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 6 comments
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Not Enough Chocolate
Remember this?
Elsebeth Lavold's Silky Wool, shade 018 (chocolate). Apparently a popular color. I've gingerly placed dad's scarf in a protective ziplock baggie and I patiently wait for the folks at my local yarn shop to order my last skein.
In the meantime, I happily work on my Malabrigo Mama.
I'm alternately proud and deeply ashamed to say that I have not succumbed to the mitten-knitting temptation. Little hands are stuffed into coat pockets and big brown eyes look up at me, pleading.
This is not easy. But, I must stay focused on this one big thing. There will be time for little things later.
Little things: I'm thinking about truffles lately. We are considering making batches of them as Christmas gifts. My friend Carmela is a pastry chef and talks with mouth-watering eloquence about all things chocolate. She told me about Earl Grey truffles and bittersweet chocolate-dipped tangerines. Does anything sound more delicious?
A final shot: The little one has begun to climb onto the bathroom stool whenever he can (to taste the soap and try out his brother's toothbrush). I couldn't resist a picture.
Go now and steal a piece of chocolate from your child's trick-or-treat bag. You deserve it.
Remember this?
Elsebeth Lavold's Silky Wool, shade 018 (chocolate). Apparently a popular color. I've gingerly placed dad's scarf in a protective ziplock baggie and I patiently wait for the folks at my local yarn shop to order my last skein.In the meantime, I happily work on my Malabrigo Mama.
I'm alternately proud and deeply ashamed to say that I have not succumbed to the mitten-knitting temptation. Little hands are stuffed into coat pockets and big brown eyes look up at me, pleading.
This is not easy. But, I must stay focused on this one big thing. There will be time for little things later.
Little things: I'm thinking about truffles lately. We are considering making batches of them as Christmas gifts. My friend Carmela is a pastry chef and talks with mouth-watering eloquence about all things chocolate. She told me about Earl Grey truffles and bittersweet chocolate-dipped tangerines. Does anything sound more delicious?
A final shot: The little one has begun to climb onto the bathroom stool whenever he can (to taste the soap and try out his brother's toothbrush). I couldn't resist a picture.
Go now and steal a piece of chocolate from your child's trick-or-treat bag. You deserve it.
Labels: dad's scarf, life in general, malabrigo
¶ 11:16 PM 5 comments
