UFOs and Wool Allergies

In December, I decided to approach UFO (Unfinished Objects) .  Most recent was Zoe's sweater, Peace Fleece yarn, two strands used alternately.  Working from too many patterns, after leaving it for a couple of months, I needed help from Betty at Knitty City to finish.  With its big, stretched-out neck, (see January 1 post), decided it was not obvious how to wear, and made decoration for the front.  Best part.

In 2002, I found a cute online pattern for "Lil Devil Baby Hat" to knit for Zach.  Stopped because I could not do Invisible Cast On, later learned from this video.  Yarn is Brown Sheep's Nature Spun, #7 needle, pattern HERE.  A package has now gone to Portland with the hat for Zoe.

Along with a new garment for the teddy bear I made.  Turns out the sweater (same yarn as one above, Peace Fleece) was "...too scratchy, Grandma."  His mother has realized he is either allergic to or supersensitive to wool.  Pretty common with kids these days along with lactose intolerance.

Okay,  turned out a cotton sweater with a button in the back-- for opening and closing practice; pattern from Sandra Polley's "The Knitted Teddy Bear" book.

Definitely has turned into wool knitting weather in the past few days.

**Speaking up for us... Bothered by the knitting industry's efforts to recast knitting as "hip," and "not your granny's..."?  "Stop Insulting My Grandmother" is a post by a Philadelphia yarn shop owner who will no longer carry books with those titles.  Found the news at Go Knit In Your Hat who often comments on yarn economics and politics of book publishers.     

Comments

[Donna Druchunas]

Hi Naomi,

Have you seen "Never Too Old to Knit: Beautiful Basics for Baby Boomers"? It's the opposite of the not your granny's knitting trend. It's getting pretty bad reviews on amazon, with a lot of reviewers thinking the text is condescending. I have no read it, but I looked at it quickly at my local yarn shop and it seemed like a nice learn-to-knit book to me.

Here's the book description from amazon: With more people than ever interested in knitting, there have been many volumes to teach newcomers the basics and reeducate the lapsed. But none has targeted the mature audience…until now. Designed with larger type for easy readability, with a stay-open hidden spiral for ease of use, and with 30 projects designed by over-50-year-olds for their peers, Never Too Old to Knit will reach this eager, untapped market. It includes a discussion—with medical statements from experts—of knitting’s many health and stress-relief benefits; the therapeutic advantages range from increased mental and creative stimulation to an improved social life as knitters gather together to work and chat. Clearly illustrated instructions present all the basics, from casting on to completing simple garments, so both novice and returning knitters can start stitching immediately. And because more-advanced techniques are covered too, the book becomes a valuable reference as skills improve. The appealing—and portable—projects all feature beautiful colors and textures, yet none are very difficult to complete.

http://www.amazon.com/Never-Too-Old-Knit-Beautiful/dp/1933027088/sr=8-1/qid=1169515014/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-5341857-9118426?ie=UTF8&s=books

[Naomi Dagen Bloom]

Reply to Donna...for my taste all the titles that age-skew, if that's the right term, are annoying. This one sets my teeth on edge from so many perspectives that it's hard to know where to start! If I were a boomer, my reaction would be, "Why does this publisher think we're so clueless?"

[MotherPie]

The view of Sandia Mountain in one of your posts is just beautiful. That is where I enjoy a lot of time. New Mexico is gorgeous.

Loved your TNN link.

Also think it is quite interesting and profound that you are realizing the powerful implications of the role of grandmotherhood.

Grandmothers can spot aptitudes, foster interests and touch souls in ways that mothers often don't. There is also something that happens in the memories of children when grandparents take the time to enrich their lives. You must be enjoying the experience immensly. My richest relationship was the one with my grandmother.