HUGE

Franziska

By Galina Carroll in Rowan Felted Tweed

I opted not to knit the 45cm collar, and those are purple dots every 4th stitch on every 4th row throughout the rust section. Just so you know.

Last May illness struck our family but mercifully it turned out that we were only in the throes of one of life’s stunts of perspective, as opposed to out-and-out tragedy. Meaning that what initially had seemed bad turned good, and time, freedom and health suddenly took star billing.  We set a goal to make a trip to London, all going well, to see the RSC's Wolf Hall & Bring Up The Bodies.  And that's how we ended up in sweltering, steaming London in August with a few additional objectives (other than theatre) to get through too. And it's also why I ran - in blazing sun through scores of ambling shoppers - the full length of Regent Street to squeeze in a fly-by of the autumn colours in the Rowan section of Liberty's.

And even if I'd walked in cool as a breeze with nothing else on my mind, on such a day I'd have found it hard to think about winter.... but to say I wasn't cool, and I was struggling to convey what I wanted are understatements.  So Carole simply took over, and pin-pointed colours to which (between gasps) I appeared to respond well.  Then she observed that she and all her colleagues were all massively enjoying knitting Franziska...

"Good enough for me", I said, fanning myself with a theatre programme. - "That's the one I want to try too".

... and gradually a plan began to emerge.

 She advised me to stick to size S, and at the time I was so confused that that seemed reasonable. But when I started to knit, S seemed extraordinarily  optimistic.. 

Now I'm beginning to wish I had, because I did XL instead and it could definitely give a Clint Eastwood poncho a run for its money... I feel like I've fallen into the Land of Lilliput - I'm experiencing a lot of confusion about sizing these days... 

Hum, haw...

On the other hand it’s clearly intended to be monumentally large and the fabric and yarn are fine…

... haven’t decided yet... too soon, too sore...

Yesterday, with an end finally in sight, I cast off the last stitch and handed over to the ever wonderful Milla of The Stitch Shop to sew up.  

Today...

1. Even typing hurts my neck

2. No way will I get my mother's scarf finished on time for Christmas....   

3. Maybe if I wash my hair I'll be better disposed

But.... when the dust settles on 2014 at the very least, Franziska is likely to make me contemplate just how well things turned out this year.  

                       *                                                    *                                                            *

One day old and growing on me (arf)!  

But really - it is!