Mohair Lace Inferno

Thinking about all the people for whom one has knit pieces will invariably make one begin thinking of the pieces themselves.

Rebecca has posted a photo of herself wearing a purple/gray mohair scarf I made for her years ago (six years to be exact. I am getting old.) I remember making this scarf using two balls of Classic Elite's Lace Mohair and worrying that it was way too short (I still feel this way, look how short it is in the photo.) At the time it was one of my only forays into the world of lace knitting. What astounded me was how much the scarf "looked like" Rebecca--the lace and the color fit into Rebecca's palette. Rebecca has amazing style and is one of the few women I know who can look elegant in the color gray. In fact, when looking at Rebecca's clothes, I would always be overwhelmed with a desire to run right out and buy the suede pants she was wearing except that deep down I knew it would never work on me. It is the same with this scarf. Much as I loved it (and, in truth, I had originally planned to keep it for myself) I knew, in my heart of hearts, that it was meant for Rebecca. Oh, now I miss her a lot and wish she lived here so that we could go yarn store trolling together--Rebecca moved to the Bay Area (boo) and took up knitting (yay). Of course, had she been a knitter when she lived in Chicago, I may never have given her the scarf. I hesitate to make anything for other people who knit. I feel like the process is so rewarding and I imagine anything they really want, they would have made or are planning to make for themselves. The last thing I want to do is impose my work on someone else. However, in the case of Rebecca and this scarf, I may have forced it upon her anyway because it really looked so perfectly her.

So I was thinking about this scarf and my plans for the four balls of the same lace mohair (in gray) which I have had in my stash for the better part of the last decade. Now, given the fact that I used the same pattern I used for Rebecca's scarf (with repeats of the lace) I expected to have just enough yarn to make a shawl. Apparently, I didn't used number 10 needles for the scarf. Not only did I have enough yarn for a shawl, I completed a scarf (with lace pattern I found in a stitch book) and I still have over half a ball left with which I will most likely make a matching lace hat to go with the scarf. And the strange thing is that I am beginning to understand what all those lace knitters mean when they say lace knitting is addictive. I am not saying that it has replaced my love for making intricately cabled things, but man oh man, there is nothing like lace for instant gratification. It took me two weeks to make Laddie's sport weight scarf and it took only two days to make a lace scarf. I don't remember it being so easy the last time I tried knitting lace. Quite the opposite, in fact. I recall being so frustrated that I swore I would never knit lace again. And it seemed to take every bit as long as any other type of knitting. I was just relieved it turned out okay.

So, yes, instead of finishing the pieces on which I have been working for months, I made a bunch of new things. I haven't blocked anything and Julian dropped our digital camera (Happy Easter!) so it may be a few days before I post pictures or the patterns.

Oh, and lest you think that being a fashion and knitting maven is all there is to Ms. Rebecca, I must add that she is an extremely talented actress and director. I am lucky to have worked with her and hope to be so honored in the future. She is also super smart and a good friend.