Friday, May 25, 2007

Glencora Goes to Work

On May 8, 2006 I wrote the following in my entry about the finished Glencora Baby Shawl:
Now that the shawl's finished, it'll be wrapped up and laid away to await a baby, as yet unborn, who might need it.
I had no idea that a little more than a year later, the hypothetical "baby born in spring" for whom I knitted the tulips and rosebuds would be not only a reality, but an addition to la famiglia. And with infinite thoughtfulness, her parents chose Glencora to wrap her up for the trip home.

Going Home
Mommy made the hat.

And it has become her naptime companion, too.

Nap

Could I be prouder? Indeed I could not.

1,000 Update

I am thrilled with the response to this. If you've written to me, you will hear back. If you don't live near Chicago and can't get here, don't fret. I will find a way to get out there and cast the net far and wide.

There have been a few responses in which folks have felt the need to qualify themselves, i.e., "I'm fat, but if that's not a problem...".

No, that is not a problem. When I said you need only be a knitter, I meant you need be only a knitter. I am beyond sick and tired of everybody who is not a supermodel feeling the s/he needs to hide from the camera lens. That, my dears, is a poisonous notion fed to us by marketers who know that anxiety sells products. If you were already happy with your skin, you wouldn't buy their cosmetics, would you?

Just as many of us who knit and spin are in rebellion against mass production, I am in rebellion against mass self-hatred. I'm coming to realize that this will definitely be a theme running through the portrait project.

You are the only you out there, and you are the one I am looking for, because this project is about celebrating you. Don't apologize for being yourself.

(There will now be a pause while I try to practice what I preach.)

93 comments:

  1. "(There will now be a pause while I try to practice what I preach.)"

    The perfect end to that ... thank you! You are so right! Please come to Boston, and try to keep me away from your camera.

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  2. Anonymous11:41 AM

    Beautiful shawl and baby. Mommy's hat is pretty sharp too! Congratulations again, Uncle Franklin.

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  3. Ah, the baby fencing pose! My son used to sleep like that, as well.
    My best wishes to the extended family. A child is the bet thing that can happen to parents, uncles, aunts, etc. Abigail Ann is very lucky to have an Uncle that obviously adores her.
    I wish I lived closer to Chicago, but alas, I'm here in the Toronto Area. IF you come this way, there are a ton of us - we culd fill your 1,000 pretty quick

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  4. Anonymous12:10 PM

    Ok, brace yourself.

    AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!

    All right, I've stopped now. ;) Butthosearethecutestpix!! Oh lord, I'm going gaga. I don't do gaga. I just haven't been subjected to Abigail, Mommy's Hat, and Uncle Franklin's Other Shawl all together before. ;)

    Re 1,000 response, etc. - excelsior!

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  5. I love you Franklin. I needed to hear this today!

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  6. Anonymous12:16 PM

    If you're ever in Des Moines, please count me in on your project!

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  7. Anonymous12:16 PM

    Thanks, Franklin. You remind me how ridiculous it is that I'm working so hard to teach my 13-year old daughter to be confident and reject all that marketing crap while I'm running as fast as I can from any camera in existence. I resolve (and not for the first time) to practice what I preach.

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  8. It warms the heart to see a young child wrapped from head to toe in the pure love that is a handknit shawl and a handknit hat. Love is a powerful thing. May your lovely neice be wrapped in it and be comforted by it all her life.

    cheers!

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  9. Anonymous12:35 PM

    Words cannot describe the beauty of your work and the sweet babe!

    Your wonderful!

    Come to Gig Harbor, Washington - Two lovely ladies would take you to lunch and the harbor is a lovely back drop for knitting pics!

    Have a wonderful Memorial Day

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  10. A wonderful baby!
    Make sure you post that photo of her sleeping on Sister Sue's fridge, so she can remember that this child did indeed once sleep!

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  11. Hot damn, that is one cute baby. (One beautiful Glencorra, too.)

    Come to Philly and take my picture all you want.

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  12. Anonymous12:58 PM

    "rebellion against mass self-hatred" is the most awesome thing I've heard all year. Now THERE'S a cause I can get behind! Make a flag and I shall wave it.

    If only it could be turned into some kind of blogland campaign... surely there must be something we non-Chicago-ites can do?

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  13. Uncle Franklin, the Glencora is awesome and Abigail is beautiful. Thank you for sharing them with us. Please come to Idaho, we'd love to have you photograph us in the wild! Hey bring Dolores also. Idaho could use the excitement!

