By: pamgrushkin
Uncategorized

Now I know where I get it from.

My mother, who taught my sister and me how to knit when we were kids, has decided to take up knitting again.  It  could be that seeing Nancy and I knit together and enjoy it so much brings back the nostalgia of knitting together when we were growing up.

So the task fell to my sister to assist my mother in picking out the yarn.  I supplied (I thought) a pattern that fit her style.  My mother was a Fashion Designer and so it had to be just right.  The pattern I had suggested was “Jess” by Skiff.  An oversized, unconstructed tunic.

She bought Plymouth Bamboo yarn in a teal color.  

Nancy got her to swatch in 2 different needle sizes to decide which texture of stitches she liked better.

 
Her stitches were nice and even, remembered it perfectly, just like riding a bik.

When I learned that the yarn was Bamboo, I cautiously suggested to Nancy that my mother wash and block the swatch. Bamboo, like silk, does not have any real recovery and can grow.  Nancy and I had had a recent discussion about when bad things happen to good yarn and it doesn’t behave the way you hope in a pattern and how to avoid that.  I said, although no one likes to do it, washing and blocking a swatch will tell you a lot about what it will do with wash/wear.

Well, my sister hissed at me over the phone.  Yes, that’s right, hissed at me.  How come you never outgrow your childhood reactions to things when you are with your siblings/parents?  My mother, when relayed my suggestion said that she was going to fly with out a net.  Ahhh, my family.

I asked my mother to sign a disclaimer. 🙂

So back to the title of the post – Now I know where I get it from. I’m referring to my habit of never leaving well enough alone when I find a pattern to knit.  I find myself making some kind of adjustment.

As we discussed the pattern,  she didn’t like the length – easy enough to modify.  She doesn’t care for v-necks as much as boat or crew necks.  Then there were the sleeves.  Plus the “Jess” pattern does something funky at the back neck as well as the front is hand/machine sewn together.

Do you see where this is going? Yes, my mother and I are designing a sweater together.  She sketched out what she liked and faxed me the sketch. 

Meanwhile, she and Nancy knit on… I am majorly jealous!

So I am on hold until she reaches the desired length to armhole, then my consulting/designing services will be needed.