Blogging just wasn't the same before the digital camera era. How else would we know the of the weird, wacky, whimsical behaviors of our knitbloggers? Can you think of another group of people who joyfully document their mistakes for their peers? Short of an inquiry panel into a Shuttle Disaster, or a pathologist's autopsy, both of which fall far short of joyful, we do seem to be unique.
Saturday was an auspicious day of knitting mistakes. The Etherknitter really WAS paying attention, which makes the whole episode even worse. I cast on for Marla's front with a #7 needle, forgetting, of course, that the garter hem was knit on a #5. So I went down a size, to a #6 needle. There's two mistakes. When I finally got that I should be using a #5, I switched at row#2. There's number three. Do I keep it? Do I frog it? Juno's post was fresh in my mind. I brought it over to the finished back of Marla to see if I could tell a difference. It didn't match. I yanked it out in a fit of pique. None of this really felt unusual. UNTIL I realized I had frogged it before getting a picture. UNTIL I knit up a swatch duplicating the mistake so I could show you a picture. Now THAT is the aberrant, abnormal, anomalous part. The top picture is good Marla. The bottom swatch on the bamboo needle is bad Marla. There is a gap between the CO row and row #1 that doesn't exist on good Marla. Byebye bad Marla.
(Needless to say, I CO again last night on a #6, knit row #1 on a #5, and inadvertantly switched to the #6 for row #2 because I had not moved the #6 needle from my lap. When I finished the row, I just reached for....a needle. That row was frogged this morning, and maybe I have now moved the #6 to a project bag. Just maybe. Sometimes one needs to be stern about these things.)
Yesterday was my Aunt Cele's 92nd birthday. She is the last one of that generation. She lives alone and does well.
We drove to Connecticut to celebrate. There was cake.
There was food. There were presents. She stopped knitting after my mother died in 1998. This was a dreadful landmark in her life (heck, in anybody's life), because she had been knitting since 1934. When I started knitting, I leaned on her to knit again. I brought my FOs and WIPs for her to see. The Eleanor scarf (a lacey morsel) intrigued her. I bought the pattern for her, and ZOOM. She hasn't looked back.
My mother and aunt knit for me all my life. It came to an end when my mother died, which is another story for another day. Auntie showed me her extra special last scarf she knitted before she ran out of scarf yarn.
"It's a Japanese yarn with lots of colors. You don't get bored because you never know what's going to come next. You can't tell how big the stripes will be, it's fun." Yes, I jumped for joy when she handed it to me, and said, "Here. It's yours." She is not a contemplative woman, and this was clearly a spontaneous gesture. I have a new Auntie handknit, from Noro:
Which also gives me a way to brighten her life. She will have a not so secret Pal sending her Noro skeins, and other variegated yarns. I love her dearly.
you are so lucky to have a knitting buddy from a previous generation. enjoy her.
Posted by: sharon | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 09:36 AM
What a wonderful picture of your aunt, and how cute that she loves the self-striping Noro. I think its your duty to keep her in these fun, new yarns so she can knit happily.
As to your recreating your mistake? hee. No comment.
Posted by: Cassie | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 09:45 AM
Your aunt is a beautiful lady. Go knitting!
Posted by: claudia | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 09:56 AM
I love that you trailed yarn in front of her until she caved and started knitting again.
Posted by: Juno | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 10:30 AM
What a great story about your aunt! My mom's sister is also the last one of her generation, in her 80's, and she's the one who taught me to knit the first time decades ago.
I also like the part about recreating your mistake for your readers. We are indeed a weird bunch.
Posted by: Lorette | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 10:34 AM
Your aunt is a beautiful woman! How wonderful for you to have her in your life and how fun for her that you are in hers.
Recreation of error....hmmmm. That might take the cake;-)
Posted by: Margene | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 11:13 AM
That is a wonderful story. She sounds and looks like a pistol. Keep her knitting!
Posted by: Norma | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 11:21 AM
That's wonderful about your Auntie!
Posted by: Andrea | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 11:28 AM
Oh, that's sweet! And--the recording our mistakes thing? My only, small consolation last night when I realized I wouldn't be able to finish my Peacock shawl was that at least it would make a good blog entry! I think maybe we all, collectively, need help . . . (grin)
Posted by: Deb | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 12:05 PM
Your aunt is amazing! Good for her and you...
Posted by: Regina | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 02:30 PM
I am glad to see you valuing that relative. I am short on them and neither of my parents nor their one sibling apiece knits (no cousins and no siblings myself, either).So Sarah with her extended family and everyone who has likeable relatives -- I like to see you enjoying them. And them, you.
Posted by: Laura J | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 06:39 PM
what a comeback! that's great. it's hard to watch someone you love stop doing what they love because of a death. i'm sure she's feeling much better now that she has wool in hand. and i'm sure she's feeling more connected to your mother, too. i always feel closer to my grandmothers when i have yarn in hand (one taught me to crochet, and the other taught me to knit).
Posted by: minnie | Monday, June 13, 2005 at 11:36 PM
What a role model! I want to be your Aunt Cele when I'm 92.
Posted by: Sharon | Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 04:42 AM
Your persistence has reached legendary proportions...aunt-back-to-knittingwise and must-photograph-mistakewise...
Aunt Cele is beautiful. The scarf is gorgeous. You both are lucky, lucky people :-)
Posted by: Lee Ann | Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 07:07 AM
Your Aunt Cele looks like a great old bird. What a treasure! I hope my grandma in law, another great old bird, will be kicking along so well at 92!
What yarn are you making Marla out of? Knitting a swatch to show us the wrong Marla is umm a bit odd, I do agree. ;-)
Posted by: lynne s of oz | Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 08:43 AM
the picture of your aunt seems to say it all; she is a beautiful woman with eyes that look like they have seen a lot. I wish I had relatives who knit and spin who were still alive - I would treasure that type of connection.
Posted by: Kristen | Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 01:39 PM
Aunt Cele is so beautiful! I love this story, and... OH CRUD, you made me cry!
Listen, email me if you want some variegated yarn to come Aunt Cele's way from another secret pal... I have something perfect for her in mind. I LOVE THIS POST!!!!
Thanks for writing it :)
Posted by: laurie | Tuesday, June 14, 2005 at 07:14 PM
Aunt Cele is a treasure.
You're a treasure.
And this story...yup.
Posted by: Marcia | Wednesday, June 15, 2005 at 12:37 AM
My godmother (my great aunt) taught me to knit and when I knit, it's like she's still here and I can still "talk to her" while knitting. Her daughters are amazed that I knit so fast, knit while reading/watching/ridiing just like she did. It makes me happy to remember this gift she gave me. :) I am glad you have some happy knitters in your family!
Posted by: Kate | Thursday, June 16, 2005 at 02:11 PM