12 June 2007

More actual knitting content!!

It's a trend, can you believe it?

Two things -- something to show you and something to ask you.

First, to show you.

Sunday was D&D night. Yes, I'm one of those geeks. Lvl 4 Elvish Cleric of Corellon. It's fantastically fun. My middle-little brother, Chris, plays in our game, and he shows up at about 7, gently waking me from my nap on the couch (if Olympic napping were a sport, I'd have a run at the American team this year). He says, "I have a present for you, from Grammy."

That alone nearly made me weep.

Here's what was in the bag he gave me.

Is that not exquisite? Handknit (she used to do this on her machine, but in her age has decided that there are a hell of a lot less people who deserve to be knit for, and therefore all her knitting is by hand again), and the color is more of a gentle, pastel yellow, with a handspan of fringe on each side. Gorgeous. Exquisite. I dream of knitting things like this, but never get past the sheer SIZE of the beast. This is big enough to cuddle one person -- or one person and a toddler -- under with no problems, so long as you're friendly, and maybe have a pretty shawl around your shoulders. The yarn feels like one of the softer strains of Red Heart, but I'm only a yarn snob when it comes to what *I* knit with, not what other people use. And this is an afghan I can cuddle under, snuggle under, and then throw in the washer. It's exactly what I need right now.

The greatest gift she gave me, though, is knowing where my knitting came from. Is that silly? I mean, my mother taught me to knit when I was six, I think, even though I made her do the casting on until I was 8, and I don't think I finished ANYTHING until I was in college. But now I know where the knitting CAME FROM. I know why it meant something to me when I first touched needles and yarn. It's funny, these little connections I found to my biological family, long before I knew them. The first time I heard Frank sing and play his guitar, I told him that I'd just found something I didn't even know I'd been missing. That's how I felt when I spread out this afghan.

Yay.

Now, on to the question.

This is the knitting I did for D&D night, after deciding that I wasn't up to counting sleeve rows.


This is the skein of Regia silk from the last SEX. Now, truth time; does the thread of pink make it too girly, just in case AlisonH is right? I dream girl, but she says boy, and since Robb is already raising an eyebrow about ladybugs, I should know if this is something that might just end up in a hope chest for next time.

Lemme know what you think. :)

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, but I *could* be wrong--if you think it's a girl, you're the mom, not me!

(Dang, I thought surely you must have told me already since I was so certain.)

That afghan is absolutely exquisite. Go Grandmother! Wow. Now, that little sock thingy there: gauge swatches are meant to lie, it's meant to come out--well, you know, roughly a size 7, maybe 6.5, right? (Running off grinning.)

Dlhaymark said...

HI Kristine

The Knot Head Baby Socks and Hat took less than 1 ball (50g). I did the top of the hat decreases as normal, but then I just kept knitting about 8 sts until it was long enough to tie a nice little knot. This set was so much fun to knit! I knit a lot of these little socks!

I just came home from rocking Jayden! He is almost 3 months old now. I truly enjoyed knitting for him.

You afghan from your Grandmother is fabulous! Truly a gift to treasure.

My experience with 2 SILs is that if there is the tiniest spot of pink; there's no way their boy is gonna wear it!

Knit On

Debbie

Anonymous said...

Hi Kristine-
I read your blog all the time, but first time commenting. Congrats, etc., on the baby and the afghan, both precious to you I'm sure. I have a son - no way my husband would let him wear that. I think if you have to ask if it's too much pink, you already know the answer!

Madge said...

Your grandmother's blanket is GORGEOUS. What a wonderful family heirloom!

Anonymous said...

If only Robb was German. My friend's husband who is German-born loves pink and wears it all the time because apparently it is very men-trendy. But here regardless of him, I have to agree with all the other gender-rigid comments. All baby clothes really do is signify gender so you don't have to suffer through correcting people constantly. This would definitely inspire girl assumptions.
And the blanket is OUTRAGEOUS! So great.
Love B

Anonymous said...

I see lots of orange, blue, purple and yellow along with the pink. Robb's Grandfather Croto had a pink shirt (one of his favorites) so . . .

And did I ever show you the picture I have of Robb as a baby in this cute little adorable outfit (hand-me-down) that I realized only after taking the picture had some ruffles or something on it? (Don't tell HIM!)

I think there's nothing wrong with a little pink in a little boy's outfit.

Love,
Me Too

Sheila said...

Isn't it too bad that we worry about the colors our babies wear? I like the hat and would wear it on a boy baby. But then I wore blue on my daughter. Tell him that in the older days men wore reds and pinks: they were the color of fire/passion. Women wore blue: more sedate. Your grammy's afghan is gorgeous.

Karin said...

Being from Germany myself, I am very sorry to say that I think there is too much pink in that hat to "pass" as a boy hat.
Yes I do know that the guys over there (Perfectly straight and manly guys) wear pink, and even lavender colored shirts with their suits.
But that's within their cultural context and it's fine. Gee I have no idea why I am going all traditional on you! :) I put blue on my girl and no damage done. But I don't think pink can be put on boys around here....not yet, anyway.

I love that piece about your grandmother's afghan. It is beautiful, the afghan itself and what you wrote about it.

Lastly, I have no clue what D&D is....