When September Ends

As you may or may not know, I have recently become a knitter. Not a Knitter, just a knitter. I made my very own fifteen foot long black acrylic scarf which grows whenever I touch it. I built my dad's ultra soft, non-itchy, hairy-looking scarf of just the right length which I gave him for Christmas. I created Jim's very soft, a little too short black acrylic scarf (which he only recently started wearing because he became sick of hearing my "why aren't you wearing the scarf I made?" rants, and wanted me to stop telling him he doesn't love me). I have a deep seeded desire to learn how to read patterns, make socks, construct my own sweaters, design my own patterns, and eventually have an entirely self-made wardrobe (sans, perhaps, panties, but we'll see).

The other day (Thursday), I spent eighty dollars at Romni Wools on Queen West. For a Knitter, this is nothing. For a knitter, this is quite a leap of faith. I acquired two balls of alpaca/marino wool of a burnt orange to make a new colourful (and no so long) scarf for myself. Then, with a project in mind, I bought six balls of a similar colour in a machine washable, all natural wool, and my very first pair of circular needles, size four. I'm practicing with these needles and making my scarf with them, although scarves never require circular needles.

What's the project, and why the circular needles?

Please notice that all I have ever made are scarves. They're good scarves, I grant you, but mere scarves nonetheless. I need to stretch my boundaries. I need to try new things. I need to make a blanket. And I have just the opportunity. My coworker and former supervisor is pregnant with her very first child. She's due on my birthday, strangely enough, which makes it the end of August. By the time she's willing to attempt taking this new human outside, it will be early September; early autumn. This child will require a blanket. This child will have a blanket made in a fall colour. This child will have a handmade, machine washable, bright burnt orange blanket.

I decided on bright orange for this reason, but also because orange is one of those fabulous "androgynous" colours. Since my pregnant friend has no idea (and I think no desire to know) what gender she carries, and since she and I are not so fond of traditional "baby colours," burnt autumnal orange seems the best solution. Giving myself from the time I finish my scarf (in a few weeks I'm sure) until August also seems a good solution. Blankets are time consuming. I've got about five months to complete it. I'm excited.

I've also recently learned to purl, which is awesome. I've incorporated purling in my new and upcoming scarf. It adds an interesting texture, and even tends to make it a little lumpy in a really cool way. I look forward to its completion. Then I'll be able to use the round needles for what they're for: holding excess stitches of the blanket. I will keep my enraptured readers updated on my progress. I'm sure you're soiling yourselves in anticipation. Knitting rocks my world.

And yes, if you ask me, I'm more than willing to teach you. I'll even lend you the needles.