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  14. Look at how lucky that baby is... both to have an uncle who would make something that beautiful and to have parents who appreciate that kind of beauty.

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  15. Anonymous1:11 PM

    Franklin, I have yet to congratulate you on the arrival of your cute little niece. Nice name, BTW.
    If you ever come to shoot in Baltimore, my boyfriend and I will sit for you in a knitting embrace, gladly. And some of my co-workers who learned from me.
    But comingling knitting and crochet? Are you serious? I am trying to teach people that there is a difference. vj.

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  16. Franklin, we love you because you say things like "You are the only you out there, and you are the one I am looking for, because this project is about celebrating you. Don't apologize for being yourself."

    Our 3 month old daughter would like to make you her honorary uncle. How about it? You don't even have to knit anything. We can have the Uncle Initiation Ceremony when you come out to San Francisco to take a photo of my partner, who is the knitter in the family.

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  17. That is one bEautiful baby! And the blanket isn't bad either!!

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  18. Anonymous1:18 PM

    Next time we leave northern Wisconsin to visit bro and SIL near Chicago I'll be all, "Here I am, Franklin! Take a picture of ME!" I'll be another fat knitter in the project. Really, it is hard to avoid; sedentary people with sedentary hobbies tend to g-r-o-w sideways :)

    Little AA is the cutest baby ever (except for everyone else's to whom I've said that). There is nothing like a sleeping babe to elicit the, Awwww...

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  19. Absolutely Precious!

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  20. My god, she is beautiful! Reminds me of my babies 20+ years ago. sigh........

    Seems to be a theme about perceptions of body today. Crazy Aunt Purl wrote a very eloquent post today.

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  21. Anonymous1:32 PM

    So lovely, babe and shawl together! And this post also alerted me to the fact that I have been reading your blog for over a year now and I just wanted to say that, when I see a new post from you in my blog feeds, it's always the first one I want to read. But sometimes I read all the rest and save you for last, just to make the anticipation last longer (and 'cause you're so cute). Thanks for your thoughtful wit, which brings a bit of brightness on so many days.

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  22. Anonymous1:33 PM

    You are wonderful! If you make it to the west coast anywhere near Canada, I would love to be part of your project. Congratulations on your adorable neice!

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  23. I SO wish I could get to Chicago,because I would LOVE to sit for this project!

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  24. Anonymous1:44 PM

    Beautifully stated, Franklin. Beautifully photographed, Abigail.

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  25. I try to practice what you preach by posting picutres of myself on my blog and never apologizing for my size. I've nothing to apologize for.

    It seems to me that if more people just got on with it, (putting pictures of themselves out there) then we'd start to see how abnormal the media portrayal is.

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  26. Anonymous1:57 PM

    pardon me while i join the growing chorus of "awwwwwwwwwwwwwww"!!!! what a beautiful baby and simply gorgeous shawl. all babies should be so lucky as to come home swaddled in love. even the simplest knitting is a collection of stitches knitted painstakingly, one at a time, infused with love. i used to feel bad that the blanket i loomed for my son before he was born is so funny looking now (it was the first thing i ever made out of yarn) but then i remembered being pregnant with him and thinking about him the whole time i was working on it.

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  27. Anonymous1:58 PM

    You made my day!!! & I totally agree and a beautiful beebie! (well actually it is now evening here when I read your blog)

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  28. HERE HERE!!! I so hope Madison Ave heard you as well as I did!

    I LOVE the pretty Glencora adorning the darling latest edition!

    Please come to Virginia? I'm pleasantly plump and will try to hold my chin at "just that angle" to avoid the "double" that appears once in awhile, but I'm relatively certain that my non-made-up face will be fine with scrumptious yarn and knitted lace in my lap and OTN!!!
    Oh. I'll email ya'!
    lolol!
    (((hugs)))

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  29. Anonymous2:04 PM

    You know what, Franklin? You just made me cry, in a good way. I'm not fat, but I've been hating my body for months, maybe years, and what you said just made me stop and take a very careful look at what I've allowed into my own head.

    Thanks. It's probably a good thing I'm not in your immediate vicinity, because I might embarass you with an inappropriate hug.

    Come to Denver. We can go up in the mountains with a whack of knitters and have a blast, what with photography and knitting and general carrying on. Summer might be easier for pictures, and in the mountains it's very rarely too hot to knit!

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  30. yeah on the baby! My sister is going to have a baby around June 13th, so I am so excited...

    I found you through someone, and I am going to be learning how to knit next week... I'm quite excited about that one as well!

