October 2005

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Learning to Love in the face of Death

A review of Knitting Heaven and Earth by Susan Gordon Lydon

In July, a friend sent me an email to say, “Susan Gordon Lydon died about 10 days ago--feminist author, knitter, and writer-about-knitting . . . and apparently an aficionado of qiviut.”

I didn’t recognize the name, but the description of this intrepid knitter caught my attention and I immediately googled her name. The search led to an obit that said she had been a founding editor of Rolling Stone magazine, the author of a seminal feminist article in the 1970s entitled, “The Politics of Orgasm,” and, more recently, the author of two knitting books, The Knitting Sutra and Knitting Heaven and Earth, the second of which had been published barely a month before the author died of cancer.

The combination intrigued me, so I went to Amazon to check out her books. (I don’t shop at Amazon because my editor told me that they have unfair policies that keep independent publishers from getting equal treatment on their site, but I use their search feature to browse books that I then order at my local bookstore.)

As I was skimming the excerpt from Knitting Heaven and Earth, I was jolted to attention when my own name popped into focus on the screen. In chapter 1, “Animal Comfort,” Susan talks about how she got started knitting a lace shawl with qiviut (musk ox wool), after reading an article I had written in the Fall 2003 issue of Interweave Knits. In her description of knitting a qiviut shawl, she weaves in truths about power of women’s friendships and the love and energy that get knitted into every stitch of our unique creations.

The book as a whole is described by the author in the introduction as being about “knitting and love” and also about “knitting and death.” A poignant memoir covering the last years of Susan’s life, the chapters are written with heartbreaking and hilarious candor. The author tells us about the loss of her father and a close friend, the discovery of new love as she gets to know her young godson, and the exhilaration, pain, and confusion of romance as she meets up with “the last of the Marlboro men” and decides that “some men should come with a warning.” Throughout the book, Susan grapples with her own failing health, as she struggles through three different types of cancer and tries to come to terms with

how to live in the face of death.

Although she had already had another form of cancer, and a biopsy on a benign lump in her breast, Susan went four years without getting a mammogram. Because she had fibroid cysts, she didn’t pay much attention to the lumpiness in her breasts, and even after finding “a slight redness on the skin” of one of her breasts, she procrastinated about going to the doctor. Finally, when the skin started to feel strange, she made an appointment and began her journey though diagnosis, surgery, chemo, and radiation treatments. As she goes up and down through every emotion possible to experience,

it is her knitting and needlepoint

that keep her grounded and eventually

lead her to emotional healing.

I am honored that my own work was mentioned in such a beautiful book, and I was glad to learn that my article on qiviut inspired Susan to try out the luxurious yarn in the lace knitting that brought joy and comfort to the last years of her life. I only wish I could have met her and shared some knitting secrets. I am so glad she finished Knitting Heaven and Earth and left it to us all along with her other writings.

This month’s patterns are dedicated to Susan Gordon Lydon in gratitude for her generosity in sharing with us throughout her career as a writer and knitter, and above all, as a courageous woman.

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Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I'm trying to get these posts uploaded before the end of the month. Since tomorrow is Halloween, I'm coming in just under the wire. Here are some great links to websites that combine knitting with breast cancer awareness and charities:

This Girl Knits. On this fun and funky knitting site, designer Jenna Adorno features designs that have appeared in Stitch-N-Bitch, Stitch-N-Bitch Nation, Knitty, and on Knitty Gritty on DIY TV. The pattern for "Hopeful", a sweater featured on Knitty Gritty, is for sale on her website. To honor her partner of 11 years who recently was diagnosed with breast cancer, Jenna will donate 120% (yes, you read that right) of all proceeds from the sale of this pattern to the Susan Love Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Lion Brand. On their yarn website, Lion Brand features a story about a customer, Judith Christensen, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in January. During her treatment, Judith knitted 100 scarves, sold them for $35 each, and donated the proceeds to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute where she was treated with the most advanced treatments available, and where she also participated in a clinical trial for a new low-side-effect hormone treatment. Today Jenna's "cancer tumor markers have all improved, she feels good and is living a normal life because of the nature of her treatments." The article includes links to Jenna's scarf patterns.

