Well, I bit the bullet and ripped out the offending rows of Birch. Stitch by stitch was the only way, wrapping the unwound yarn loosely around a handy bobbin (the TV remote). My special tip to all would-be-Birchers? A large, blunt darning needle is wonderful for retrieving all of those hard to find "k2tog tbls" which can then be put back on the needle. What I like about frogging (and it's the only thing) is the way that the structure of the knitting reveals itself as I work backwards. I've finished my seventh pattern repeat and, now that I'm down to a mere 229 stitches a row, I can feel the knitting getting just a little bit quicker. Of course, I'm still zealously checking I have 10 stitches between each marker and making sure that my little birch leaves line up (luckily they do!). Here's a black and white version of my Birch:
I'm not completely bewitched by Birch though. I have managed some other knitting this week, Ava from Rowan's Ribbon Twist Collection just flew off the needles whilst watching the cricket yesterday. In less time that it took Freddy Flintoff to score a few sixes, I managed this much:
The ribbon twist yarn is knitted on 12mm needles and gives a lovely texture especiallly on the purl side which is the right side for this project. Not sure how this will wear, the wool content is pretty loosely spun and may become raggedy over time.
One of the highlights of visiting the family last week was the chance of visiting a new yarn shop. It was Indigo in Penrith which yielded this little project:
I've not used Noro Silk Garden before and thought that I'd try a little project before investing in one of the bigger projects from the new books. What do you think? Is Noro wasted on socks? I've got just the pair of Doc Martens to wear them with though...
It's taken a while to get back into our usual routines here. The family visit was the first time that I've been in a social situation with my youngest daughter, who is completely blind, where other people clearly felt at unease with her disability and chose to deal with it by largely ignoring it and her. It was painful to observe and I can't help feeling that I should have dealt with it better at the time. To be truthful, it was something of a shock as we've all experienced great kindness and encouragement from everyone around us on a day-to-day basis. This experience just rocked our - usually happy - boat a little.
I've been enjoying your blog and knitting for a while now. My youngest son was born with a lazy eye which was very evident in his appearance. He wore glasses at five months of age, but his eyes continued to turn in until corrected with two surgery at two year old. I found that strangers were often more at ease with his physical disability than distant family. It was always easier when people asked questions about his eyes than when people chose to ignore him and pretend that he didn't exist. I now think that they just didn't know what to say and maybe they just didn't know how I would respond to their questions. I understand your pain.
Shannon
Posted by: shannon at August 17, 2004 07:07 PMI nearly fainted when I saw your photo before I read the text! I thought for a moment that you had started yet another Birch and had already gotten that far. Silly me. :)
Posted by: Jessica at August 17, 2004 09:18 PMI feel for you, Anita. I know how hard it is to witness others treating your child unfairly~ especially family.
Your Birch is beautiful. I'm still watching your progress before I decide if I'm going to tackle it. By the way, I saw on the Knitting Doctor's (http://mousepotato.typepad.com/knittingdoctor/)
site her post yesterday about Birch. She linked to another site which had helpful hints.
Hi Anita,
Your Birch looks nice. At the beginning stage, some mistakes cannot be avoid. After some more time, it will go smoothly.
I want to try Ribbon Twist too. I am gong to knit "Jilly" in purple. About the Noro Silk Garden, it is a nice yarn. Beware the colour will comes out a little bit during washing ( I think it beomes more beautiful after several wash).
I feel very sorry about those people's behaviour to your younger daughter. They shouldn't do that. Unfortunately, unfair thing happens everywhere. Please be more brave to face those difficulties. I am sure you are good support to your daughter.
Best regards
Eva
Posted by: Eva Shiu at August 18, 2004 03:49 AMOh Anita,don't be so hard on yourself.
It's very hard to know what to do in these situations.I have still to recover from seeing,in my parents home,hundreds of photographs of Oliver's cousins,and only the two,large,framed pictures that we'd given them of the chick.And then to realise that none of the relatives and friends in Italy had been told of his disability.
