It hit me after the following conversation on Messenger with my friend Jacqui a few weeks ago:
Amelia: Hey, how are you?
Jacqui: Fine, you?
Amelia: OK. Should be doing a bit more knitting on your shawl but I keep getting distracted by my Rowanette Exchange gift that I am working on.
Jacqui: Not to worry. I can't believe that it's only 5 weeks and 3 days until my wedding.
Cue: Amelia has a complete meltdown. At this point I had only done 18 repeats of the 40 needed on the shawl.
We are now 3 weeks and 4 days from the wedding and I am pleased to say that I have finished the body and am now working away on the border. Which sounds great but I must point out that I have not been working for the last few weeks as I am between jobs, hence the good progress. All of which would mean that I am getting there except that I am off to Budapest for the weekend, start my new job on Monday and will be at lots of meetings and travelling solidly for the next week and a half. But. I. HAVE. to. Get. The. Shawl. Finished.
So, to encourage myself and give me a proverbial kick you-know-where, I decided, with a bit of a shove from Jacqueline, to join the Tour de France knitalong. I am obviously in the 'Maillot vert' category which is the Sprinter category (ironic considering how unfit I actually am) - the aim is to finish by the end of the Tour which is on the 29th of July. Seeing as the wedding is on the 3rd of August, I think that's just perfect.
So I am officially renaming this shawl the 'Myrtille Leaf Shawl', myrtille being the French name for myrtle (Tarte aux Myrtilles was a favourite when I grew up in Switzerland). Which me luck and please remind me that I am sprinter if you think that I am slowing down!
Posted by Amelia at July 6, 2007 07:30 AMIt looks so beautiful. More power to your elbow, and bon courage!
Posted by: Kathleen at July 18, 2007 08:43 AMAmelia I am always visiting and appreciating its parts to it that are pretty. Congratulations
Posted by: Sandra at July 13, 2007 06:57 PMAmelia I am always visiting and appreciating its parts to it that are pretty. Congratulations
Posted by: Sandra at July 13, 2007 06:50 PMFantastique!!! Good luck, the shawl is so beautiful!!!!
Posted by: 2paw at July 12, 2007 07:07 AMWoo-hoo! My shawl is totally languishing, but yours looks *great*. I'll have to play catchup!
Posted by: Amy at July 11, 2007 02:09 AMHey - fellow green jersey knitter here! Good luck on your shawl - go! go! go!
Posted by: Zarah at July 10, 2007 08:46 PMThe shawl is looking great & I am sure you will be able to finish the race - Good Luck!
Posted by: Ann at July 10, 2007 11:28 AMI LOVE that! You go Amelia =) What kind of yarn are you using??
Posted by: Maddie at July 9, 2007 10:13 PMI have every confidence in you Amelia. The shawl is looking smashing!
Posted by: Maggie at July 9, 2007 12:02 PMHow beautiful it looks so far! Good luck finishing it up, as well as with the new job.
Posted by: sprite at July 9, 2007 06:08 AMDelurking to say "go, go, go!" You can do it! The shawl is looking gorgeous!
Posted by: Marie at July 8, 2007 09:06 AMI know you can do it! It is looking beautiful!
Posted by: hege at July 8, 2007 02:14 AMI am sure you'll finish it on time! Have faith...
Posted by: francoise at July 7, 2007 10:59 PMThis shawl looks great so far, love the colour and the pattern, and I am absolutely sure you will finish it in time. Maybe you can take it with you on the train or plane and knit some rows here and there. In any case I will keep my fingers crossed for you and you will have finally even 2 long weekends to knit and knit and knit.
Good luck with your new job and have a good start, best wishes, Suzi
Ok, so I've knit some hats but where are they to be sent to? I note that Innocent don't want them until later in the year. Love the colour of the shawl you are knitting.
Posted by: Anne. at July 7, 2007 12:28 PMGo Amelia, Go!! Before you know it you'll be wearing the winner's yellow jersey. The stole is looking gorgeous. And good luck with the new job.
Posted by: Helen at July 7, 2007 08:33 AMIt's almost like the tour organisers scheduled the tour for the express purpose of getting Myrtille finished in time!
Posted by: Meg at July 7, 2007 06:56 AMbonne chance pour votre nouveau job - j'espère qu'il vous laissera du temps pour tricoter de jolies choses comme ce châle
Posted by: vivi's mum (Brussels) at July 6, 2007 02:55 PMIt looks lovely so far.... I will be standing on the side lines routing you on - you can do it! Run, run run... I mean knit, knit, knit!!!
Posted by: willowcaroline at July 6, 2007 01:49 PMGo, go, go! You can do it! It is going to be beautiful.
Have you entered the draw on my blog as you are a lace knitter?
Deadlines always send me into complete panic The Shawl is looking fabulous, lovely stitches and colour; Make sure you stay focused and don't loose concentration in the rush; I spurring you on.... Go, Go, Go Amelia ;-) Good luck!
Posted by: Tracy at July 6, 2007 10:41 AMIt's looking lovely :-) Is that zephyr you're using?
Posted by: Diane at July 6, 2007 09:09 AMgo amelia, go! That shawl is looking lovely and I'm sure that you'll finish it in time for the wedding.
btw. I always thought that 'myrtilles' is french for blueberries and myrtle, used in the American-English sense is an evergreen plant where one of the species produces myhrr. (I'm not a botanist but I don't think blueberries are in the same family as myhrr)..anyway it doesn't really matter but myrtilles sound much better than myrtle.
Posted by: polly at July 6, 2007 08:45 AM