Monday, February 22, 2010

Monday Photo of the Week - "I Made This"

I have to tell you I was sweating this week's theme - I didn't think I owned anything I made that I hadn't already posted here. At least... that I was willing to share in public. (I keep telling people that the secret to being a "good" artist is never to let the disasters see the light of day, LOL.)


I DID find a picture though.  This is Gatsby. He is not usually allowed to treat me as his own personal kitty bed, but it was so cold that day and he warmed me up as much as I did him.  I love the way he always tucks up his little paws when he sleeps...   


Anyway, the afghan I am under and he is on is a Fisherman knit design made with a double strand of Red Heart yarn that I knit back in college, nearly 30 years ago now. I could only afford a skein or two at a time in those days, so I used the double strand to camoflage dye lot differences. Red Heart may be looked on as the "trailor trash" of yarns in some of the more purist natural-fibers-only circles, but I'll say this much for it -- that old afghan has helped me raise 3 kids, stood up to countless pets, comforted me in good times and bad, been machine washed a zillion times, and it still looks pretty good. I wonder how many of the new uber-fancy yarns could do that!

13 comments:

Serena Lewis said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Serena Lewis said...

I'd say that Red Heart yarn has surely proven its value in your beautiful afghan, Judi. I love the various stitches you have used and Gatsby sure seems to love it too. :)

sandy said...

Wow, that is some hardy yarn. Love the photo and story about it. Cat is so cute.

Anonymous said...

Funny about
Red heart being trailer trash yarn, my mom has always knit with it and she lives in a trailer,LOL!
Anyway no I didn't take offense to your comment it is true after all with all the new gorgeous yarns out there most don't use the red heart anymore.. I still knit with it also (: your cat looks all cozy..

TheModernGoddess said...

I initially thought you were going to say you made the cat - LOL. I'm not familiar with the yarn you're talking about. I'm impressed that you actually knitted the blanket, it looks very detailed.

Shashi Nayagam said...

That afghan looks as though it is new. It is beautiful and Mr Gatsby knows a good thing when he sees one. He is a canny cat. Such a cute photo.

It's ok to cry said...

That is something I never learned to do but wanted to. The afghan looks beautiful and I know it is filled with lots of memories...I love the cat with the tucked paws. Great photo...always Judy

Linda Fleming said...

Wow- 30 years ago? I'd say that speaks for the quality of of the yarn and your knitting skills!

MaryO said...

Can't vouch for the new yarns because I haven't been knitting all that long, but 30 years for a Red Heart afghan speaks well of that yarn, doesn't it? It's still quite beautiful.

Jennifer Rose said...

30 years! o.0 great yarn to last that long with all the wear and tear it has gotten :)

BumbleVee said...

It sounds like everybody knits....now I feel left out... I must try it some day...pout.....

But,....I love your cat. Looks very much like the cat we had as kids... our beautiful Tippy. She lived to be 22 ..

Courtney Short said...

cute kitty.. and love the blanket.. I am loom knitting and crocheting as of late .. I say red heart is a great yarn based on your example.. I have a lot of it as I am not willing to fork out a ton of money on yarn when I can end up with something headed for the trash..

Norma Soulet (AZArtist) said...

That afghan is lovely!Gatsby looks so comfy on it. Cute cat!