Pat's Scarf

I come from a long line of crafty women. My Baba Pesarchuk did beautiful cross stich (she tried to teach me once, but that was a hilarious disaster). My Baba Ostapowich crocheted and was a skilled seamstress (I’ve never crocheted and CAN sew a little). My Mom sewed and knit. In fact, it was my Mom who taught me how to knit, probably for Brownies or Girl Guides. I knit as an adolescent then put away the needles until about 25 years ago when my Mom was dying of cancer. As a distraction or a connection to her, I decided to knit my husband a sweater and us an afghan. Well, I WAS distracted for a while and then the unfinished projects and remaining wool went into a suitcase and into the basement. The suitcase got moved when we came to the farm. Then, a couple of years ago, in a fit of cleaning, David (with permission) threw out the suitcase. I have had other distractions and have found that I’ll never need any external things to connect me to my Mom (I think of her every day). So, my knitting career seemed over.

Then two years ago, as I wrote on Facebook at the time, “After 17 years, 22 states, 5 provinces, lots of love and at least 9 lives, we said goodbye to our cat, Cassie”. She was a really sweet little lap cat, so I decided I needed not only a distraction again, but also a warm replacement for my lap. Off to the Internet to find a pattern for Phentex Slippers (an homage to Baba O who crocheted these for us grandkids every year), to YouTube for some how-to’s and to Michaels for some supplies (where was that suitcase when I needed it?). And the rest is history.

I seem to knit from November to the end of February, then stop until the following fall. In fact, this year, I have declared that Thanksgiving Weekend will be my official “Start Knitting” time each year. And it was. As well as the weekend to start this blog.

What I knit

My friend, Pat, goes to San Miguel in Mexico in late October each year. No need for a warm cowl (kind of my thing; I’ll tell you more another time). So, for her birthday this year, I decided to knit a “pretty” scarf. This winter, I want to try some different, maybe more challenging patterns, so I settled on a “Drop Stitch Scarf”:



She loved it and sent several emails telling me about the compliments she has received while wearing it. THAT’S why I knit!

By the way, I get most of my patterns from Ravelry.com. I love the photos, the search tools and the generosity of the knitters who post their designs there. I like this combination of new and old technology.

What I read

Sadly, knitting doesn’t allow for much reading, but I do read for a break or before falling asleep. So I read less. But I always read.

As I knit this scarf, I read Helen Fielding's "Bridget Jones: Mad about the Boy”. I loved the first two books and movies, so it was a natural that I chose this. As well, I followed “Bridget Jones” on Twitter (@bridgetjoneshf) last winter. It was very funny and, as you’ll see if you read this book, became part of the story line. She’s older (as are all the former characters, except Mark), a Mom and struggling. The book is funny, a little sad, sometimes annoying, pretty realistic, and a quick read (thus a perfect accompaniment to knitting).

Well, that’s Project 1 for 2013-4. Lots more to come.