Kay's Korner - A Knitters Notes

I am so blessed being surrounded by a family full of men. Bill, my husband of over 28 years, my grown son, Luke whom many of you know as my boss, and Will our first born, now living in San Diego. Naturally, I try to knit for them, wanting them wrapped in soft, yarny love, but where it is easy to find projects that the women in my life will appreciate, my men are a more challenging task. For all of you looking for man pleasing projects, perhaps you can benefit from my years of experience making gifts for the men in my life.

My first experience in knitting for the male of the species was a resounding failure. I was about 13 years old and crocheted a cardigan as a gift for my older brother. Lots of allowance and hours of work produced a sweater only a mother could love, but certainly not my brother. Even with natural wood buttons and masculine colors, the fit was terrible and the overall effect quite "home made" rather than "hand made." Although as a Southern gentleman he made the appropriate comments, the sweater was never worn and probably donated if not discarded. Strike one.

As I matured, both as a person and as a needle artist, my second gift to a man was during my senior year of high school. I purchased a lovely kit for a crocheted afghan and made it for a home economics credit. The finished project was quite detailed and lovely, but my pride at Christmas turned into regret in February when my bull headed beau sought greener (and older) pastures. Strike two.

Not one to give up easily, my third gift to a man in my life was a knitted raglan pullover detailed with rows of cables up the yoke. I chose a soft, medium brown 100% wool worsted and a pattern above my skill set. My then boyfriend had enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was shipping out February 13th. I worked diligently to finish this sweater before his departure, learning about cables, stitch holders, and proper blocking along the way. To my delight, the finished project was PERFECT! Bill was very impressed at both my craftsmanship and my diligence, that I had spent many clandestine hours creating a sweater , a beautiful sweater, for him. Yes, I know what "they" say about boyfriend sweaters, but to this day, my husband relates how this knitted gift had a significant part in winning his heart. Home run! A hand made gift is not only beautiful, it is also a tangible symbol of commitment, all tied up in yarn. Each stitch expresses your love.

Since that occasion, knitting with a man in mind no longer stresses me and all of my gifts have been well received. A Noro hat and scarf set for my father lay in his drawer for several years, but upon his retirement, it became his chosen warmth for every winter walk. Both sons have oversized, cozy afghans in their choice of colors, snuggly warmth for now and keepsakes for years to come. Some of our friends have enjoyed knitted gifts as well. Doug's Big Wave was knit for a friend and then became a popular, easy pattern, its popularity outlasting the production of the title named yarn. Other ideas for man pleasing projects are cowls, ski hats, gloves, socks and ties. All require only modest amounts of yarn, which gives you the option of splurging on the good stuff! A cashmere scarf is a truly luxurious accessory, even when knit in a simple stitch pattern. Ties knit in sock yarn can be quite dashing and, in my book, nothing says love quite like a gift of hand knit socks.

On Kay's Needles

It seems that my needles have been so busy that my pen needs to play catch up! Nothing gets my needles clicking like a gusty Autumn day! When working on a design for a moebius lace scarf, an inspiration from Cat Bordhi's moebius scarf seen on the DIY network show, Knitty Gritty, I discovered when I was binding off the double coil of stitches, that I had knit a beautiful lace collar. The project, with its many rows of fagoting, would not fit a neck snuggly enough to be worn as a scarf, but the lovely layers of lace will look marvelous as a collar to a pullover sweater. Hopefully, I can come up with a fitting pullover design this month, to complete the concept.

My sock knitting has taken several turns. I began my On Line Supersocke project on #3 US double point needles, only to find the knit fabric was too loose for a durable sock. Not only did I change to a smaller needle, but I also changed to two circular needles, following instructions for an alternate sock knitting technique. I am currently working on the heel, where I have again changed the needle gauge, using a #1 US needle in order to knit a denser fabric for a longer wearing sole. I have been consulting Cat Bordhi's book, Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles, for my basic sock pattern and her clear instructions on this increasingly popular sock knitting technique.

I have designed a cozy rustic cardigan to ward off those chilling winds, perfect to wear with jeans, a khaki skirt, or my favorite corduroy jumper. The yarn I am using for my sweater is Himalayas by Queensland Collection , a lofty single ply 100% wool that has variegated color and texture. The thin-thick nature of the yarn brings interest to a simple stockinette stitch pattern, making this a good choice for a first sweater by a novice knitter. I have chosen to add polished wood buttons, to add a country feel to my colorway of autumn colors, but for those seeking a more urban look, try fun and funky Lucite buttons in coordinating colors. Himalayas is a bulky weight yarn, so this is truly a quick knit and as always, Queensland Collection yarns are a good value, while not forsaking quality. Himalayas Cardigan will be available at rerepurls.net November 1, 2008, with the Rare Purls Original Pattern free with purchase of the kit;

Also on my needles, an infant haat for my newest nephew, Blake Alan. I have knit a hat in Andes by Ester Bitran yarns to match one I made for Blake's dad last year. The colorway is David's favorite, the colors of mossy oak camouflage in a 100% wool, hand dyed yarn.

Stitches South

What better way to spend a long weekend than among literally tons of yarn, innovative knitting instructors, and the season's hottest designers?! April 23-26, 2009, Stitches South will make its debut at the fashionable Galleria in North Atlanta. Stitches expos have been a mecca for knitters for many years now and finally Stitches is coming to the South. Classes, fashion shows, yarn distributors, and a gaggle of retail vendors will be gathered at the Galleria to present a long weekend of fiber excitement. For those of you traveling here to join in on the fun, the adjacent hotel and other nearby lodging have many rooms available, placing you in the lap of luxury while you rest your feet between shopping, classes, and other knitterly diversions. Shop till you drop, take a class from a nationally recognized instructor, learn a new and innovative technique, then retire to your room to cast on and rest up for the next day.

Rare Purls will be there in the thick of the fun, offering our original kits plus some of our own favorite designer lines. This will certainly be the yarn event of the year south of the Mason Dixon line and I urge you to make plans early. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact me at kmather@rarepurls.net. I hope to see you there!

For photos and more information, go to Knitting For the Men in My Life - Part 2 at
http://rarepurls.net/b2/blogs/blog1.php/2010/11/11/knitting-for-the-men-in-my-life-part-2

Copyright Kay Mather 2008