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  31. If you come to the twin cities, I would be happy to help with your photo project.

    I love the blanket/shawl, yea uncle franklin.

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  32. Ok got all choked up about the shawl/blanket....its gorgeous and how wonderful that she was taken home in it. beautiful! she is one lucky little girl, i am sure as she grows up she will be the best dressed and accesorized.

    as for the 1000...awesome! and what you said is right...i love it! may have to steal the "rebellion against mass production" thing...thats really good!

    if you find a way out to reno...we (as in our crazy friday night knitters group) would love to have you spend a friday night with us...we eat, drink, knit and laugh our butts off you would be welcomed...our group is extremely diverse in age, background, economics and race and knitting brought us together...we even have a new person to our group who wanted to learn english and learn to knit so she came to us and is doing both!

    You would find lots of diversity in the knitting and spinning group here...and a good time too!

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  33. Anonymous2:40 PM

    The tulips and baby are wonderful. Thank you for the sermon. I am working to practice what you preach, too. I think this is an important theme and something many need to hear. This is not the first time this topic has been brought to me today. I am paying attention. Maybe that road trip we have been hoping for that would take us through Chicago this summer is going to happen. Stranger things have happened.

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  34. Abigail looks even more beautiful wrapped in her Uncle Franklin's love.

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  35. That is so wonderful that the shawl is actually being used. And seriously, she is a ridiculously adorable baby. Again, congrats to your whole family.

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  36. Anonymous3:19 PM

    Your niece is just so beautiful! You knew it for yourself, now we can all see it, too. And the wrap she is in? Simply divine. Mommy's hat is nice, too. What a lucky baby to be swaddld in such love.

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  37. Congrats on the new niece Franklin! My brother and his wife were not so thrilled by my handknits and I'm sure the baby will never wear or use any of them. I'll have to keep checking in here to see how it goes for you! Travel safely!

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  38. Anonymous3:44 PM

    Franklin, if you do make it to Seattle, there are HUNDREDS (perhaps thousands) of knitters who I know would be pleased to partake. I'm at the front of that list. Good luck with this photo project -- it is a brilliant idea and just the sort of wonderful, positive reaffirmation we all like to see for our craft. Bless you.

    And as for that dear little niece of yours, keep those photos coming -- reminds me of when my kids were babes -- love, love, love those babies. Especially with handknits. MaryB in Seattle

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  39. Anonymous4:27 PM

    Oh that baby gets prettier in every picture! What sandra calls 'baby fencing' we call 'touchdown sleeper'. Whatever. She's amazing (and Uncle Franklin is no slouch either...waiting anxiously for your essay on Brenda Dayne's podcast).

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  40. Anonymous4:32 PM

    The shawl is beautiful and the baby is so lucky to have an uncle that knits for her. I love knitting for my nephews and they continue to wear my hand-knit items. You're starting a great tradition of hand-knit gifts that she will treasure.

    I live in Maine and would love to be part of your project. If you're out visiting your sister and want to plan a photo shoot, just announce it on your blog and I'm sure you'll get plenty of hearty Maine-ahs that will pose for you!

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  41. Abigail is as lovely a baby as I have ever seen (except my own). Your post today mirrored my thoughts as I sent you my 1,000 e-mail. We are all beautiful, no matter what society tells us. Keep a preachin' and I'll keep practicing.

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  42. Anonymous4:52 PM

    What a gorgeous child framed by a gorgeous shawl. Beautiful

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  43. She's a beautiful baby. Best wishes for you all.

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  44. Anonymous5:11 PM

    Hey Franklin,

    Our LYS (Wool and Company) is having a Knit-Out On The Lawn in downtown Geneva IL on June 20th...we'd like to invite you to come and take as many photos as you want. We'll have bunches and bunches of knitters, of all shapes and ages, many of whom read you regularly and would love to be included in The Thousand.

    Email will follow with more details!

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  45. What a precious being wrapped in a beautiful keepsake. I also appreciate what you had to say about feeling good in your own skin. Well put.

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  46. Okay, those are probably the absolutely cutest pictures of a shawl I have ever seen. The sweet little baby inside is awfully cute too. :)
    I bet you are totally on pins and needles to go out to see her. I know I would be.
    Have a great time.

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  47. If you come out to the Pacific Northwest, I would be happy to sit for the series.

    And I love love LOVE Avedon! He inspired my final photo 101 project. If anyone gets a chance to look at his work, you see the beauty there is in everyone.

