I'd like to introduce you to Evie Elliott my oldest friend. By oldest I don't mean in age, I mean in years of friendship. We've been friends since Wonders Hall at Michigan State University. We have been through the excitement of graduating and getting our first jobs and apartments, dating and marrying, raising children, surgeries, taking care of elderly parents and pretty much anything else you can think of. Through it all I think we have laughed more than any other two people on earth. When we first started teaching, Ann Arbor was half way between us. We would meet for lunch at Weber's and spend hours laughing. One time we each had a salad and our bill approached $100. I guess we had a few drinks. One time we were sitting near a pantyhose salesmen and got free pantyhose. (Oh, by the way I was shocked when I learned that young women don't wear them any more. I learned that when such a big deal was made about Kate Middleton wearing stockings and maybe she would bring them back.) When we got married, our husbands wanted to be included in our Weber's adventures and we began spending the night and playing cards by the pool.
I made this shawl for Evie out of my favorite Noro Kureyon. It was so much fun to make because it was my first attempt at knitting in different directions. I love patterns like that. It started with a little square then picked up stitches to make it bigger then picked up stitches along an edge to make it bigger then picked up stitches, well you get the idea. It was so much fun and I was working with the beautiful colors of Noro.
Evie are her husband Butch are the most generous people I know. They open their home to friends and family, give willingly when others are in need and are always there to provide emotional support. They are givers of their time, talent and treasure. When I need an emotional boost, Evie is the person I call. If there is a Hall of Fame for givers who go above and beyond, they are the first residents. If it wasn't 9:30 in the morning I would raise a glass of wine to toast their generosity.
Evie was also the recipient of a Jan Bag. It is her go to carry on for trips. I asked my friends to send me pictures of things I have knit for them. It has been fun to see all of the different colors of Jan Bags. I remember the first felted bag I saw at Crafty Lady one of my favorite LYS. I immediately loved it. Crafty Lady is only a few miles from Evie's so I have combined a trip to Crafty Lady with a visit with Evie. I have spent the night with Evie to attend a morning class at Crafty Lady. Isn't it amazing how things just fit together.
Last but not least, I just gave Evie a Lucy Neatby Bubble Scarf for her birthday. I think I've knit 5 of these. I just love it.
What is better than having a group of dear friends to knit for? I can't think of much. I have several more to introduce you to in future posts. Friends and knitting! Throw in a glass of wine and that's what life is all about. By the way, have you seen the knitter's wine glass? I will dig mine out for a future post as I continue to knit a love story.