Like this only redder
Friday November 17th 2006, 3:03 pm
Filed under: Knit,Knitting a Gift

Last night, heading out the door to my knitting group, I had my show-off shawl project ready… but grabbed a simple throw-in-my-purse scarf project that I had sitting there. It had a pattern I could do in my sleep; always good for when you want to listen to what’s going on.

The woman next to me had a soft pink scarf in a simple pattern, and I reached out and touched it and went ooh aah. “It’s nothing like what you make, though,” she answered a bit apologetically. I laughed, “It’s not a competition!” and she laughed back. She reached out to my scarf that I’d reluctantly picked up out of my bag–I really did want to make headway on that shawl–and went wow as I told her it was baby alpaca. Left over from my daughter’s afghan. Nice, she said. And from that point on, it felt like she was trying not to look at it too much. Trying not to wish for it too much.

I looked at her and thought, this is exactly your shade of red. Eight inches done so far, well, we can try. I started knitting as fast as I could.

It’s a large group, and we all chatted as we waited for people to come in. Knit! There was the usual go around the group, say your name (there’s always a new person, after all), talk about what you’re working on, maybe a little of what’s going on in your life. Talk, you guys! There was one person who always says, simply, “I’m _ and this is my _” and that’s it; she actually added a few more sentences as I silently cheered her on. Knit!

I wrapped it around my neck, holding the needles. Too short. A few more people. Knit! When they got done, the topic of changing the date of the December meeting came up, and a lively discussion ensued. Good. Keep going. That done, I wrapped it around my neck again. I think so; I turned to my neighbor and asked her opinion.

“For throwing over your shoulder?” (I wish!) “No, for tieing like this.”

“Oh, then, it’s perfect!” And with that, somebody else came up to talk to her, the meeting being officially over, and I concentrated on binding off fast before she could walk out. I was in too much of a hurry; I totally hashed that first stitch there, and tried to work some looseness back into it with my needle. No time to frog. I didn’t have a yarn sewing needle, so I had to work the end in by using my needle to imitate knitting, more or less, to pull it through each stitch across the bottom of the scarf, pulling the strand all the way through each. Slow.

There: did it! I put it in her lap, and the look on her face! Surely I’m only showing off that I got it done. Right?! She dutifully held it up and handed it back. I stuffed it in her knitting bag: no, I meant it, this is for you!

She was speechless. She was thrilled. She told me, “I so much love that color!”

It’s not a competition. But I still would say I definitely won. It’s people like her that keep knitters knitting for others.


4 Comments so far
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What a great story Alison! You are such a lovely person. I’m sure she will wear it with a happy glow.

Comment by Elizabeth 11.18.06 @ 6:12 am

My stars! (To borrow a phrase.)

I’ve seen this scarf on a Mac, now I’m seeing it on a PC. It looks waaay more vivid a color on a PC.

Of course it’s nice either way, just quite different.
-Robin

Comment by Robin 11.20.06 @ 5:00 pm

Thank you! This was made with Frog Tree Alpaca in a bright fuschia, and it is very vivid. I’m waiting for it to tell me whom it’s for.

Comment by AlisonH 11.20.06 @ 6:41 pm

Hi Allison.
It’s me, Ronni from http://www.chemocaps.com. I’m the gal who knit the bear for your niece and your the gal who knit me the most fabulous comfy shawl that I treasure.
I’ve been in & out with extensive abdominal surgeries in hospital & have 3 more to go but my spirit is great, I’m doing fine & knitting which is spiritual to me is getting me through.
Love the scarf, love the color and am wondering
What is the pattern you used. I am knitting scarves & shawls for the nurses that take great care of me & others & I know this pattern would be perfect for one of them.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
Ronni
my email is:
knittingdiva1@aol.com

Comment by Ronni Lynn Spoll 11.26.06 @ 10:00 am



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