The knitter dug through the stash and found a variagated pink, rose, blue yarn that she and pal "R" had home-dyed waaaaayyy back in February of '06. It was a worsted wool. Nice and sturdy. Fairly soft. The knitter downloaded the pattern and cast on. She knitted and knitted and knitted and came to the last two repeats before the edging. Sadly....through no apparent fault of her own (other than normal distractions....general knitterly clutziness...etc..) the last few repeats proved more than the knitter could handle. She frogged and reknit...and frogged and reknit...and put the Kiri in timeout for several weeks until she learned to behave herself.
The knitter felt remorseful about the long timeout and devised a strategy to end the misery formerly known as the Kiri. It must be said here and now...the color did not help. The irregular runs of sick pink marled with blues became known as "Gravid Uterus Pink" due to its' resemblence to an organ with which the midwife was very familiar. Pearl was not shy in her display of contempt for the Kiri.
The strategy to completion was simple......have enough people nag the knitter often enough to assure regular time spent with Kiri....and that SHOULD have been enough.There were suggestions. There were helpful hints. But still...the last repeat and edging were impossible for the knitter to wrap her mind around. Thankfully knitbud Grace kindly offered to fix and finish the Kiri and her dangling ball of fugly. With a quick kiss goodbye to the Lady E, Kiri wound her way across North America to the Jersey shore!
Grace had kind words about Kiri. Evidently she behaved herself very very well...no missed stitches...no lost YOs.......Soon, Grace was finished. A perfect final repeat...and a perfect edging. But Kiri's journey was not over. That sweet Grace sent Kiri clear back across North America to Vancouver to visit Jayne, master yarn artist extraordinaire. Jayne worked her magic on the finished Kiri. And magic indeed it was. The pinks and roses of "Gravid Uterus" became warm teals, the blues acquired hues of turquoise. Hints of the reds still show through here and there, giving movement and drama to the overall effect.
The knitter was stunned speechless by the transformation. Not just the transformation, but the positive energy from collaboration and caring displayed by knitbuds nationwide. Originally, the knitter thought about using the finished Kiri for another nurse-midwifery scholarship fundraiser.......but now that she's home......she's just too personal and imbued with too many warm and comforting intentions to go to a stranger. Kiri and the knitter are settling into a new routine. She is the shawl of choice for a morning cuppa' in the garden. Here's hoisting a mug to a long and happy future for Kiri and the knitter!