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  48. Anonymous6:13 PM

    awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww...

    more beautiful baby pix!

    thank you for sharing!

    have a good visit with your family and keep your eye on dolores.

    anne marie in philly

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  49. Those ARE adorable pictures--the shawl is clearly just right for her!

    And, about your 1000 knitters project? I heard on the Today Show this morning that on this, one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, one of the three most popular destinations was Chicago. I immediately thought of you, and pictured throngs of knitters coming for their photographs . . .

    (Oh, and about that? If I thought I'd ever be anywhere remotely like Chicago, I'd volunteer too, but....)

    And, really, what DOES Dolores think of the lovely little new addition to the family?

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  50. wise and thoughtful (and most like, very proud and appreciative parents) are they. It's spectacular, I had forgotten you made that and how wonderful it is. Now I have to go relook at that pattern...and ponder!

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  51. Anonymous6:45 PM

    Tell it, brother Franklin!

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  52. Anonymous6:55 PM

    Beautiful shawl and congrats on the addition to la famiglia.

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  53. Yes, you ought to enjoy a moment of pride for the shawl!

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  54. Congratulations to the Habit family on your brand-new wee one! She is a lucky little girl to have so many who love her (and show it with hand knits).

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  55. A blankie by any other name would comfort as complete.

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  56. Anonymous9:14 PM

    The shawl looks beautiful with a baby in it ( the baby's pretty cute too)
    How about having some Mother/Daughter/Son/Husband/ Family knitting shots. If I lived closer or drove, my daughter and Mum would certainly come with me for a photo shoot.

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  57. Your project sounds wonderful. I'd volunteer, but I have a feeling that Australia is just a leetle bit far for your net.

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  58. The cuteness! My God! There should be some kind of warning before you post pictures of that calibre. An otherwise single and happy about it person like myself might suddenly start thinking she wants one!

    Love the last couple of lines. I need to practice what you preach too. :)

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  59. Franklin, if you're ever up in the Twin Cities, drop me a line. My dad's a photographer and lives in South Minneapolis, in a pretty central place, and would be helpful in the way of backdrops/locations/etc.

    Plus I will take you out for a meal and a hellova yarn crawl.

    Deal?

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  60. Well said, my friend, very, very, well said.

    And, that is the cutest child ever. The shawl helps. Also the hat. Aww.

    Kate (who, you'll notice, is finally writing on her blog these days! Huzza!)

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  61. Anonymous10:12 PM

    Thanks for the baby picture, that's the sweetest face I've seen all year.

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  62. Anonymous10:15 PM

    what a beautiful niece and shawl! congratulations uncle. :)

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  63. Anonymous10:51 PM

    Abigail is absolutely beautiful. So is the shawl. How truly wonderful to have such love surrounding her. My best to your entire family. Please let family know they are in my thoughts and prayers.
    If you are in NW PA, count me in for the photo shoot.

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  64. Anonymous11:33 PM

    Great post and an irresistible baby. Congratulations, Franklin.

    If you come to Baltimore, I'll show up. Can I bring my dog, Buddy? He un-knits socks.

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  65. Anonymous11:51 PM

    What a beautiful little girl. You must be so proud. All the best to you and your extended family. The shawl is also beautiful and like Abigail, a labor or love.

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  66. Just beautiful shawl and baby :D

    I's love to be in the 1,000 project, but suspect that Australia is a bit too far for you to travel ;) Wonderful idea!

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  67. Anonymous9:18 AM

    Gorgeous baby, and I can see that shawl all kind of grey and draggled after years of being dragged around as a "blankie"..the best kind of compliment.
    Now on the self-esteem thing. Have you seen the new Dove commercials? "campaign for real beauty?"
    http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.ca/flat2.asp?id=6960
    If I had a daughter, I'd have her watch all the little film clips. Come to that, they've done a great job for this old broad's esteem. Wonderful!
    Barb B.

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  68. I have only one word for the baby and blanket:"AWWWWW!"

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  69. Anonymous2:27 PM

    Lovely baby and baby blanket.

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  70. i haven't visited in a couple of days, and now I see the photo's of your beautiful niece, and now I am broody! She is divine, the shawl is divine, please put some silver in the babys pram from me !!
    Wish I could make it to Chicago for the 1000 - Scotlands a bit far.
    Best wishes to all of you!

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  71. If you come to California (specifically Northern), please come visit my ranch for brunch, knitting and many a beautiful photograph setting. Love you Love your Blog!!

