I was listening to the Paperclipping Roundtable as they discussed scrapbooking internationally, and how to be aware of the supplies that ARE available in your area, since if you look at internet videos, you can either order a whole lot from the US, or feel left out.
Which reminded me of the orange sweater circa 2000, which I never photographed, and gave away a few years ago. So this will be a visually boring blog post – oh well.
It was 1999, my Dad had recently died, our budget was challenging, and due to my post partum body and extended nursing, I was always cold and had no sweaters that fit. I was complaining in prayer one day while pushing Ben’s stroller, when it occurred to me that I’d never asked for yarn. Or sweaters that fit. So I did, reminding the Lord that I’m fondest of pale orange, teal, brown and oatmeal colors.
A few weeks later, my Uncle’s mother-in-law was visiting their house at the same time I was. She asked if I still knit, and did I mind wool? Her cousin’s friend was moving to Florida and had to find a home for a large box of wool left over from when her mother owned a yarn shop in the ’60s. It was all late late ’60s ugly colors, did I mind? You know, orange, brown and off white. It had been sitting in her friend’s attic for 30 years and might be a bit mothball-y. Did I mind? Would I take it? Really? What was my address?
It came in the mail in less than a week, the box was so large that Ben played in it. I eventually got a sweater set, and three cardigans out of it, and passed a warm and cozy winter.
Thanks Lord.
Being pressed for time (what mother of a toddler is not pressed for time?) I did not design for all that yarn from scratch. This was before Ravelry, so I wasn’t able to look up vintage patterns that actually had called for that yarn. Instead, I looked thorough my collection of Vogue Knitting and Knitter’s magazines for starting places. Next time I’ll write about adapting patterns for the yarn you have.