Okay, what was I thinking? I had just finished knitting sweaters for each of my girls and I was full of confidence in my knitting. Before I had come down from my high of the success of my sweaters, I found this: http://millepassuum.co.uk/lizveil.htm, an absolutely gorgeous First Holy Communion veil that I just had to knit. And I could do it too! I had knit 2 sweaters, I could do anything! My own daughter's First Communion is coming up in May. That gave me a few months, no biggie. I read through the instructions, ordered the books for the patterns, went so far as to track down the woman who knit these veils on Ravelry (she turned out to be quite a nice woman, advising me on the lace yarn - all the while probably laughing her head off at me) and eventually ordered my yarn from England (http://www.heirloom-knitting.co.uk/cart/ordermerino_lace.php - a very pleasant company to do business with I might add). I was so excited waiting for it to come! I bought some Addi Lace needles and finally the yarn arrived and I cast on! And cast on again. And yet again. I think I could have knit about 10 of these things by the time I finally got it going. Slowly, slowly I've been working on it. It's been about a month and I'm on row 71 now. Only about 100 rows to go! Not including the crochet edging I will want to put on it. Today is March 10. First Communion is May 3. I don't feel so confident any longer. I've had days where I have had to do one stinking row over and over and over again. Twenty four hours it took me to get one row right. But I persist. I sit at my kitchen table until my back aches and my right thumb has pains shooting in it. Yesterday I went shopping for the dress and found the perfect one for my daughter. And it's a perfect match for the veil, even in it's half (maybe 1/3) finished state. Lace is scary. But it's beautiful. And it's difficulty is matched by my desire to complete the project. It reminds me of childbirth, the long and agonizing hours spent to bring forth a child which when put in your arms, erases all that it took to get to that moment. I know when I see my daughter in church wearing this veil that I am hoping to create to give glory and honor to God, all the hours and pain invested will be gone. And I'll pick up my size 3 Addi Lace needles and another ball of Heirloom Knitting's merino lace and I'll knit another one for my next daughter. Only I'll start much sooner! (hey, I've got 2 years!)
