Rivendell

Posted on | February 18, 2008 | 15 Comments

Tessa is my Sis. More technically she is Tad’s sister, my sister-in-law. But, she is the closest thing I’ve got to a sister and if I did have one, our relationship is very like I would imagine (or hope) a sisterly relationship would be.

Sis is by far my biggest knitting fan. She regularly brags about my knitting and my blog to anyone and everyone who will listen. It’s really quite overboard and makes me a bit uncomfortable especially when within hearing distance – but, even as my ears are turning pink, I must admit that it’s pretty special to have someone think what you’re doing is so cool, however biased they may be – even because of it. How wonderful for someone you care about to take such an interest in something that you enjoy.

Late last summer I was browsing on Ravelry for my next sock pattern and I stumbled on one called “Rivendell”. It piqued my interest instantly due to the name, and on closer inspection of the lovely stitch pattern, I knew immediately that these socks were for Tess. First, because she loves socks almost more than anyone I know – and these were some beautiful socks. But more importantly, because neither her feelings for socks nor for my knitting can begin to compare to her devotion to Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies. In fact, a word to the wise – if LOTR is not a topic that you are equally passionate about, you may not want to mention it, or any words that could be easily associated with it, especially Aragorn, in her presence Truly though, I make light, but you have to know Tess to understand that her love of the movie adaptations goes far beyond her admiration of Vigo with long hair, it has more to do with the underlying themes of Good v. Evil, Sacrifice, Love, and Friendship.

So, a few months later and one panic over a lost pattern which later resurfaced, I began the socks in anticipation of her birthday. Though she got to try one on the day that we celebrated, she didn’t receive the completed pair until last weekend (I comforted myself, “well, they really weren’t for her birthday anyhow”)…

Pattern: Rivendell, by Janel Laidman.

FYI, this pattern was available last year only as a kit from Chameleon Colorworks, which is now under new ownership. I had a very positive experience with the new owner, Nancy Colburn, when I thought I had lost my paper copy of the pattern that shipped with the kit. She did not have the rights to the pattern to be able to help me with an electronic copy but was most willing to work with Janel and try to work something out to get me another copy – In the meantime I found it, naturally! I am not sure if there are plans to release the pattern for sale again or as a download, but I will say that I hope so – I think Janel’s design is a real stunner and it was a very enjoyable knit.

**ETA – I just took a swing over to Janel’s blog to tell her how much I enjoyed these, and guess what? She has an upcoming sock book that will include the pattern!! And the teaser shot is very cool – it looks like there will be some other wonderful patterns included as well.**

Needles: US2 DPNs

Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug in Velvet Olive – 1 Skein, ladies size 9-ish. I wasn’t sure I would get the whole pair out of 1 skein, and in the end it was pretty close – but there is enough left over for darning should it be necessary. As I mentioned, the pattern shipped as part of a kit, and though I thought the original yarn was lovely in it’s own right and will enjoy using it on another pattern, my preference was to work Rivendell in a semi-solid yarn to let draw attention to the lovely stitchwork.

Gauge: 8 sts/inch

Mods: I worked the sole & toe in reverse stockinette rather than stockinette and I’m very happy with the choice, though my hands weren’t and I was cursed with ladder problems (which, by the way, look better after blocking, but I can still see them. durn.)

Loves:

- The stitch pattern (as I mentioned!). It’s my favorite part of these socks and it’s just gorgeous. I believe it takes a special kind of creativity to come up with something like this in your own brain and I admire that ability!

- The heel gusset. Though the reverse stockinette caused some difficulty with ladders, it created the nicest gusset I’ve done so far. There is no gaping at all, it’s a nice tight join accomplished by purling through the back loop.

SO, have my feelings about gift knitting changed at all (I am a self-proclaimed Selfish Knitter)? Well, if I were a Gift Knitter, I will say that it would give me so much pleasure to knit for someone that I know will enjoy the gift as much as Tess seemed to enjoy this one. A talented crafter in her own right, Tess appreciates the sentiment of a carefully chosen and worked handmade thing – and seemed to feel, well, loved. Valued. Which is the point. Because she is.

Remarkably, I didn’t even feel a twinge of regret as they passed into her hands. I would do it again in a heartbeat to make her so pleased. Just for the record though, I don’t think this makes me a Gift Knitter. I think these socks were that perfect gift that you stumble on when you aren’t gift shopping – the one that’s actually a little selfish really, because it makes you think of someone you love, and you pick it up because it makes you smile to think of them and of the look of surprise and happiness on their face, the gift that makes YOU so happy when you find that you were right – it really WAS the perfect gift. In this case that gift just happened to be one that required a little extra effort from me.

Did you notice? Tess picked her sweater to go with the socks. I told you she was pretty great.

Love you Sis.
—————-
Now playing: Sarah Bettens – Someone to Say Hi To
via FoxyTunes

Comments