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  72. Anonymous10:09 PM

    Wow, she's a beauty Franklin. Can I just say that I am a knitter who would love to be photographed by you but, alas, I live in NORTHern Michigan and cannot make it to Chicago any time soon. Good luck with your endeaver.

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  73. Anonymous10:18 PM

    I've missed a bit so, catching up: CONGRATULATIONS on your unclehood of a very attractive & attractively shawled baby, and on your redefined photography project. I look forward to seeing the outcome. And on that--you said "all shapes and sizes," didn't you? I am happy about your anti-self hatred campaign and in full support thereof.

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  74. Anonymous11:02 PM

    You're awesome, Franklin! Now tell all the teenage girls that! DD is 15 and I see the things some of her friends go thru....

    I even wrote her a poem about that and she put it on her wall. Hopefully we can get her thru this time unscathed!

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  75. monochromatic girl sent me- since i knit, live in chicago, and am photogenic! i'd love to be in your project.

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  76. Beautiful baby and blanket.
    and THANK YOU beautiful sentiment and attempt to practice what you preach. If you want knitter pictures and want to come to Dallas, contact me. (I would advise coming when it is freezing there, because rarely does it get cold here, but it's hotter than blazes in summer!

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  77. Anonymous6:14 AM

    The photo of Abigail snuggled in her uncles shawl is so touching anf beautiful.

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  78. That is the most lovely baby 'shawl/blanket' and baby!! How wonderful to welcome that sweet little girl to this earth, fresh from the presence of our Heavenly Father.

    You knit so beautifully! Thanks for sharing your talents, and the photo of that darling little baby!

    BevQ

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  79. Sravana will be in San Antonio, TX someday soon, and would love to show the sights to a certain Mr. Habit. Dare she pose for photos? Only if her familiar, Ms. Blossom, can be in the pic, too... :)

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  80. She's all wrapped up in love from her dear Uncle Franklin. On some level, I bet she knows that. You've done a good thing here.

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  81. Anonymous8:43 PM

    A picture says a thousand words. That means that your project will say a million words about the wonderful world of knitting. Bravo! Good on you!

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  82. Anonymous10:03 PM

    I just listened to your piece on Brenda's podcast and found myself in tears. I know it wasn't meant to be sad, and certainly I found bits to be funny. It made me reflect on how things for women have changed and the privilege of being able to have passtimes with self-serving purposes. Thanks!

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  83. what a beautiful baby. And what a beautiful knit. She is one lucky niece.

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  84. Anonymous8:17 AM

    Beautiful baby.

    Beautiful hat.

    Beautiful shawl.

    Lucky niece.

    Lucky uncle.

    (I'm obviously feeling less than articulate this morning. If you're ever in Baltimore, though, I'll be there with sticks and yarn. I've seen your photos. You could make a slag heap attractive. But more importantly, I think your project idea is great.)

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  85. The top photo, when I saw it just out of the corner of my eye, made me think of *Where the Wild Things Are.* That was my favorite book as a little girl (thanks to everyone who read it to me with great amounts of expression). I suppose it was the colors, but whatever it was, it just doubled my already firm belief that Abigail is one special and very lucky little girl.

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  86. What a nice sentiment, that I will also try to practice!

    (And a beautiful baby, to boot.)

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  87. Franklin, I don't know if you can hear me, over here (way down at the bottom of the comments list), but I am *finally* de-lurking to get something off my chest:

    You are wonderful. Your blog is wonderful. I read it every single day and I just needed to tell you that I really wish there were more people out there like you. You have so much integrity, it makes me want to be a better person. Thank you for not being afraid to stand up for what you believe in (in this case: this global issue of self-hatred).

    Thank you so much.

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  88. Anonymous6:38 PM

    I dont know which is more beautiful, the baby or the blanket!
    That blanket is awesome...but the baby - well, babies make most of us sound and act like fools - even those of us who work with them daily!!!!

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  89. how nice to have a photographer in the family;)

    Just had to stop by and say--- the essay on cast on? Thnx for sticking up for my grandmothers knitting... and my great grandmothers too;) it was wonderful.

    I knit (yeah duh) and I'm in detroit area....incase you end up here for the project.

    also- this might be lame- but- your post about the project....perspective on body image/models etc.....thnx. I needed to hear that.

    I find it easier to hide behind the lens.

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  90. Aww.

    Just, aww.

    I remember when my nephews were babies. 14 and 10 now. So not babies.

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  91. How wonderful, to see a wee one wrapped up on a beautiful thing you created. Blessings on you.

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