A few weeks ago, Ethan asked me to knit him a hat. Since I have currently started more knitting projects than I have finished, I wanted a quick knit. I chose a pattern I saw on A Friend To Knit With’s blog —a chunky knit beanie, because it looked like it could be knit in an afternoon.
I was right. I knit the hat on Sunday and Ethan wore it to school the next day. I felt like a fiber arts genius.
Until my husband told me he took the hat off of Ethan’s head when he got in line at school because he looked weird in it.
“That hat is for girl,” he said. “It’s too short to be a boy’s hat.”
“What do you mean—it’s a basic, unisex hat,” showing him the picture on the pattern.
“Then why is a girl wearing it?” he asked.
I realized then it was futile to argue with my husband about appropriate attire for his sons. Now what was I going to do with this hat, plus the three hanks of blue Classic Elite Aspen that I was going to knit into hats for James and my husband?
I logged onto ravelry.com, and amazing web site for knitters and crocheters to share their projects. I searched for projects that used Aspen yarn, which is like knitting with dreadlocks. Maybe that’s why I couldn’t find many projects for this yarn. I really didn’t want to make a giant scarf with it. My best bet was this free pattern for a purse.
I didn’t love the purse’s wooden handles, but I did like the cable pattern. Plus, it is 17 inches wide, which is good because big purses seem to be everywhere.
Before I could start, I had to order more supplies—a circular needle, fabric to line the inside the purse and the handles—for a total of $41.37. The purse knitted up quickly, and I got excited about using it.
But the excitement changed to anxiety as I ran out of yarn before I got to the last row. The last thing I wanted to do was order another hank of yarn for $12, including shipping. I also didn’t want to abandon the purse—those handles would forever haunt me if I didn’t do something with them.
I couldn’t bear spending another dime on this project, so I took the cheap way out. I unraveled a hat I made for myself with a gray hank of Classic Elite Aspen and used it to knit the last few rows. My knitter’s fantasy of impressing folks with this purse blew up in my face. No one is going to believe I got it from a boutique with that gray yarn peeking out from the bottom.
My husband would love for me to quit taking these knitting gambles, but I’m just too addicted.
7 comments:
I am tres impressed with your purse, gray yard aside. Cables still stump me even though I made a hat with a cable brim. I haven't tried them since.
How resourceful (although I didn't see the problem with it as a hat)! Must be a guy thing :)
The purse looks great but as you said, the grey yarn at the bottom is a give-away...:(
But the pattern in the middle, it's just wow! Keep knitting, next time i am sure you are going to come up with something great! :)
I think you are a fiber arts genius. And no one will suspect that the addition of the grey yarn wasn't part of your plan unless you tell them (and if you're anything like me, I always feel compelled to point out the flaws to people of things I've done - lol).
So I guess the boys won't be getting any beautiful knit hats for Christmas?
Cathy - can I say that I think you are so awesome for knitting things. I can't do things like that, just can't. And your son looks adorable and like he is not minding that hat too much. Probably because his mom made it for him.
The hat didn't look so bad just needed to be longer in the head. I haven't tried cables yet. I am waiting to make Ben his second hat. I'll try to email you some websites if you're up for another try. : ) Knitting is fun!
My husband is the same way about our boys. You're right, there is no convincing them...
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