Needle Arts Book Shop. Knit for the Cure - Scarves of Hope, is a small book with five scarf patterns by Canadian designers. For each book sold, $1.00 is contributed to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Make your purchase go further in the support of charity by knitting the scarves and donating them or selling them and giving the proceeds to your favoirte charity.

Tit-Bits. Another Canadian website, Tit-Bits sells hand-knitted prosthetics that are more comfortable than commercial products and can be worn with a regular bra. They come in a variety of colors and sizes, and each one can be made with or without a bead or shell nipple piercing. If you want to make some yourself, the pattern is available at Knitty.

And She Knits Too. This article, on a knitting blog, is not about knitting at all, but about the way the media represents breast cancer in a sanitized manner. Very interesting reading if you are a writer or if you are concerned about the way important issues are covered in the media. While you are at the site, check out the knitting content, too!

Vogue Knitting. The Holiday 2005 issue of VK showcases the winners of their Breast Cancer Scarf Contest. These designs are flat-out gorgeous. The winning scarves will be auctioned on e-Bay in February 2006, and the proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, so make sure to keep an eye on the VK website so you don't miss the auction. I know I'm going to bid on one or two of these scarves. All of the scarves that didn't win were donated to the Women's Information Network Against Breast Cancer.

The issue also has a review of Celebrity Scarves 2 by Barbara Edelman that includes scarves made by 20 celebrity knitters from their favorite scarf patterns, all featuring pink yarn. Five percent of the proceeds from the book sales go to the Avon Foundation to help find a cure for breast cancer.

Knit Picks. Celeste Culpepper, fromBritish Columbia, Canada, designed the Sweet Mary Jane Cardigan in honor of her mother, Mary Jane, who had breast cancer. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of this lace bed jacket pattern are being donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Celeste also donated a portion of her designer fee to breast cancer research. Knit Picks is looking for other charities to contribute to in 2006, so if you have a favorite charity, send an email to charity@knitpicks.com and make a suggestion.

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Pattern: Chemo Cap and Matching Scarf

This chemo cap and matching scarf are made out of ultra-soft alpaca and merino yarn. Any worsted-weight yarn can be used, but make sure you choose something soft and comfy. For warmer climates, a soft cotton or cotton-wool blend would be more comfortable than the alpaca. The hat is knitted in the round from the brim up on circular needles, changing to double-pointed needles for the crown. The scarf is knitted back and forth. The flower pin is made separately and can be worn as a brooch or as an accent on the cap or scarf.

Materials

Approx 550 yards of worsted weight yarn.

I used 5 balls of Suri Merino from Plymouth yarn (55% suri alpaca, 45% extra fine merino wool), Color 5192

To make each separate item, you will need:

Scarf: 3 balls, size 7 needles

Hat: 2 balls, size 7 circular needle 16-inches long and a set of 4 or 5 size 7 double-pointed needles

Flower pin: 1 ball, size 7 needles, pinback

Gauge

22 sts = 4 inches over 2x2 checks

Size

Hat: 18 inch circumference, fits head sizes up to 23 inches

Scarf: 7 inches wide x 46 inches long

Flower pin: 2 1/2 inches

Pattern Stitches

2x2 Ribbing

Row 1: (K2, p2) for entire round or row.

Repeat row 1 for pattern.

2x2 Checks

Row 1 : (K2, p2), repeat across entire round or row.

Rows 2 and 4: Knit the knits and purl the purls.

Row 3: (P2, k2), repeat across entire round or row.

Repeat rows 1 through 4 for pattern.

Chemo Cap Instructions

With circular needle, loosely cast on 96 stitches. Place marker and join to knit in the round, being careful not to twist sts.

Work in 2x2 ribbing for 1 inch.

Work in 2x2 checks for 4 inches, or desired length to crown.

Work in 2x2 ribbing for 1 inch.

Crown

Note: change to double-pointed needles when the stitches no longer fit comfortably on the circular needle.

Decrease round 1: (K2, p2tog) around--72 sts.

Your ribbing is now k2, p1. Continue in pattern, knitting the knits and purling the purls, for 1 inch.

