Sunday, December 11, 2016

Trendy Fringe...


Getting started a bit late, I'm happy to say I finished the first of the three scarves I decided to make for Christmas gifts.


Unfortunately, though... I have a problem.  See...  when I asked my husband if he thought it would make a good gift for a guy he said, "Oooh, yeah!  That would look really good with my dark gray coat."

Uuuuuhhhh...   Hmmmm...  Well...   Shoot.  As nice as it was to hear that he liked the scarf enough that he'd like to wear it, I really wasn't making it for him (he already has a scarf I made, so don't feel badly for him).

But he did really seem to like this one, and he especially liked the red in it.  So how I could I say no?  I did some quick calculating in my head and decided that I could probably make 4 scarves before Christmas.  So I told him he could have it if he wanted it.


Then he told me "But you don't have to put all that "trim" on it for me".  I saw a window of opportunity (i.e. a chance to possibly talk him out of this scarf in particular) and I told him that was fringe and it's one of the wonderful things about using this yarn. It makes a great self-fringe and I don't have to weave all those ends in.   I told him the fringe stays. And then I told him that fringe is trendy right now (thinking the word "trendy" might just turn him ever so slightly away from wanting to wear this scarf).

 

And then he said, "Cool!  You mean I'll be trendy?"

I replied with a straight face and only the slightest hint of sarcasm, "Yes...  You'll be one trendy, hip guy wearing this scarf."


Then, as if he didn't believe me (and as if it was some consolation for me, or maybe a consolation for him having to wear a trendy, fringed scarf) he said, "Ah well... I'd be proud to wear a scarf you made."

Now, I'm pretty sure this last bit wasn't meant to sound patronizing, but somehow it did.  I told him I didn't want him wearing a scarf I've made for my benefit. I know reading these words, much of the nuance of this conversation is lost, but it was one of those awkward moments where you feel like someone is trying to make you feel good about something you've done and all you can think of is that now your work is added to.

And yet, what person doesn't feel the pleasure when someone wants to wear the thing they've just made.

Sigh.


So, I don't know...   Of course I'd love for him to have the scarf if he'd really enjoy wearing it.  But I don't need any favors here.  Then there's the bigger problem.  The person I was making this for loves red.  And yes, I told the mister that (though, I think he was maybe only half listening).  At least I think the other fella still loves red.  But I don't think he'll be all that excited to get a scarf with red in it and see another scarf I've made using red.  He and the mister are sometimes together and well, if they're both wearing matchy-matchy scarves that could be embarrassing.

Maybe I should go ask this other person what his favorite color is. Nonchalant-like.  Like...  "I'm just suddenly interested in your favorite color, not that I'm considering making anything for you in that color.  So don't go getting any ideas.  That's right - I just suddenly want to know what your favorite color is."

Maybe I'll find out his current favorite color is blue.  Or green.  Or just gray!  Gee...  wouldn't that make things easy!  Okay...  I've got an update before this was published:  I did ask, and while he mentioned red first, he also said he liked olive green and blue.  :)   Hmmm...   I see possibilities here...

So off I go now to feverishly knit (correction - crochet) three more scarves (the second one is about half finished so I do feel good about that).  I think fellow Yopper, Sanda, (AKA Sam) and I are having our own personal CAL for the next couple of weeks with these linen-stitch scarves.   Anyone else can feel free to join us if they like.  :)

I may or may not show my finished scarves between now and Christmas, but we'll see.  My scarf saga may have a new twist by next week.

Until then, I'll probably just be knitting dishcloths when I need a break from crocheting scarves.


I'm loving this variegated yarn (Lily's Sugar n' Cream in the color Mistletoe, and this stitch pattern.  Though, to get the look above, I put a 4-knit-stitch border on each side and a half-inch or so border on the top and bottom.

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I hope you're enjoying this blessed Christmas season.  To see what other YOPPERS are up to, visit our group on Ravelry!








12 comments:

  1. Sounds like a conundrum to me! In my world hubby would have to wait until January for his scarf and I'd make it shades of grey with no red, so he doesn't match his friend. Just my two cents. My husband , who NEVER wears socks even though I've made him two pair including one from Wollemeise yarn, suddenly announced that he's going to start wearing socks and he'd like another pair in a blue-grey ombre. He is DEFINITELY NOT getting those for Christmas. January if he's lucky!

    What a cheery little dishcloth!

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    1. Ahhh... but it was the red that really caught his eye, though. That was where the conundrum lay. lol

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  2. Well, if it makes you feel any better, no one has ever indicated that they would like something I made for someone else. The only suggestion would be to tell your husband you will make him one after Christmas in a different favorite color? Tell him that one is spoken for unless he wants to learn to crochet and make his own....oh, can you tell I live alone? LOL! I had a neighbor (widower) stop by the other day and when I went to the door he said..."Oh, you have beautiful blue eyes"....I told him "I know" and end of conversation....I also know he is looking for someone to do his housework and ironing and meal making too.....no thanks! Being single makes you very wary! LOL! Especially at my age!

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  3. P.S. So you use different colors and then stop at the end and use the ends for fringe? Brilliant! I do love those colors too. It would be a great way to make a "team colors" scarf too....hmmm...I see more of these scarves in my future!

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    1. Yes, Sam... This yarn makes a nice fringe and since I'm doubling it I think it's full enough (especially for a guy's scarf), but if it wasn't, I'd add more yarn for a thicker fringe.

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  4. Lol, I am laughing at your dilemma, as it reminds me of why I am glad I am not married anymore. Men! I love your linen stitch scarfs and leaving the ends for a fringe is a great idea, I just might join you! I adore the Christmasy washcloth!

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    1. Well, I'm glad the humor of my post (and situation) has come through for someone! I don't know about Sam, but I'll be crocheting linen-stitch scarves for another couple of weeks! :)

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  5. You must be a much faster knitter of linen stitch scarves than I am - the one I knit took ages and I couldn't imagine knitting 5 for Christmas. And don't get me started on knitting for husbands. I made mine an aran knit sweater and he never wears it because he doesn't want to get it dirty! grrrr.

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    1. Oh boy... I mistakenly said knit when I meant crochet. You are so right, a knitted linen-stitch scarf would be very slow-going. While the crocheted linen-stitch isn't the speediest way to a scarf, it's much quicker than knit. If I have some blocks of serious uninterrupted time, I can complete one in just a few days.

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  6. Oh husbands......if you had intended it for him, he would probably never wear it. Lol. I may have to look into making a couple of those too for next year. My grands need warm scarves as they walk to school. I am looking at your dishcloth and noticing your tension is superb. Excellent job.

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    1. Be aware, these scarves are rather addictive to make :^) - especially if you like playing with color. I feel like my tension looks much better in this cloth, but looks less consistent in my solid color cloths made with the same stitch pattern. I'm following this one up with a solid on to see if it's possibly the print in the yarn that's disguising tension issues, or if I really am improving. Good thing I enjoy knitting this pattern. Making a number of these with different yarns is a good way to strengthen my tension and to judge how I'm doing in that regard.

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  7. Ha, herein why I don't knit anything for my husband!

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