Ultimately it is their loss and problem.All we can do is love our children and do our best to give them the chance to live as full a life as possible.Interestingly a 50'ish year old woman I had been talking to,who has cerebral palsy,said she felt people were far less accepting of disability now.I was a bit shocked by that.
It can be a harsh world,and I suppose we have to prepare our children for that too.
From Birch to Ava... doesn't it feel weird holding those drumsticks after working on lace? They do make for fast knitting, though. I love the Noro colors; I don't think they're "wasted", per se. Just think that your feet will be pampered in them!
I'm sorry for the way people (or relatives) behave; it's really selfish and inconsiderate of them to ignore your daughter. I hope that they weren't doing it knowingly. Be strong, let them know the next time.
Posted by: MJ at August 18, 2004 07:18 PMHi Anita
I'm so sorry to hear about your tough family experience. Both of my parents were totally blind - my Dad as a result of a genetic condition and my Mum following a serious accident when she was 5 years old.
Fortunately none of the 3 of us inherited Dad's condition (tho' we are carrier's of it) and I still remember my deep, deep anger and the outbursts I used to have as a child when other adults spoke to me and completely ignored my parents - the "does she take sugar ?" syndrome.
Both of them were (still is in Dad's case !) intelligent, accomplished people who gained university degrees, raised a close trio of children, saw all 3 of us through university, held down demanding, professional full-time jobs and still had time to care for others. Before my Mum died,far too young, in 1988, she was the main carer for her own mother as none of the rest of the family bothered - and so the job fell to me until Grandma died in 1995.
It pisses me off immensely still to hear of the ignorance and lack of consideration of others. I know it is often fear driven but especially when we are talking about adults, I can only think "GROW UP !" It's not catching, disabled people are people too and as I know from my mum's life - tomorrow it could be them. She was born with perfect eyesight and accidents or disabling illness can happen to anyone. I wish people would just think a little.
Rant over ! Birch is fabulous, you must have the patience of a saint. The Noro would look great as socks though I don't find it terribly elastic so you might find they fall down a lot !
Heather X
Posted by: Heather at August 19, 2004 06:28 PMThe American in me says, that you should sit down with these relatives and tell them how you feel about how they treated your daughter and to explain why it was hurtful. I think you need to gently confront people because they are probably not aware of the consequence of their actions. They probably just don't know better and unless you try and explain this to them, they probably never will.
Posted by: P at August 21, 2004 02:22 PMhi Anita,
I wholeheartedly echo the comments above re the insensitivity of some people. Sometimes it's very hard to say 'well, that's their problem' if they can't to deal with something they find difficult, especially when it relates to those you love.
But on another (less confrontational issue) stick with the Birch - it must be at the stage now when it's draping so beautifully at the end of the needles. I adore mine, it's one of my most treasured possessions, it's so fab to wear, and to just leave around the house drapes over a chair/bed/whatever!
As for your silk garden socks + doc martin combo - I would add some reinforcement (dare I say something with a tiny bit of nylon?)to the heel as it's not the most hardwearing wool in the world and it's such a shame if they wear out, especially when they've become your fave socks - as I've found out....
Posted by: marianne at August 22, 2004 05:21 PMYour Birch is looking divine. I feel so sorry about the way your daughter was treated. It hurts the deepest when family behaves like that. Do be strong.
Posted by: Siow Chin at August 23, 2004 08:02 AMI was inspired to sew by a neighbors' visiting niece who could not "speak, hear, or see". She made a new outfit for my doll who had its' originally outfit falling apart. We are ignorant until we learn...
Posted by: travelita at August 28, 2004 04:22 AMLove the Noro socks...and am inspired to try socks again with the Noro yarn I have now. I do have a question for you though...what color no. is the Noro you are working with?
Posted by: Anita at August 29, 2004 01:59 AM