Tony’s Knitting
Today I’ll show you some knitting Tony did for the holidays. Since his family doesn’t know me (they are all out of state), it’s unlikely that they will see these photos so it’s OK for me to show you now.
He made two hats for his neices. These are just wonderful knitting. He washed them and so they fluffed up just great. One is Ballybrae yarn and the rest I can’t remember what he said they were. Super cool and very well executed, don’t you think?
He also did three scarves. This Noro Kureyon scarf was knit on the diagonal, a favorite pattern for Tony. The yarn just looks wonderful fluffed up after washing! He actually used two different colorways but you can’t really tell, they were related enough to just look variegated in long repeats. I love this scarf. I don’t love knitting with this yarn, but I must admit it feels a lot nicer after it has been washed a few times.
Tony also did two diagonally-knit chenille scarves that just did not photgraph well. They were the same pattern but very skinny as fashion accessories rather than warmth-creators. One was in three colors, mostly a purple-blue with some warm green and one other color. The yarn was just beautiful. I think he said he got this from Sarah Peasley somehow, maybe at our guild’s year-end yarn swap perhaps.
The second scarf was a really dark purple (eggplant, on the brown side) in Touch Me yarn, a mostly wool chenille that just feels like heaven. I always want to buy some when I am in yarn shops, but since I don’t wear scarves I just can’t bring myself to spend what it takes to make something bigger with it. The stuff is sort of in the splurge department as far as price, and I haven’t justified that splurge yet. If it was just the right gift for someone (my mom is my primary gift-splurge recipient, she got cashmerino this year) then I’d consider it, but the stuff just doesn’t fit my lifestyle.
The chenille scarves will be elegant and beautiful. Why not have a stylish and soft skinny scarf, you know? I hope his recipient likes the gift as much as I think she might.
He washed the chenille scarves once as per Sally Melville’s instructions, but at least the Touch Me was still worming a little (worms are little bits of yarn that stick out of the fabric, and it happens a lot with chenille yarns). He said she indicated that sometimes you have to wash it two or three times to eliminate the worms. It was sort of a hassle for him because he was going to leave the next day after I took these pictures and didn’t really have a lot of time to wash and dry a scarf three times. I think he was figuring he might have to do the last wash when he got to his destination.
I already miss Tony’s company. I do get to pick him up at the airport when he gets back, so I’m looking forward to that. It seems many of my good friends are away for the holidays. I’m counting four of the people I regularly see and hang out with, two in Florida, one in Costa Rica and one in Hawaii. I don’t really mind being here, but I miss my friends. I do hope they have great trips. I get to pick up two of the friends so I can get the first-hand storytelling as soon as they get home. That will be great fun!
Meanwhile, I’m working a lot at the store until the holiday. I’ve been at JoAnn on Friday and Saturday, will also be there full shifts Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday I don’t work at the store but I have four hours at Foster Center. Wednesday I’m back for a long shift at the store and then we have Thursday off because the store is closed. Then I work again cutting fabric on Friday. I’ve got Sat/Sunday off that weekend. I may not know what to do with myself! If I get my mohair dress figured out, I maybe can work on that on the 25th and 27th (on the 28th we have social obligations part of the day).
January 15th, 2004 at 10:17 am
Very beautiful work and you have such a wonderful way of telling about your friends and Tony’s work.
I would love to try one of his hat patterns. Could you tell me where he got his patterns from?
Thank you for sharing.
January 15th, 2004 at 11:05 am
Those hats remind me of icecream They are beautiful look so soft.Tony sounds like my son a big burly guy that is gentle and creative
January 18th, 2004 at 3:39 pm
TONY!!!!!! They are gorgeous!!! The scarf is just beautiful! And the hats, I love the pattern! They look so soft!
“Magic Hands Tony”
You are a great knitter!