Knitterly Musings

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I'm still slowly but surely working on this Sinsation scarf, and am on the seventh ball of yarn for it. Only three more balls to go, lots of ends to weave in, and then I get to felt it -- can't wait! This thing weighs a ton, though -- I hope it'll loses some weight in the felting process, or I'm liable to cripple myself wearing it!

In the meantime I've started yet another skinny scarf, using this yarn:

Plymouth Eros, color # 4796

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Which is looking like this, thus far:

15 stitches, size 8 needles, knit every row. Makes for good Olympics-watching knitting.

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And a close-up of the knitting:

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What has prompted me to start this new project? Well, I'll tell you.

A friend of the family owns an upscale clothing boutique here in town and twice now has mentioned that she'd like to sell some hand-knit scarves there. I don't know how serious she is about that, but I did drop by her store last week to check out what she sells. (I was definitely out of my element there, as my normal wardrobe consists of jeans or sweats, and the last time I could fit in tiny clothes like that, well, it's been awhile).

We talked about colors and she asked me to give her a "color card". After my eyes glazed over and I explained that there are thousands of yarns out there and millions of potential yarn colors and combinations, I think I convinced her that she's going to need to see for herself the choices available at the typical LYS. She's supposed to call me this week so that we can meet at Lettuce Knit at some point, but I'm not holding my breath.

The very idea that a scarf knitted by lil' old me could be sold in a boutique is both mind-boggling and humbling, considering all the expert knitters that are out there. I would love to do it, though -- and not out of any monetary interest -- I'd be happy just to be reimbursed for the yarn. I love the idea that I could continue to knit scarves ad infinitum and not have to worry about foisting them upon unwitting family members who may or may not want or need another scarf. This could theoretically represent a limitless realm of scarf recipients -- a scarf-knitters nirvana, if you will.

So, in the meantime, I thought I'd work up this Eros scarf so she could get a sense of a novelty yarn scarf that could be worn as an accessory.

And in knitting this scarf, I can't help but think of a woman named Judy I met last year. We were both working at a client site in Georgia, helping them with their new system conversion. During that stressful time Judy took it upon herself to take care of all of us in the "war room" -- bringing in meals, drinks and snacks several times a day for almost a week. She represents the vendor as a client manager of sorts and was a pleasure to work with. I felt very "mothered" and taken care of during that time, thanks to her. And then late that week, as we were walking back to the war room from another part of the hospital, a fellow consultant shared with me in hushed tones that just two weeks prior, Judy's husband had committed suicide. I was floored. To think of all she was dealing with, and yet she was taking care of all of us and was incredibly positive and cheerful. I imagine it might have been therapeutic for her - I hope it was, anyway. I still think about her at times, and hope she's doing okay.

So what does this have to do with the Eros scarf? One day that week Judy was wearing an Eros skinny scarf in a brownish colorway, and it looked really nice, and it gave me an idea of how to use my yarn, and how one could wear it . She had it around her neck and knotted somewhat low, and it made a very nice accent against a white short-sleeved shirt. I asked her if she had knit it, but it turns out to have been a gift from a previous client.

And so, a lot of things run through my mind as I'm knitting this Eros scarf. Most importantly, here's hoping Judy is continuing to find comfort in her grief.

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