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If you were sick, what kind of hand knit would you want? Now with FO pic!  

post #1 of 21
2/21/08 at 7:44pm
Thread Starter 
The title pretty much sums it up. I have a former neighbor whom I like very much. We're friendly, but not close friends (so I don't know her all that well). This friend is going through radiation treatment for a stomach tumor. She can't have people over, and she'll need surgery to reconnect her colon sometime down the road. So, she's isolated and pretty much confined to her sofa. I want to knit her something warm and comforting with some worsted-weight silk/merino yarn I have in a gorgeous turquoise blue and green colorway. I'd make a 2nd Clapotis out of it (the first was for me), but I work full-time and have 3 small kids and I'd like my friend to get this gift in this lifetime . So, any ideas what I should knit? If you were sick and it were cold and gloomy, what would make you smile? I knit at maybe an advanced-beginner level
post #2 of 21
2/21/08 at 7:57pm
This shawl is easy and pretty:


http://www.cosmicpluto.com/blog/?p=443

It starts with 3 stitches and increases from there, and it's done whenever you think it's the right size. You could do the garter/stockinette stripes, or just do the whole thing in garter to make it go faster. This is a fairly mindless pattern, too, so it's easy to work on with the kids around.

You're a good neighbor--how kind of you to take the time to do something thoughtful for someone who is sick.
post #3 of 21
2/21/08 at 9:25pm
A hat might be very nice.
post #4 of 21
2/21/08 at 9:59pm
maybe some slippers? I don't knit, so if they are really hard, just ignore me! or maybe a hat if she will be losing her hair.

that is so sweet! you are just awesome! (I know you didn't post so ppl would think that, I just admire ppl, especially that are as busy as you, taking time to help others)
post #5 of 21
2/21/08 at 10:00pm
A pair of hand knit socks might be really nice.
post #6 of 21
2/21/08 at 10:26pm
http://www.knitty.com/issuefall04/PATThallowig.html

Not easy or fast but would be both amusing and fun, as well as cheerful and warm.

But as a beginner beginner, not even an advanced beginner like yourself, I'd probably settle for socks or felted slippers... maybe even adapt a toe up pattern to an ankle sock... that way you know you can finish...

You rock for doing this, so often people don't even think about others.
post #7 of 21
2/21/08 at 10:41pm
I like the shawl idea... And the hat if there could be hair issues. Also, a blanket or teddy bear if you can find a quick and easy pattern. So kind of you to knit something for her!
post #8 of 21
2/21/08 at 11:43pm
Thread Starter 
You guys are so sweet I'm not good friends with my prior neighbor, but she's a REALLY NICE person and this has got to be rough on her. I've only talked with her hubby about her treatment, so I don't know the whole story on whether she can expect to lose her hair. I really don't want to presume, so I'm wary of a hat. But I'm definitely leaning toward a shawl - and if I use the silk/merino wool I have, it's practically a 3-season item. I love my Clapotis - do you suppose I could make a smaller version that would still wrap in a satisfying and cozy kind of way? Otherwise, the shawl that 3boobykins linked is a definite maybe
post #9 of 21
2/21/08 at 11:45pm
Thread Starter 
Oh, and I really like the idea of socks, but I've never done a pair, so I'm not sure this is a good time to tackle that particular skill set. But I do love the LTK felted mocs pattern, so maybe I'll check to see if I have some wool that will felt (I have lots of Peace Fleece, but I haven't had much luck with getting it to felt...)
post #10 of 21
2/21/08 at 11:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MomInFlux View Post
Oh, and I really like the idea of socks, but I've never done a pair, so I'm not sure this is a good time to tackle that particular skill set. But I do love the LTK felted mocs pattern, so maybe I'll check to see if I have some wool that will felt (I have lots of Peace Fleece, but I haven't had much luck with getting it to felt...)
The mocs or the fuzzy feet from knitty. You could get these done fairly quickly and the felting will get rid of any errors you might make. (But, PF will take forever to felt, so maybe some Lamb's Pride?? Or, Patons Merino?)

You are doing a wonderful thing!
post #11 of 21
2/22/08 at 12:29am
I second (third?) a shawl of some type, they are very cozy to cuddle up with.
post #12 of 21
2/22/08 at 4:07am
I would stick with the clap, but stop increasing sooner...
post #13 of 21
2/22/08 at 11:12am
It's so sweet of you to think of her!
Quote:
Originally Posted by MomInFlux View Post
and she'll need surgery to reconnect her colon sometime down the road.
Is she going to have a colostomy as part of her treatment? If so, I would use machine-washable yarn. I've heard colostomy bags can be messy to deal with, especially when you're first getting used to them, and it would be a shame if she had an incident with it and lost your gift as a result.
post #14 of 21
3/1/08 at 12:17am
good thinking about the machine-washable! even without the chance of a colostomy bag, it's good to be able to wash it. i mean, when folks are sick it's good to be able to surround them with clean fresh things. and my first pick would def. be a shawl or a blanket. something to snuggle into on the couch!
post #15 of 21
3/1/08 at 7:15pm
Thread Starter 
I thought long and hard about a machine-washable yarn, and I even started knitting with some bulky cotton chenille I have in a gorgeous, sunny yellow and orange colorway. (But the yarn made me want to scrub floors and shovel snow much more than it made me want to knit.) So I went back to the wonderful, luxurious silk/merino worsted weight yarn I had, and knitted up a Simple Yet Effective Shawl. It's nicely sized, maybe 5 feet long across the neck and 2 feet wide, so it should be both comforting to wrap up in and luxurious feeling. I have pics, but Shutterfly is giving me fits, so I'll try to post one later. I'm actually on my way out the door to deliver the present. Hope my friend it!
post #16 of 21
3/1/08 at 9:23pm
yay! It sounds beautiful! I made one for myself and wear it all the time to keep warm in our often chilly house.
post #17 of 21
3/1/08 at 11:36pm
Thread Starter 
So I got to visit with my neighbor/friend. She's doing MUCH better than expected. She decided NOT to do radiation, so she's only taking chemo pills, and is up for visitors, though she's keeping contact with the general population to a minimum. We had a wonderful visit and she loves the shawl. Yay!

Pic of Shawl
post #18 of 21
3/2/08 at 12:53am
I LOVE it! The colors are just lovely. I'm glad she liked it--and can't help feeling a bit of warm fuzzy that you used the pattern I suggested.

Glad to hear your friend is doing better than expectede!
post #19 of 21
3/2/08 at 2:26am
That is beautiful!!!
post #20 of 21
3/2/08 at 4:28pm
That is so sweet.

ETA : I'm currently knitting my mother-in-law a shawl to comfort her after the loss of her husband. Being unable to be there with my in-laws at this difficult time (they're in Turkey) was so hard, I didn't know what to do. It's been very therapeutic to work through this shawl for her.
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Mothering › Forums › Natural Family Living › Arts & Crafts › Yarn Crafts › If you were sick, what kind of hand knit would you want? Now with FO pic!