we had a spirited debate over the bobble.

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As you cans see, our friendship survived the bobble fiasco. I cut through the tape on the box containing the sweater, open the lid and pull back the tissue and there was just the loveliest cloud of green sitting there. I move over by the window so I can see better and pull this wonderful gift out and hold it up to the light and… what do I see?

Yes, of course, it’s bobbles. Tiny, elegant, perfectly placed little bobbles. It’s covered with them and… STUNNING!

I laughed and laughed. I laughed until I had tears running down my face. I so appreciate the wickedly impish side of life and certainly love seeing it so creatively represented in my friend. It’s one of my favourite things about her. Needless to say, I could barely contain myself.

I can’t imagine there is a way to love a sweater more than I love this one.

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It wasn’t really part of the plan to put this out as a pattern; it’s more of a shared knit moment between two friends. However, every time I wore it or a knitter saw it lying around my house, they wanted to knit it. There might have even been a little begging. I was pleased to see I wasn’t the only one who loved it. So… Anna and I thought, well, why not share this sweater story? Knitters share, build friendships and community with stitches, which is the other priceless gift I received from Sock Summit.  Another circle is joined with the sharing of this this sweater and it’s story.

I am so looking forward to being in the Sock Summit knit community again.

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I want one in every colour!

31 Comments
  1. Steve #

    One of the things I like best about the sock club is getting color and/or pattern that I would never ever consider knitting and having my mind changed (or rarely sometimes not) after I give them a try.

    I doubt I would ever consider a pair of bobble socks, but for some reason I now want to knit a pair. A future club pattern by any chance now???

    Also, I would have loved to be a fly on the wall while you and Anna discussed the merits (or not) of bobbles.

    November 30, -0001
  2. Donna #

    Thanks for sharing the pattern, but mostly for sharing the story.  I love the sweater and there will definitely be one in my future!

    November 30, -0001
  3. Hazel Smith #

    Well, I went all fan girl and ordered the pattern the moment I saw it on the web site. I am NOT a bobble fan-I just went completely insane. I am hoping these are SMALL bobbles. Certainly, diagonal bobbles have a lot more cachet than horizontal bobbles. You and Anna look lovely wearing your bobbles. Come to think of it, I actually loved the bobbles on my Flabella socks in 2010. So now, I’m on the hunt at Sock Summit for yarn for the sweater-something coral/peach/. You may remember, I sent you a sample of the colourway to which I am sweater dedicated. It’s coming, it’s coming, it’s coming, with oh so airy a tread! Enjoy(and love) your sweater. It’s a wonderful gift knit with love. Cheers and red wine, Hazel.

    P.S. The tribute was in your own inimitable style-poetic, emotive, and sincere.

    November 30, -0001
  4. Josie McGill #

    I know you know this Tina but you are truly blessed!  I laughed and cryed, beautiful sweater and friends!  Love, Josie

    November 30, -0001
  5. I know you. I know Anna. Bobbles. It makes perfect sense.

    grin

    November 30, -0001
  6. I love it!!  And I hate bobbles.  But I love it! 

    And I just want to say here how much I enjoyed taking the class that you and Anna taught together (I was in the section of the class with the knitting needle incident) – the two of you were absolutely wonderful together, and I have been so much freer and happier in my color play because of that class.  Thanks.

    November 30, -0001
  7. Best. Picture.  Ever.

    The sweater(s) are lovely. So are you. And Anna.

    November 30, -0001
  8. I too am not particularly fond of bobbles. But the sweater is truly lovely and I thank you for sharing the joy that you felt through this charming series of events. Blessings be.

    November 30, -0001
  9. sj #

    I am not particularly fond of bobbles, either, but I identify with the wicked sense of humor. 

    VERY much looking forward to Sock Summit, because I was wait-listed for one of Anna’s classes and just found out I can go.  Happy dance!

    November 30, -0001
  10. Lovely story, Tina.

    November 30, -0001
  11. Susan #

    I too am a disliker of bobbles and am a founding member of a Ravelry group called ‘Knitters against Nupps and Bobbles’, but that cardigan is truly lovely.  I may have to reconsider my bobble aversion.

