Friday, February 1, 2008

Pillow or Tapestry?

Some projects just reach that critical decision point that can not be crossed. I would tell you just how long this project decision has been percolating, but for the fact that your heart may not stand the shock. The decision I cannot seem to make is whether this should be a pillow or a tapestry.....






Despite it's long neglect, I really do love this project. The yarn is Rowan wool and the colors sing to me. I also love it because the landscape reminds me of our trip to Patagonia back in the mid 90s. While I'm certainly not well traveled by some standards, I have trod on some pretty exotic soils and the Patagonia region would count among them. You likely have seen a National Geographic program on this area featuring a lonely bird hunkered down to keep warm as a bitter wind whips about its feathers. That's not staged.

The scenery is stunning though. We took a tour of Torres del Paine National Park that encompassed Andean condors, awe inspiring waterfalls, jewel toned lakes, icebergs afloat, glaciers, craggy mountain peaks, exotic wildlife, and sheep. Lots of sheep. I saw gauchos riding herd over vast flocks of sheep scattered over what seemed like miles. Unfortunately I don't have any digital pictures from this trip, but I found these pictures that could be mine. In fact, wait, I think I recognize myself standing next to the waterfall! Oh, no, sorry, my mistake. I think they took the same tour we did.

Don't go for the food, though. I had a most disappointing meal while there.

See how I use any excuse to avoid the decision that must be made. I'm hoping the axiom "a problem shared is a problem halved" will prove true. Really, it's cathartic just to discuss it. Although I don't feel any closer to a decision. Steve feels strongly a tapestry would be nice. I like the idea of a pillow, but I am concerned that a pillow won't work well with our decidely modern decor. Let's talk more about Patagonia instead! While you are there be sure to stop at the Cave of Milodon!

Project Specs: Vogue Knitting Magazine - a really, really, really old issue that I've regrettably lost; US 4 needles; Rowan wool; stockinette stitch with a small amount of embroidery embellishment. Purchased as a kit.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Truly lovely! How wonderful that it evokes such nice memories for you too. I would have to vote for tapestry, just because at our house, the dogs would come in contact with a pillow.

Monika said...

When I looked at "friends activities" on ravelry, my eyes imideately zeroed in on the picture of your beautiful ?
It's a tough choice, I wouldn't be able to decide either. In our house too, the dogs use Pillowas as Pillowas :o) Our walls are pretty full as well.
Maybe you could turn it in a knitting bag?

LizzieK8 said...

Absolutely stunning work. Can you display pillows in such a way they won't be "used"? I'd hate to see them scrunched up under someone's hed during a nap! ;)

If you hang it, how will you prepare it so it doesn't stretch?

Bridget said...

I just love that! I would probably make it into a pillow, so it could travel wherever I wanted it to be in the house.

But I can see it as a tapestry as well, and if that would keep it looking nicer for a longer time, that may be the better choice.

(We do not really have a decor in our house, and the only advantage of that is that I never have to worry about things looking like they belong - nothing does!)

Patagonia. Wow.

jillian said...

That's amazing. In a way, it doesn't look knitted. At first I thought it may have been needlepoint. That would be a hard decision. I think I vote tapestry, because the whole tableau would be seen at once and it really is like a picture!

Anonymous said...

I'd be more likely to use a pillow, but that might not be a good thing here. Either way it will be lovely. I've never done anything like that- do you have a spot picked out to hang it? Whatever you do, make sure it has a place of honor.
Patagonia is on my list of places to visit. I spent a summer in south america (Ecuador), and the food was not the highlight, but it was beautiful!

Hilary said...

I'm seeing a pillow, but a tapestry would also be nice. Whatever you decide, it's absolutely gorgeous! I also thought it was needlepoint at first.

Windyridge said...

It's beautiful and will be lovely whatever you decide. I'm a great help huh? :-)

Anonymous said...

A pillow would only display one part of your scene at a time while a tapestry would allow all parts of it to be viewed. It's one of the prettiest pieces of knitting I've seen.

Which way does Mr. Puffy vote?

Soo said...

That's lovely. I vote for a pillow - because I love pillows. But either will work well.

Knitted Gems said...

I vote for a tapestry. But saying that, I know it's going to clash with your modern decor either way you go.
Yet, tapestry will help preserve it and after spending so much time making it, I would be inclined to encase it one of those museum boxes - forever on display - never to be touched. Of course, that isn't very pratical.

Anonymous said...

That is so pretty!

knittingdragonflies said...

Beautiful!! I am in awe!
I think I couldn't bear to have someone squash it. I vote tapestry.
Vicki

Anonymous said...

I'm completely in love with this! The colors are beautiful and the embellishments are so clever - it really does evoke the landscape. I like the idea of practical beauty so I'd go with the pillow idea - but it's whatever sings to you.

amanda said...

Hmm. I would say tapestry if you have a great spot for it in your house. A pillow is a nice idea, too, but a tapestry would show it off more. What about framing it with a nice matting?

M said...

You can use them as pillows but they are art, absolutely. Just lovely.