Dragonfly

"Deep in the sun-searched growths the dragonfly
Hangs like a blue thread loosened from the sky."

~Dante Gabriel Rossetti - Silent Noon

Dragonflies have an interesting history in our culture. Listen to what Wikipedia has to say on the topic:

For some Native American tribes they represent swiftness and activity, and for the Navajo they symbolize pure water. Dragonflies are a common motif in Zuni pottery; stylized as a double-barred cross, they appear in Hopi rock art and on Pueblo necklaces.^[6] It is said in some Native American beliefs that dragonflies are a symbol of renewal after a time of great hardship.

They also have traditional uses as medicine in Japan and China. In some parts of the world they are a food source, eaten either as adults or larvae; in Indonesia, for example, they are caught on poles made sticky with birdlime, then fried in oil as a delicacy.^[3]

Vietnamese people have a traditional way to forecast rain by seeing dragonflies: "Chuồn chuồn bay thấp thì mưa, bay cao thì nắng, bay vừa thì râm" (Dragonflies fly at low level, it is rainy; dragonflies fly at high level, it is sunny; dragonflies fly at medium level, it is shadowy).

In some parts of the world it is considered lucky to have a dragonfly land on you, even to the point of yielding seven years of good luck.

In the United States dragonflies and damselflies are sought out as a hobby similar to birding and butterflying, known as oding, from the dragonfly's Latin species name, odonata. Oding is especially popular in Texas, where 225 out of a total of 457 known species of odonates in the world have been observed. With care, dragonflies can be handled and released by Oders, like butterflies.^[7] The band, Coheed & Cambria, uses a dragonfly as one of their symbols.

Images of dragonflies were common in Art Nouveau, especially in jewelry designs.^[8] They have also been used as a decorative motif on fabrics and home furnishings.^[9]

It is always a good day, if you have learned something in the process. Today, we learned something together...

Yesterday I put the finishing touches on Dragonfly, the pattern I have developed especially for EarthFaire. Ellen is one of my best vendors and she has long lamented the fact that so many of my beaded patterns are exclusive to Knitty Noddy. So I promised her an exclusive of her own.

Ellen has ordered lots of Schaefer's Anne yarn in this glorious seafoam green color, and (I believe - could be wrong - it has happened before- undoubtedly will again) she will be offering kits for the project in her store. Including the beads, which came out a little more than I intended.

Sorry, but the dragonfly's wings just HAVE to sparkle in the sun!


See what I mean?

DRAGONFLY SCARF/STOLE
$6
pattern available at Earthfaire, on the sidebar (over there>>>>>) and on Ravelry

SIZE:
15 inches wide by 60 inches long

MATERIALS:
1 skein (560 yds.) Schaefer Anne
6300 size 8 seed beads
Size 3 (US) needles
size 12 crochet hook (for beading)

GAUGE:
Each pattern repeat = 3 inches (blocked)

SKILLS NEEDED: crochet hook beading, beginning lace knitter
WRITTEN AND CHARTED DIRECTIONS

This one is knit all in one stretch - no grafting (YEAH!!) And the pattern is very repetitive: five repeats across, 30 repeats long.

The beading on the Anne is much easier than with the seasilk. Anne is a very fine weight fingering, thinner than most. Almost a lace weight.

In my humble opinion...for what it's worth...which isn't much...my opinion and a quarter will buy you a coke...in 1965...

Lots of impact for a little extra effort.

Hey! What's 6000 beads between friends?

**********

HEADING UP TO THE LAKE TOMORROW FOR A WEEK'S VACATION WITH DH, BABY BOY/FAMILY MAN, HIS OLD LADY, AND THE ALWAYS ADORABLE GRANDSON.

WILL CHECK MESSAGES AND FILL ORDERS DAILY. IF YOU NEED IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION, YOU CAN ALWAYS ORDER ON RAVELRY.

NO SATURDAY STASH SALES UNTIL AUGUST 8TH

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND PERMISSION TO HAVE A PERSONAL LIFE!!