    November 30, -0001
  12. I love the sweater and I love the story. The diagonal lines are so flattering. Add it to the list of things that get knit in my head, if not by my hands. (I have the most ridiculously long queue!)

    November 30, -0001
  13. Tina:  Once again your story-telling magic has filled my heart.  So this is a gush… yoi are a natural born poet and I love to read whatever you write.  Thank you for the share and the pattern!  M.E.

    November 30, -0001
  14. linda #

    Two absolutely wonderful women and a beautiful friendship and sweater to boot. Wow! I can just hear Anna saying in her magical voice,” Well you should just get over this bobble dislike.” I am grateful for both of you as you are truly color magicians and totally dynamic women. Hugs and happy sweater wearing to you both.

    November 30, -0001
  15. Betsy #

    What a beautiful story.  It makes me think of the story that the Yarn Harlot shared on her blog shortly after the first Sock Summit:  the one about the beautiful pair of socks that were made with so many creative hands.  Loved it.

    November 30, -0001
  16. Lia #

    I have to admit that I share your bobble prejudice.  That said, they really work on the sweater and it’s lovely – I may have to make one now. Love to hear stories of friendship like this one.

    November 30, -0001
  17. it touched me so much, good thing last!!! welcome to my online at pandora charms store ,thanks !

    November 30, -0001
  18. This sweater is totally making me rethink bobbles.  I think it is the first time I’ve seen them used in a way that made me think they’re whimsical and charming. 

    And such a great story, too!

    November 30, -0001
  19. Lindy #

    Thanks for sharing your story and your pattern with us.  The sweater suits you both.

    Looking forward to another awesome time at sock summit!

    November 30, -0001
  20. Follow-up:  the pattern arrived yesterday at 11:30 and I LOVE IT!!! Thank you both, Tina and Anna, for sharing this part of your friendship…GUSH…I finished the bottom of the Left Back last night and am into those lovely little bobbles…I can hardly wait to wear this!  You are all THE BOMB!

    loads of love and light,

    Mary Ellen

    November 30, -0001
  21. my god! it’s so lovely on you!

    November 30, -0001
  22. Lori #

    You lucky girl. I can’t believe how starting this yarn business has enabled you to rub elbows with all of knitting glitteratti! And thank you for sock summit so the rest of us can too!

    November 30, -0001
  23. Alice in the Heartland #

    This story is so Anna and so Tina. Love it and love you both. Not ready to commit to another sweater at this time however. See you soon.

    November 30, -0001
  24. The love is so thick it’s like being knee deep in bobbles! Celebrating your liberation from bobble hating, and congratulations to Anna!

    November 30, -0001
  25. I never knew bobbles could look so elegant!  Thank you for sharing this story.

    November 30, -0001
  26. Love it love it love it. Love the impishness in the sweatering and how pretty it all came out, but most especially the joy.

    November 30, -0001
  27. I need it. And I miss you.

    November 30, -0001
  28. Brenda #

    I really don’t know Anna, but I was fortunate enough to take a class from her at Stitches Midwest years ago, and she kind of changed my life.  She was talking about her ex-husband, and she said, “I realized I could not love that which was unloveable.” Wow.  I thought about that for several weeks after, and all the guilt, shame, and feelings of failure I had over my own divorce eased up allot.  Not only is she a fabulous knitter, she is such a good soul.

    November 30, -0001
  29. Although ALL of SS09 was fantastic, my very favorite part was getting into one of Anna’s 1 hour talks. Her classes were sold out but I was so grateful just to listen to her – she inspires me tremendously. That hour was worth the whole trip and was the highlight of a week in Portland with knitting folks. Wow!

    Thanks for sharing your story, it warms my heart. The sweater is beautiful!!

    November 30, -0001
  30. Merike Saarniit #

    Thank you Tina – Reading this reminds me how incredibly blessed I am to have Anna as a friend and neighbor. Really. I know how much she cares about you. Really. See you soon!

    November 30, -0001
  31. You said it right great and support you,As good as tori burch.

    November 30, -0001

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