Monday, February 12, 2007
At last!
One of my Dad's finest qualities is his patience. When I was 11, he bought me my first sewing machine. I was overjoyed and as a thank you, I devised a plan to tailor him a fine men's shirt (a project far outreaching my skill level).
I spent the better part of a day designing a questionnaire with my colored markers that allowed him to design his ideal shirt. It was a multiple-choice format and asked him questions like: Should your shirt be pinstriped, flowered, or solid? Should it be for a fancy dinner out or for a movie on the weekend? Should the buttons be blue, yellow, or black? Check a box to indicate your choice.
I think the reason that I remember that questionnaire so many years later is because for years it filled me with shame that, after making such a big production out of the questionnaire, I never even began my Dad's shirt. I never even went shopping for the fabric.
In the 9 months since I presented my Dad with an unfinished Birthday scarf and a lame promise to finish it soon , I have remembered the shirt questionnaire often and with pain.
This glacial process is made so much more humiliating by the fact that I now knit exposed! I invite my Dad and others to watch me putting the scarf aside month after month to knit other things. I even had the balls to begin a sweater for MYSELF (twice)! I would feel far less shame for all this if only everyone didn't know--particularly my Dad.
Lucky for me, my Dad is patient. He keeps a sense of humor. If he was irked by my conspicuous lack of attention to his scarf, he never showed it. Whatta guy!
One of my Dad's finest qualities is his patience. When I was 11, he bought me my first sewing machine. I was overjoyed and as a thank you, I devised a plan to tailor him a fine men's shirt (a project far outreaching my skill level).
I spent the better part of a day designing a questionnaire with my colored markers that allowed him to design his ideal shirt. It was a multiple-choice format and asked him questions like: Should your shirt be pinstriped, flowered, or solid? Should it be for a fancy dinner out or for a movie on the weekend? Should the buttons be blue, yellow, or black? Check a box to indicate your choice.
I think the reason that I remember that questionnaire so many years later is because for years it filled me with shame that, after making such a big production out of the questionnaire, I never even began my Dad's shirt. I never even went shopping for the fabric.
In the 9 months since I presented my Dad with an unfinished Birthday scarf and a lame promise to finish it soon , I have remembered the shirt questionnaire often and with pain.
This glacial process is made so much more humiliating by the fact that I now knit exposed! I invite my Dad and others to watch me putting the scarf aside month after month to knit other things. I even had the balls to begin a sweater for MYSELF (twice)! I would feel far less shame for all this if only everyone didn't know--particularly my Dad.
Lucky for me, my Dad is patient. He keeps a sense of humor. If he was irked by my conspicuous lack of attention to his scarf, he never showed it. Whatta guy!
Pattern: Quilted Lattice Scarf
Finished Dimensions: 70" long, 11" wide
Source: Naive Knitter made one similar and kindly included the pattern instructions
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool, 65% wool 35% silk, shade 18 (chocolate) 3.5 hanks
Needles: US 6 birch circulars
Knitting Time: 10 long months
are you proud of me?Finished Dimensions: 70" long, 11" wide
Source: Naive Knitter made one similar and kindly included the pattern instructions
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool, 65% wool 35% silk, shade 18 (chocolate) 3.5 hanks
Needles: US 6 birch circulars
Knitting Time: 10 long months
You too can make a quilted Lattice scarf (in considerably less time than it took me).
Here's the pattern:
Using Elsebeth Lavold's Silky Wool, I cast on 63 stitches to get a scarf 11" wide. You could cast on a similar number if your yarn is also DK weight. If you're using worsted weight cast on fewer stitches. If you are really nuts, knit it with sport weight or finer and cast on more than 63 stitches.
Cast on multiple 6 + 3
Row 1 and all odd rows (WS): p
Row 2: k2, *sl5 with yarn in front (wyif), k1; rep from *, end k1
Row 4: k4, *insert right needle under strand from Row 2 and k next st bringing st under strand and out toward you, k5; rep from * ending last rep k4
Row 6: k1, sl3 wyif; rep from *, end k1, sl3 wyif, k1
Row 8: k1, *insert right needle under strand from Row 6 and k next st bringing st under strand and out toward you, k5; rep from * ending last rep k1
Here's the pattern:
Using Elsebeth Lavold's Silky Wool, I cast on 63 stitches to get a scarf 11" wide. You could cast on a similar number if your yarn is also DK weight. If you're using worsted weight cast on fewer stitches. If you are really nuts, knit it with sport weight or finer and cast on more than 63 stitches.
Cast on multiple 6 + 3
Row 1 and all odd rows (WS): p
Row 2: k2, *sl5 with yarn in front (wyif), k1; rep from *, end k1
Row 4: k4, *insert right needle under strand from Row 2 and k next st bringing st under strand and out toward you, k5; rep from * ending last rep k4
Row 6: k1, sl3 wyif; rep from *, end k1, sl3 wyif, k1
Row 8: k1, *insert right needle under strand from Row 6 and k next st bringing st under strand and out toward you, k5; rep from * ending last rep k1
Labels: dad's scarf
¶ 9:02 PM
Comments:
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What a handsome handsome scarf on a handsome handsome man! I think his patience should be rewarded with a fancy going to dinner shirt made from a retro-flowered fabric and sporting yellow buttons!
# posted by 
: February 14, 2007 9:33 AM
: February 14, 2007 9:33 AM
I love the image of little-girl Molly presenting her carefully crafted questionare and you sweet Dad filling it out.
The scarf is beautiful!
xoxo
-jw
The scarf is beautiful!
xoxo
-jw
Such a great scarf Miss M! And a great story to match. I love reading your blog. Keep up all of your wonderful, creative work. It inspires us all!
xo
Julia
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xo
Julia
# posted by : February 18, 2007 8:15 PM
: February 18, 2007 8:15 PM<< Home
