Sunday 27 January 2008

The Long Slog Along the Forest Path

After the pure pleasure of the Swallowtail I got back to the Forest Path Stole. As I worked on the project it reminded me more and more of the stages I'd go through back in the day when I was training to run my first marathon. (I have since sadly stopped running and would probably keel over at an attempt to run for a bus -- but that's a whole other topic)....

Anyway - when you are training for a marathon the cornerstone of your weekly schedule is the long slow run, which is designed to get your mind and body ready to for the long hours on your feet a marathon will require. (And as I was never a particularly speedy runner -- I was going to be on my feet for a while.)


You start the long slow run feeling pretty motivated and the running feels easy (well, as easy as running feels) as you are starting at at your slowest running pace. And that's how I started on the FPS. Keen ready to tackle the entrelac lace. Confidently working my way through the 3 lace panels.

You plod along, tunes in the iPod making steady progress - and then you start to think, "I've been doing this a while - I must be over halfway now." And you check your crazily complicated running watch/distance monitor which tells you you've almost reached the 1/4 way point. Hmmmm.

This is when you start negotiating with yourself. "Go on, make it to the end and you can join the others in the pub for lunch." Unfortunately as you are on both sides of the negotiating table you reply, "of course you could just head straight to the pub now."

But you plod on. Or, in this case, I knit on. Because this is where I know that if I cast on another project I'll never ever ever come back to the Forest Path Stole.

The Forest Path Stole becomes a bit repetitious. And because of its size it seems to go on an on. And I have found myself once or twice pondering making a shorter version. But I know that I won't do that because I think the 'wow' of the stole comes not from the lace (which is pretty basic) but from the entrelac pattern and its scale of the thing. Completed as written it is a whopping 30 inches by 80 inches.


And on I knit. And, as with running, the closer I get to the end the more my enthusiasm returns. My pleasure at reaching the end keeps me going making the last few miles as fresh (almost) as the first.


It was with great joy this morning that I realised I'm about to begin the final of the 23 Forest Path tiers of lace panels. WooHoo! The finish line.




.....or almost.....


And like one of those cruel cruel runs where you think you are almost at the finish line only to discover that you calculated wrong.....I soon realised I've got a squillion miles of seed stitch edging to follow.


Sigh.

17 comments:

lv2knit said...

When did you start this marathon? I have this in queue and of course must follow in your footsteps!

Knitelly said...

Goodness, that was quick! Most people take months to finish the FPS.

The Caked Crusader said...

Keep going - it's already looking marvellous. I will provide sustenance in the form of cake - apparently it's what all marathon runners eat! OK, maybe I made that up...

Linda said...

Well you know that when you reach the end of the marathon it will be worth the pain!!! It does look great so keep going!

ArsUna - Elena said...

Wow! I await ends of this beautiful work!

Batty said...

Oh, come on! If you can run a marathon, you can knit this stole. The seed stitch edging is going to be so fast after all the complicated lacework. It's not like part of a run, it's more like the cooldown - you can listen to music or watch TV while you do it.

florencemary said...

Wow, can't wait to see it when it's been blocked! That colour is amazing...

fleegle said...

You are in the final lap, so just grit your teeth and get the seed stitch done. The color is lovely and I am sure the final product will be exquisite!

LittleBerry said...

Home staight Soo... you can do it... just the mindless seed stitch then you're there... just think abut the next project you can cast on as soon as this is finished

Opal said...

I started this stole back in March 2007 and I'm still not finished. I really admire how you're sticking to it. I just can't seem to concentrate on it for long periods of time. I think the blocks of lace prevent me from gathering any momentum or rhythm or whatever you'd like to call it.

Anyway, your stole looks fabulous and I hope you keep it up!

cinnamongirl93 said...

Seed stich.....No problem. You will finish in no time.

Lacefreak said...

I love stoles and hate edging so I feel your pain. It looks wonderful though so I know it will be worth it in the end! I have to go now and do a few repeats of the edging on my Samler Stole Sigh indeed.

Kristina B said...

excellent! Looking forward to seeing the end result.

And - don't move back to Canada. Unless of course you want to move to TO and start up a SnB group with moi...

Nevisknitter said...

The stole looks stunning,hope the seed stitch isnt too tedious after all that lace. Getting very tempted to buy this pattern

Kathy said...

One day, one day, I will pull out the FPS again, and try to get motivated on it, I am afraid I fell into a huge pile of other lace.
Good for you for getting it done, that seed stitch sucks, but will be well worth it!

K

Viknits said...

Thanks Soo :)
I think a lot of projects start and end enthusiastically, and kind of wane during the middle. Particularly if you're repeating the same few rows ove rand over *cough*shoalwater*cough*

Fiona Reynolds said...

I've tagged you!

Write 5 facts about yourself, tag 5 people, and link back to the person who tagged you.