Decrease round 2: (K2tog, p1) around--48 sts.

Your ribbing is now k1, p1. Continue in pattern, knitting the knitts and purling the purls, for 1 inch.

Decrease round 3: K1, (k2tog) to last stitch, remove marker, k2tog--24 sts.

K2tog until 12 sts remain.

Cut yarn and draw tail through remaining stitches to fasten off. Weave in ends.

Scarf Instructions

Note: The first and last stitch of every row is knitted to create a neat garter-stitch edge.

Loosely cast on 40 sts.

Row 1: K1 (selvedge stitch), place marker, *k2, p2, repeat from * to last 3 sts, k2, place marker, k1 (selvedge stitch).

Continue working 2x2 rib with garter-stitch edge stitch for 1 inch, slipping the markers when you come to them.

Change to 2x2 checks between edge stitches and work even for 11 inches.

Change to 2x2 rib between edge stitches and work even for 22 inches.

Change to 2x2 checks between edge stitches and work even for 11 inches.

Change to 2x2 rib between edge stitches and work even for 1 inch.

Bind off loosely and weave in ends.

Flower Pin Instructions

Cast on 12 stitches.

Row 1: Knit into the front and back of each stitch--24 stitches.

Row 2: Purl.

Row 3: Knit into the front and back of each stitch--48 stitches.

Row 4: Purl.

Row 5: Knit into the front and back of each stitch--96 stitches.

Row 6: Purl.

Bind off loosely. Form flower into a spiral shape with your fingers and use the yarn tails to sew the center of the flower together and to attach the pinback. Weave in ends.

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Pattern: Wire and Bead Brooch

This easy-to-knit brooch is a great project for learning to knit with wire. I'd never knitted with wire myself before making this, and it took some time to get used to the feel of the wire as it wrapped around the needles to form the stitches. The wire has absolutely no give, and the stitches do not relax into a flowing fabric after you are finished. It was a very interesting experience, and I look forward to trying some more complex wire projects in the future. The materials are available in most beading and craft shops.

Materials

1 spool of Artistic Wire (26 gauge, 15 yards), Pink

Approx 350 seed beads (11/0), Pink

Size 0 metal knitting needles

Small pinback

Gauge

6 sts = approx 7/8 inch

Size

Ribbon approx 7/8 inch wide

Brooch approx 2 inches wide x 4 1/2 inches tall

For a smaller brooch, cast on fewer stitches and make the ribbon the desired length.

Instructions

Tip: As you work, unwind about a yard of wire and secure it in the notch on the side of the spool. If you let the wire unwind freely, it will tangle.

String the beads on to the wire.

Cast on 6 sts. The backwards loop cast on is easiest when working with wire.

Slide a bead up to the work, then knit one stitch. Continue in this manner, kinitting every row and sliding a bead up to the wire before each stitch, until the knitted ribbon measures approx 9 1/2 inches long.

Bind off or cut the wire and weave the end in and out of the open stitches to secure them. Weave in the ends and clip the wire close to the knitting.

Using the photo as a guide, form the ribbon into shape for the brooch. Cut a piece of wire approx 3 inches long.

Insert the wire from back to front, and then from front to back to secure the ribbon so it retains its shape. Using the ends of this piece of wire, attach the pinback to the back of the brooch. Wrap the ends of the wire around a few stitches on the wrong side, then clip the ends.

Pin the brooch onto your favorite sweater or felted bag. Enjoy!

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Lesson: The Purl Stitch

The purl stitch is the second main stitch in knitting. It is essentially a knit stitch worked on the wrong side of the work. The purl stitch creates a bump on the front and a V on the back. Purl is abbreviated P or p in knitting patterns.

If you're a new knitter and you've never purled before, here's a quick lesson. The photos show the yarn held in the left hand, but the instructions are the same for both English (right hand carry) and Continental (left hand carry) knitting.

1. With the working yarn in front of the needles, insert the right needle into the first stitch from back to front.

2. Wrap the working yarn around the right needle counter clockwise.

3. Pull the yarn through.

 

4. Drop the old stitch from the left needle. You now have one new purl stitch on the right needle.