Reduce, Reuse, Reknit?

Back in November of 2006 I knit this:

In Esperanza (discontinued) by Schaefer Yarns. A Bulky 70% Lambswool, 30% Alpaca, that I picked up while in the FingerLakes Region of NY, straight from the Schaefer Yarn Studio.

It was a fast knit, in a pattern that I just made up. And while I liked it, it didn't keep my clavicles warm - which is the whole point. So it languished.

I tossed it into the frogpond, and emerged with this faroese based wrap instead. Ironically, I am now someplace too warm to wear it.

I only just noticed that I wore purple shirts both times. And I think those are the ONLY two purple shirts I do own. Weird.

Slightly used

I recently finished Wisp in a lovely Mongolian Cashmere from Sarah's Yarns. It was my least favourite type of knitting: you had to look at Every Stitch, but there was no charting or colourwork to focus on. Bleegh. Still, the yarn was a tactile delight, and the apparent airiness of this confection is belied by it's delicate warmth.




Off the needles it quickly became my throw on luxury. I had bought the expensive yarn to make something "Amazing" and it sat in the stash. I decided instead to make something "finished" and enjoy the product. And I do, passionately. The cashmere fabric feathers the skin, soothing and warm as a caress. Draped around the head it comforts and quiets the mind. Folded then slung around the neck it gives the warmth of a human touch, without the weight. Laced with a velvet cord and worn over bare shoulders it tantalizes. Thin and light, it protects under a lab coat, making the world seem less threatening. In short...a socially acceptable blankie.

Which means I was wearing it tonight when a friend called to tell me that her remission = merely an intermission.

Holding it fisted in both hands while I tried to say the right things to her I thought of knitting her one. Thought of making it a "prayer shawl" with the stitch pattern in words rather than knitology. But then thought of the time that would take. Overwhelmed by urgency I've decided, instead, to send her this one - knit with mumbled curses, a few swear words and a couple of errors - because she needs it Now, not 3 weeks from now. And because...just as she didn't need "the perfect words"-she only needed to be heard; she doesn't need "the perfect shawl"-she only needs that warming touch.

Off and On 2011

There is a classic New Years superstition that what you do the first day sets the tone for the rest of the year. So I planned carefully and finished/bound off this pair of Fetching for a tiny coworker (no fat = ALWAYS cold). The yarn is Caron Simply Soft, and perfect for this dynamo's lifestyle, but as a knitter - YUCK! It's a squeaky yarn, so each cable row literally set my teeth on edge with the sound. Good thing there were so few rows of cable, or this might have been the little project that didn't.

Then Barbara of Spencer Hill Dyeworks (seriously, look at that gorgeous Saxon Green!
introduced me to a new New Years Day Tradition...selfish casting on. You cast on something for YOU. You don't have to go all monogamously weird with it, but you cast it on. So I have joined the literally tens of thousands who have attempted Monkeys. It's Lorna's Laces Sock in Amy's Vintage Office. We'll see where this leads.

And to my friend who sent me the adorable card which read "2010 - be gone you B-stard!" May 2011 be SO MUCH better. Actually, that goes for all of you, may 2011 be a good year for you.