Thank You

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and condolences.  My family spent a quiet week together remembering my father.  I am very lucky to have a strong, close family and we took comfort in each other's company.

As we did during our many, long months in hospitals and nursing homes, we sat and knit together.  I cast on and finished "Turbulent Indigo" in a few days.

It is named for a favorite Joni Mitchell song and album.  The patterning and colors remind me of the song.  The name also seems appropriate for those difficult days when it was knit.

I cast on 240 (ish) stitches and knit from end to end to allow the striping of the yarn to run vertically on the scarf.

I knit until the yarn ran out.  Using 4 oz. of handspun yarn, the resulting scarf is roughly 5.5"x64".  It is adequate for my somewhat less than statuesque height. 

DD#1 did a nice job modeling while we waited for her sister to get ready for school this morning.

Turbulent Indigo

Pattern:  My own. If anyone is interested I will write it up and offer it as a freebie here.  I wrote the pattern up this afternoon, it is in the sidebar.
Yarn:  Handspun from 4 oz. of Knitterly Things Vesper Roving, 100% BFL, colorway "Afterglow".  The yarn is a bit itchy, so the scarf will mostly be worn over coats.
Needles:  US 7
Finished Size:  5.5"x64"

Thank you again for your kind, supportive comments.  They really meant a lot to my family and me.
OX
Kirsten

Comments

[Teresa]

I'm glad to hear that you're feeling a little better. I know what it's like when a loved one passes. My father passed away in '99 and it was a very emotional time since he had been really sick for the past 11 years to this.

The scarf is beautiful! I'd love to knit it if you posted the pattern. As always, you're daughter does a wonderful job modeling.

[Carole]

The scarf is beautiful and yes, please, to the pattern. I'm glad you were able to find comfort in your knitting.

[Arianne]

I would be interested! Beautiful scarf.

[Octopus Knits]

The scarf is lovely!

[nova]

It is a gorgeous scarf, I always like to see finished knits from people's handspun.

It is good to have a close family to lean on in times of need. I am glad you found comfort in spending time with your fam and knitting.

[tiennie]

It really is so pretty. Wishing the best to you and your family.

[Heather]

So beautiful, Kirsten. Glad you have had time with your family.

[Kim]

I think that our knitting helps us thru both difficult and sad times. Your scarf is so beautiful!

[gemma]

Thank you for the pattern, it looks great. Sad news to loose your dad, best wishes & prayers to your family.

[Stephanie]

beautiful - the yarn and scarf and model are all lovely!

My Condolences on your loss. Sadly, I know too many folk who are knitting their way through tough times right now :( the knitting is calming and soothing though and can bring some small measure of joy in a time of sadness.

[Liz K.]

In the immediate days and weeks after my father died, I just made swatches, dozens of little schmattes. It's all I could handle. But it was so soothing to just give the the grief to the subconsious for a bit, and quiet my mind.

Thinking of you.

[mel]

I'm so sorry for the loss of your father - I saw your post on Spun Stitches, but didn't put two and two together until I saw your lovely scarf posted here as well. Losing a parent is one of the toughest things in the world, and my heart goes out to you.

[Kristy]

You found a beautiful way to begin working through your grief. I'm thinking of you and your family.

[clarabelle]

It's a beautiful pattern, Kirsten, all the more appropriate because of the association with your dad's passing.

And I've always loved Joni Mitchell (aarrggh, shows my age!). 'Court and Spark' was a favourite of mine....

[barb]

A lovely scarf on a lovely girl! My condolences to you and your family.

[barb]

A lovely scarf on a lovely girl! My condolences to you and your family.

[Betty]

Oh my. I refer to this sort of project as "Beauty in the Ashes" ... as we create art in the midst of heartbreak and turbulence.

I 'know' your sister through facebook and now on Ravelry (I'm Betriska).

I lost my dad June 11 this year. My condolences to you and your family.

[Jenn]

Lovely scarf. And actually very fitting for some yarn I've been trying to find a use for in the stash.

[Roobeedoo]

Inspired times 3! Thank you so much for this blog!

[Brenda]

I'm glad you have such a close family and that you could be together.

Such a beautiful scarf! I love the colors and striping.

[Maggie]

Only found your blog today. Very sorry to hear about your Dad's passing. My Dad died of vascular dementia late July, and Mum of dementia and associated problems mid September.

I carried my knitting everywhere with me (was knitting some cozy bed socks for Mum) but never had the time to do any - find it difficult to knit when travelling by car. I guess it acted a bit like a talisman at the time - just having it with me was enough. ;-)

Really looking forward to seeing your completed Memorial Vest. I'm not a very confident knitter yet, but will definitely be giving it a try when you publish it.

Best wishes from Liverpool

[Rhonda the Stitchingnut]

I would love the scarf pattern. It's really lovely.

[Carol Syson Wood]

I am sorry for your loss. I have also suffered this week with the loss of my godfather and this project is very soothing. Is the third row off my stitch count was only 14 per repeat. Carol