I usually knit for family, myself, and--in the world of compassionate knitting--for animals. But there's a new "charity" project called Knit Your Bit that really touched me.
The project is sponsored by the National WWII Museum. They're collecting knitted scarves to distribute to WWII vets in veterans' centers.
It's a beautiful thought, and I believe these guys deserve all the love we can give them.
So go ahead. Knit Your Bit.
Remember this? (Last week's Eye Candy Friday photo)...
If you didn't guess, it's Tom Baker's famous scarf from Doctor Who! Chris is a big fan of The Doctor, and asked me, one fine fall day, if I'd make him a copy of The Scarf. Being the adorable, wonderful husband he is, how could I refuse him? Plus, it meant I got to buy lots of yarn without the guilt (it wasn't for ME, after all). All good.
It HAD to be authentic, or what's the point? So we did some research and found http://www.doctorwhoscarf.com/, where you can read the history of the scarf favored by the fourth Doctor (for those familiar with the show -- if you're not, I can't really help, since I've never been that much into it myself), learn about its different iterations, AND find patterns for each one (every season featured a different scarf). You can also buy Doctor Who scarves there, but Chris wanted one knitted with my own little paws. And, of course, it has plenty of Maggie and Katja knitted in for good luck.
SO, I searched again to find just the right yarn at a good price, and finally settled on KnitPicks' Telemark. I have to say, here, that I really do love this yarn. It's a sportweight 100 percent wool yarn with a crisp feel -- not too itchy, just the right amount of wooliness. And the color range is fab.
When the package came, I dove excitedly into the project. Sixty stitches on US#6 needles. Lots of color changes. Lots of rows. All in garter stitch. ALLLLLL in garter stitch.... My God, what a long stretch of knitting that was! It actually took me about two-and-a-half months because: (A) I needed to take breaks from the tedium, and (B) I finished several other projects during the same period.
Don't get me wrong...it wasn't unpleasant knitting. Sometimes it was boring, but it was the PERFECT project to work on while watching DVDs in the evenings. That scarf saw many, many Poirots, Rumpoles, Jeeves & Woosters, and other fantastic BBC productions.
For us, since we chose not to give Comcast any more money than absolutely necessary, Netflix has become a continual source of pleasure: Our own line-up of British television. Exquisitely funny (at times), beautifully filmed (mostly), bitterly sarcastic (which we both love). TV as ONLY the British can make it. I despair of US television programming, with only a few exceptions.
ANYWAYZZZ....Come January, the end was in sight. I had knitted about 13 feet of garter stitch. Working harder, knitting faster -- then, one night I wove in the final end. There were TONS of ends to weave in. While I finished the last few rows and final end weaving, Chris cut and organized the yarn for the fringe (honestly, has there ever been a better husband???), which I applied late that evening.
The next day, Friday, was the coldest day (so far) of the winter. Like a little boy on Christmas morning, Chris pulled out the vintage men's Harris Tweed coat I bought in college (for $5!!!) and wrestled with the scarf for a few minutes (hey, this thing is HEAVY). He donned his hat and the fingerless gloves I made for him last year. Ready for work, he paused for a few minutes so I could snap this: 
Now, is he the cutest thing ever, or what???
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Pattern: Season 12 Doctor Who Scarf from www.doctorwhoscarf.com
Needles: US#6 Addi Turbo circular (24")
Yarn: KnitPicks Telemark in Burlap, Grey Wolf, Aubergine, Lichen, Chestnut, Bayberry, and Pesto (approx. 4 balls of each)
Final measurements: I was simply too exhausted to bother. But here's a visual aid (this is a double bed--the scarf is spread from the foot to the pillows and back again without any stretching at all): 
Yep. This is love. And I LOVE it!
Well, it's now January 19th, and I've had Internet access for about four days this month. Not once, but twice, our cable was literally cut (by a Comcast contractor or someone in the building). And to make matters worse, the building is getting an extremely "weak signal." Ugh. I can't tell you how many hours I've spent dealing with this.
Hopefully I'll have fully functioning Internet access soon. And hopefully no one will go back into the cable room and slice our wire a third time.
Meanwhile, it's EYE CANDY FRIDAY!
Enjoy....
(c) Hannah Six, 2006
PS. Click on the photo and admire the GORGEOUS curves in the shingles!
"I only write when I'm inspired, and I make sure I'm inspired every day at 9 a.m."
--Peter DeVries.
After more than six weeks of silence (Sorry!!!), I'm finally writing again. I don't feel particularly inspired, but I know (from writing for a daily newspaper) that if you wait to feel inspired, you could be waiting an awfully long time. That's why DeVries' comment resonates with me.
So...Christmas and New Year's celebrations have come and gone. 
As has the Winter Solstice--the most important event in December, to me, anyway.
Full moon in downtown D.C., December 2006, through a bamboo shade.
I can already tell that the sun is slightly higher in the sky, that we have a few more minutes of daylight in the evenings. And I can feel my spirits lifting. I love the sun, love the light. Winter is very difficult for me. I wish I could be more like those people who yearn for "long dark evenings of knitting, reading, and sipping hot chocolate in front of the fire." But we don't have a fireplace, and I don't like that many hours of darkness. Different strokes, right?
Katja, meditating. Obviously, I'm not the only one in the house who enjoys the sun.
Here I am, now, ready to pick up where I left off. Knitting important to me, but so is writing. When I don't write, I don't feel well. This year, I want to focus more on my creative writing, something that tends to fall by the wayside as I try to earn a living.
I also want to focus more on knitting fun projects, more garments, fewer gifts (I know that sounds selfish, but so be it). Money is frequently tight, so I forego the pleasure of making sweaters for myself and for Chris, and spend lots of time knitting small projects. But that's starting to bring me down. So I'm going to save my yarn dollars and spend them on fewer--but larger--projects.
Speaking of projects (and garments), here are some photos of the Soleil tank top I made last year. I finished it in October, but never got around to posting these...
I used Rowan Calmer, which is a joy to knit with, in that dark plummy blue. After the lace and a few rows of knitting, I switched to a smaller size so that it would be snug up top, but not at the bottom. It fits like a dream. I love it. AND, since we've had so much warm weather in DC over the past six months, I actually had a few chances to wear it before autumn set in.
Right now, I'm working on a surprise gift for my sister, and on my husband's Dr. Who scarf. Oh, my God, that thing is long. More than 1,000 rows, each one consisting of 60 stitches of DK-weight wool. All garter stitch. If it weren't for the color changes (and the fact that I love Chris overwhelmingly) it would have driven me to distraction by now.
As it is, once that scarf is done, I'm going to buy a few hunks of great yarn and make myself something special. But I don't know what, yet.
Suggestions always welcome...
