When Sisters Are Also Friends

My best friend from college, Evie, and her husband just left after a fantastic weekend.  Evie is part of my "Friends" series about my friends and things I've made for them.  We have been friends for 44 years and it just gets better.

Now it's time to introduce you to another of my best friends, my sister Kathy.  Kathy and her husband Ken came last  weekend.  (You are going to think we run a Bed and Breakfast!)  The night before they left Atlanta, I called and said, "Don't forget to bring the stuff I've knit for you so I can take pictures."  She brought lots of stuff, but not everything.  So here we go.

The day Linda and I discovered Crafty Lady in Macomb, Michigan, I also discovered the Puzzle Jacket.  There was a sample knit up AND it was kitted, two of my favorite things.  I think I bought three sweater kits that day.  This was one.  I think I have made four beautiful sweaters all very different from this great pattern.  The very first one went to my sister.  Once again, this is one of those patterns that you're never really sure how it is going to fit until you are done.  That is so much more exciting and suspenseful than just knitting back and forth and being able to check measurements as you go.  

And from the back.  This is such a fun pattern.  It is very old.  If you can find a copy, live a little and make one.  You'll have a ball.

Probably twelve years ago, my Mom was having knee replacement surgery and Kathy came home for a visit.  (You know I completely loose track of time, so it could be even longer.)  Mom was in the hospital in Jackson, Michigan and I decided to check out a new yarn shop.  While there, Kathy saw this wrap and loved it.  She also saw this Noro Kureyon and loved it.  I just happened to have a tub of this yarn (Don't ask!  Remember my fear of finding the perfect pattern AFTER I have used the perfect yarn up.  When I love a yarn, I usually  stock up.)  You really can't tell but I also found the perfect pin.

Remember the infamous, scary, creepy snake scarf?  At the time I commented that I didn't have to buy any yarn because I have a tubful of green and brown yarn from a past project.  This is the project

In 2009, I decided that I was going to make The Great American Afghan for Kathy.  I started by buying one of the little books.  When I looked through it, there were some squares that were just too twinkie to include.  So I bought the other two little books.  Kathy and her husband have a lovely log home (not a log cabin, a log home) so I decided to make it in shades of browns and greens with most of the squares being something to do with nature.  Thus started my search for every shade of green, brown and beige in Cascade 220.  I must say this is much more beautiful in person than in this picture.  (Maybe some day I will get the lighting thing right.)  I must admit that I did go a little over board on buying green and brown yarn.  (It might not be the only time I've done something like that, for example 10 tubs of pink yarn from Survivor Shawls.)  I took the  very best patterns out of each book trying to keep to a nature theme. I worked so hard on this and was shocked when it was totally done before Thanksgiving.  I have been known to need to pull an all-nighter on Christmas Eve to get Christmas gifts finished.  I had this great idea that I was going to make it very elegant by lining it will velvet.  Doesn't that sound beautiful?!?!?  When it was finished, it weighed a ton so no velvet lining.  Kathy would never be able to get out from under it with a velvet lining.  To this day she would be trapped under her beautiful afghan unable to get up from her couch.  This beautiful afghan led to my 2010 Year of Selfish Knitting which led to my commitment to Survivor Shawls.  Isn't it great how things are tied together!  I do love this afghan.  

Remember my master piece Kauni double knitted scarf?  This was also a gift for Kathy.  I will never make another!  One of a kind! At least I know someone has it who loves it and appreciates it.

It is so great to have people in your life to love and appreciate fiber art.  (That is what I considered my knitting.  One day I called myself a "Fiber Artist" and thought "WOW! That's me")

There is one more fantastic gift which Kathy couldn't find before they came.  It is one of my favorite things I have ever knit.  Actually, I have many favorite things.  Some day Kathy will find it and send me a picture.  Then I can tell another story.  I do love to tell stories.