Knitting

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Because Knitters are Awesome

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new shawlI couldn’t resist sharing this really sweet story about the awesomeness of knitters. Knitter Susan Cottrell from London, Ontario, had been knitting a shawl in turquoise and blue lace, complete with 1,500 beads, while sitting at her husband’s bedside while he underwent a double-lung transplant.

One night she left the shawl in his hospital room and it disappeared. A search that included posting flyers around the hospital came up empty.

But one knitter from Colorado was inspired by the story and decided to knit her a replacement shawl. Katrina King recently sent the shawl to the newspaper that first reported the story and they delivered it to Cottrell, who declared the creation “beautiful.”

As for her husband, he’s now recovering at home, which is pretty beautiful, too.

Thanks for being awesome, knitters.

[Photo by Rick Madonick, via the Toronto Star.]

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Comments

  1. What a wonderful ending for Susan’s husband and the new shawl. GOD bless the giver, gift and recipient.

  3. What a beautiful story. I hope the one she was making will turn up. What a shame someone took it from a hospital at that. Blessings for all in this touching story.

Have you read?

Knit a Spiky Balaclava

Not too long ago my daughter and I had a discussion about what a chestnut really looks like. The nut itself is small and brown, of course, but on the tree they’re covered with this weird kind of spiky, kind of fuzzy shell. It’s a wonder anyone ever figured out they were edible.

If you didn’t know that, you might wonder why this project is call Chestnut balaclava, but now you know.

This fun design from Yevheniia Pyroh is covered with spikes just like a chestnut shell, and is even the same color, though of course you can make yours whatever color you like. It uses two strands of fingering weight yarn held together (which it says is fingering weight but you could try a light/DK yarn and see if you get gauge with it if you’d rather).

There are two different design options in the pattern. One is a more fitted balaclava style hat (it doesn’t cover the face but does go around the neck) and a looser fit hood.

It’s worked primarily in garter stitch, with shaping done by knitting and purling in the same stitch and through various decreases (including a knit 3 together).

The pattern is charted but also explained in words. It’s worked flat to the size you want, and then joined into a hood shape with ribbing at the neck. The opening for the face is finished with I-cord.

This hood/balaclava would definitely be a conversation starter and in different colors it might read more dinosaur than chestnut, which could also be fun. The sizing is totally custom so you can make it fit whatever head you’re stitching for.

If you want to try it for yourself (and I’d love to hear about it if you do!) you can download the free pattern from Ravelry.

[Photo: Yevheniia Pyroh]

Balaclava Knitting Patterns

Colorwork Balaclava Knitting Pattern [Knitting]