October 13, 2004
A sweater's struggles for freedom
Skelly here. Skelly "Guy" Noir, Private Eye, at your service.
Let me tell you about a girl. A girl named Lara.
She was a sweet little gray thing, all alpaca and silk. She was a nice enough girl, and well knit, but she...well, she was a little fast. A little loose. Liked that open lifestyle she’d been leading in the WIP basket, had started running with the Peace Fleece crowd, was seen out in the shadows of the wrong side of town more than once all tangled up with Lorna’s Laces. Lara wasn’t a girl who wanted to be tied down. When it came time for her to be seamed, she ran.
That’s where I come in, see. Cari, she went to the WIP basket, ready to finish Lara. All it was going to take was a little bit of seaming and Lara would be a sweater. Well, she got to that basket and found that Lara had run off. That's when she put me on the case. I tracked that girl all over the house. Caught a glimpse of her going down the stairs.
She was a brainy one. Blended in with the crowd on the coat rack and I almost missed her. I managed to get a hand on her sleeve, but she was so soft she slipped right through my fingers.
Then she hid behind a plant. Desperation ain’t attractive in a sweater, cardi or pullover.
Finally, she knew she was cornered. The gig was up. We sat down for a little chat, and we made a deal. I would bring her in for seaming, but even after she was a sweater she would still be allowed to visit her friends in the Stash from time to time. Seemed reasonable enough to me, and Cari agreed.
And so the kid went under the needle. I won’t say I wasn’t nervous. I get a little queasy at the sight of lint. The results, though? Well, she’s a beaut. And you know what? After all that trouble, Lara says she’s really happy to be a sweater. See how serious Cari looks in all these photos? She was REALLY mad at Lara for that disappearing act she pulled.
Lara likes to hang all open and loose still...
...but from time to time she’s willing to be closed.
Truth be told, she’s happiest open, which works just fine because Cari agrees. Decide for yourself, if you're going to be at Rhinebeck on Saturday. Cari will be wearing Lara. Oh yeah—and Cari finished her Silk Garden capelet too. That was an easy job, and she didn’t need to call me in to throw my bones around—no seaming!
Great post. Lara looks lovely. It's a great fit. You'll be smashing at Rhinebeck. Have a great time.
Posted by: JessicaI was ambivalent about that sweater until I saw it prancing around and then on you. Gorgeous.
Have fun at Rhinebeck. Wish I was going too.
Posted by: StephannieDon't forget your raingear. Looks like rain Saturday, and all that precious alpaca and silk.....geez, I think you're a little crazy for bringing that lovely to the sheep & poop festival. But I'll be looking for that lovely hair. I'll find you!
Posted by: NormaEvery time you do this, you almost kill me. Oh, my god. I love you.
Posted by: RachaelSUGOI! [Wow!] graet post. Very creative...the sweaters, too! LOL. I like Lara...it looks great
Posted by: queen tTee Hee Hee. One of the best posts I've seen in months. Thanks!
Lara looks fab, and your capelet is cute too. Enjoy Rhinebeck; fondle yarn for the rest of us that can't go, k?
Yikes! I hope my Lara doesn't read this entry -- she might get ideas. She's already in a snitty mode from being worn over a silk dress yesterday and spent the day trying to escape the dress...
Posted by: WendyDoes Skelly track down lost circulars, too? I've gotten no response to the fliers I've posted, and I'd really like to see my Addis again....
Great post. Great FOs. Great hair. Won't be hard to find you at Rhinebeck.
Posted by: IrisGorgeous!!! What a great sweater and a wonderful entry to start my day! Have a safe trip and maybe I'll see you there! (can't wait, can't wait! Rhinebeck here I come!!)
Posted by: MjI'm so glad you did a photo shoot before Rhinebeck, because I was worried I wouldn't recognize you. Lara looks gorgeous, and I can't wait to see her in person!
Posted by: EmWow! That Lara is one crafty gal. It's a good thing you have a persistent detective on the case to wrangle her into submission. Lara is GORGEOUS on you, btw. And such personality!
Posted by: AnnWow!!!! She's gorgeous!!! Now you really want to make me get mine finished!! Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: NicoleVery pretty. I will look for HER at Rhinebeck.
Posted by: CindyLovely Lara and Cari. I think the Silk Garden capelet is smashing. I'll be on the lookout for you in Rhinebeck.
Posted by: GinaBoy, I'm glad you caught that elusive little Lara, because she sure is a beaut. I'll look for both of you on Sat. Pray it's dry!
Posted by: JackieCute Lara...I'll look for you both this weekend!
Posted by: claudialara is beautiful. once again your finished object story is priceless! can't wait to see ya!!!!!
Posted by: carolynHilarious. And the pics of you in Lara and the capelet are AWESOME. I wanna make it now!
And by the way, can your hair be ANY cuter?
Posted by: CarrieBwahahahaha! I also need the fine detective to come over and find all my needles. What's his per diem?
I'll drop you an e-mail -- I might need to Rhinebeck on Saturday!
Posted by: RoseI'm certainly happy that my Lara is under control. At least I hope she is. If she gets wind of what your Lara is up to she'll wanna come along to Rhinebeck! Oh, that might be ME who wants to come along to Rhinebeck. Have a great time and if you show Lara a good time, too she'll stick around, surely!
PS She looks good on you, grrl!!
Posted by: margeneStop it! I can't take all the gorgeousness!
Posted by: LeslieHey Yarn hair! Keep an eye out for my yarn hair this weekend, hope to see you there! ;)
And Lara looks awesome!
Posted by: AmberWOW! I"m new to your blog, but wow - your Lara is g o r g e o u s, and I love your capelet!! truly lovely knitting and amazing colors!
Posted by: gaileHysterical! Lara looks great! Say hi to Bard for me, maybe have a margarita at Santa Fe?
Posted by: melanieHill-ar-i-ous!
Thank you for the laughs and the looksies at your beautiful sweater.
I got extra enjoyment from this because I have a buddy skelleton, too. His name is Bucky, despite my hubby wanting to name him something uber corny, like Napolean Bone-apart.
You are adorable. You crack me up. You look fabulous in your knits. This post has it all. xoxo
(Is that your raincoat on the coatrack? Cuuute!)
Oh, and the capelet? I think I know what to do with my leftover b-day money. (I'll pick a different colour, I swear! Well, maybe...)
Posted by: alisonYour Lara looks so good! So far yours is the best fitting one I've seen, I'm really impressed! So often, sweaters still look obviously hand knit, but this one just looks good!!
Susan
Posted by: susanI love this post :-) Lara is wonderful.
Posted by: Rebeccaglad you managed to coax lara out from behind that tree. goodness knows we can't have sweaters hanging out in trees. they look much better on people like you. :)
Posted by: melissa jWhat a funny post! I love your Lara. You look great in her. Beautiful job. Also I love the Silk Garden capelet. What pattern is that? I NEED to make one! :-)
Posted by: EileneFantastic recounting of the Lara story. She's very beautiful and looks so fab on you! I like your capelet, too. Good job!
Posted by: RossanaHey Cari! It was great to meet you at Becky's wedding. We truly must set up a time when I can join you for a knitting session... ah... lesson, I mean! Looking forward to talking soon,
Nirit