The finished dimensions of this stole are 20" x 61 (lace weight yarn) or 24" x 93 ." This pattern requires approximately 1200 yds of lace weight yarn and size 3 US circular knitting needles.
Memories are made up of moments in time that have been forever captured in our minds. They are created by encounters with special people, places and even sounds, songs or smells that make each one distinct and treasured. A place is usually the most solid anchor of all our memories. How many times have you said “Remember when we were at….. and…. happened”? There are many places of this sort that reside in my memories. Occasionally my muse encourages me to share them through symbolic representation. Savannah, Georgia, USA is one such place.
If you ever have an opportunity to visit Savannah, you might enjoy taking a walking tour of the historic district, visiting the museums, or investigating the many cemeteries with the famous and sometimes infamous characters buried there. Be sure to bring your stole with you as the elements in the pattern will connect you with the city in a way that no other visitor on the tour will understand.
Savannah, the stole, was designed with the famous walking tours of the historic district in mind. The lines or rows that run the length of the stole and create the four large “medallions” represent the cobblestone “roads” throughout the historic district of Savannah. Many of the roads in the district have roundabouts (or more accurately squares) at each intersection, every block. Originally created as common marketplaces when the city was founded, these squares now usually contain a garden, fountain, or monument and almost always have large, Spanish moss covered, Live Oak trees and at least one park bench to sit on and reflect. The medallions in the center of these roundabouts on your stoles represent these elements.
On the out side of the “roads” your stole contains many large and small medallions. The small ones are intended to represent the many historic cemetery markers and monuments located in and around Savannah. It is entirely possible to spend an entire day just walking through these old memorial gardens reading the markers and discovering the treasures hidden there. The large medallions represent the multitude of huge oak trees, dripping with Spanish moss that fills the gardens and front yards of the city.
The outermost rows that wave in and out of the stole are representative of the waves from the Savannah River that beat against the wharfs along Bay Street. It is here that modern street performers arrive at sunset to promote themselves and their wares. The extra “arch” element represents the many beautiful architectural wonders you will find if you just wander from square to square through the streets of this beautiful, historic city.
Now, take a look at the stole in its entirety. The odd shape is intended to represent the odd characters you may encounter while on your visit. The people I am talking about are not scary, they are just normal, friendly, local people that love their city and want to share it with you in every way possible. In the United States we call these folks southerners. The “south” has a quaint hospitality to it and it is worth experiencing at least once in a lifetime.
Finally, the stole was intended to have a “bowl” shape on each end of the stole to represent the two bowls held by Little Wendy, more commonly known as the Bird Girl Statue in the famous book “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”. If you haven’t had an opportunity to read this book or see the movie, I highly recommend it. It is a quirky, funny, sad, and, in my opinion, a very accurate portrayal of the native people and atmosphere of this particular city.