Something magical has happened.
It's been a long time coming.
It started with a crochet hook 24 years ago.
And it's culminated into this:
I know what you are thinking: That scarf is not crocheted! It is knitted!
And that is exactly the point, my friends.
As of a few weeks ago, I am a knitter. Not to be confused with a nutter.
In a mean way.
As in, I spent an entire day on the computer getting ideas for what I want to knit next. At one point I also had $75 of yarn in my cart before I realized that Tyler would hang me by my toes for it.
I know what else you are thinking: Your scarf looks like Big Bird's legs.
And your letters look like blobs.
And your letters look like blobs.
Well, it was practice, people.
But bless his heart, Tyler even wore it one day to work. All his co-workers made fun of him, but he wore it proudly. At least that's the story he is telling me.
But bless his heart, Tyler even wore it one day to work. All his co-workers made fun of him, but he wore it proudly. At least that's the story he is telling me.
I love that guy. :)
I may hang on to this one for a specific sentimental reason.
Namely, you can see a story in the scarf.
A story called "Progress." This is the end I started on:
Namely, you can see a story in the scarf.
A story called "Progress." This is the end I started on:
It's harder to tell in the picture, but the knits are less than perfect. If you were to look on the back you can see that I missed and skipped stitches and it doesn't look so pretty.
But look at what happened by the end:
It's the story of progression. A story that never ends. It's my favorite story.
And it's all on my Big Bird scarf.
I put Tyler's name in it mainly because I wanted Grammy to teach me how to use multiple colors, so that I can eventually make Fair Isle sweaters and hats. Also, because the whole reason I am learning is to carry on a 60 year old tradition.
(100 points to whomever can fill in the blank:
"Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as..."
"Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as..."
See the answer at the bottom.)
The tradition is that Grammy has made knitted stockings for every single one of her children, their spouses, all of their children, and now her great grand-children. We even had her make one for Hope:
And now she is teaching me.
Each stocking is unique. Each has the person's name, the year they were born, and then a motif that represents the person (my Dad's even has guitars on it).
Each stocking is unique. Each has the person's name, the year they were born, and then a motif that represents the person (my Dad's even has guitars on it).
My grandmother is now 87.
When she goes home to heaven, I want to pass on the tradition and will make them for any of my cousin's children or sibling's children that want them.
I've been practicing, and experimenting with yarns.
A couple days ago, I finished my second scarf:
A couple days ago, I finished my second scarf:
Here is the whole thing:
Here it is on:
So, so cozy.
I already started working on my next project. It'll give me more practice with multiple colors. Here it is on the website where I got the pattern:
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| http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEff12/PATTanja.php |
Then I'm gonna make this:
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| http://www.purlbee.com/little-fair-isle-hat/ |
Then I'm gonna make this:
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| http://www.purlbee.com/the-purl-bee/2012/1/12/easy-baby-pullover.html |
Don't worry, I have like twenty-six other projects planned to make after each of these.
Which makes me wonder about something.
I'm self-aware enough to recognize this knitting thing is bordering on obsession.
I hunger after it and want to learn everything I can as fast as I can.
I'm self-aware enough to recognize this knitting thing is bordering on obsession.
I hunger after it and want to learn everything I can as fast as I can.
As I've tried to explain it (especially to Tyler, and especially when I'm telling him why I need more needles and yarn), one thought keeps coming back:
"Caeli, you are a spirit daughter of the most creative being in the universe."
Maybe it's a trait I inherited from Him.
President Uchtdorf (yes, he is German, and yes, I served my mission in his hometown, and yes, I dearly love him) says it so beautifully in a talk he gave a few years ago:
So how do YOU create?
I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to hear what YOU do.
I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to hear what YOU do.
Don't be shy.
Tell me all about it in the comments below.
Maybe it's not knitting for you, but scrapbooking or fishing or cleaning or origami.
What do you love to create?
(And P.S. The answer to the quiz is: ...a fiddler on the roof! I hope the "Traditions" song is running through your head, too)
Love, C