Monday, June 26, 2006
The Thing That Is Something Else
Now that I’ve taken a philosophy class, I can see that all along I’ve been a Taoist. Maybe that explains my love for this scarf.
I first saw the design in a Knitters Magazine a few seasons ago and it stuck in my mind, but I didn’t relish five or six feet of wrangling with DPNs. When I discovered 8” circs, I knew it was time - they are the perfect thing for miles ‘n’ miles of tubing. I just invisibly CO 48 sts, knit for-like-ever, ended and (re-)began with the classic sock-toe decreasing, and stuck on afterthought heels at random intervals along the length. Can you see ‘em? They go all the way around, and stick out all wonky when I wear it.
I love designs like this. The concept was outlined by Deborah Newton in her book, “Designing Knitwear,” a must-have for anyone interested in designing handknitwear or patterns. The design technique is to take a classically iconic garment of any kind and add a distinctive twist that is a convention traditionally used in a completely different garment. The fun begins when you try to interpret one upon the other.
She illustrates this by exploring the unification of a motorcycle jacket and an aran sweater. What about a motorcycle jacket makes it recognizable? What makes an aran sweater distinctive? From here we could end up with a short, fitted jacket with a fold-back, asymmetrical front and strong zippers, its rigid stiffness derived not from polished leather but from thickly patterned cables and bobbles.
This is how we can get to a scarf that is covered with useless sock-heels. And it’s a crafting irony the depth of which can only be understood by knitters.
Of course I can’t leave well enough alone. By applying another art technique I love that came from an acting teacher who called it “push the piano off the cliff,” I could take this sock-scarf and create the classic winter triplet set with the addition of sock-mittens and a sock-hat. The mittens could have a heel as the thumb, like a traditional sock-puppet, but where’s the fun in that? No, plunk it on the back of the wrist, where it’s completely useless!
And how would I fashion a sock-hat? Well, the point is that it 
should mimic a sock yet not be one, so I would start out with a classic 2x2 rib watch-cap, but as the crown is shaped, continue on with a “top-down” sock foot, so it’s like an overgrown tassel. It should look like you grabbed a sock by the cuff and yanked it on your head (except it fits better).
should mimic a sock yet not be one, so I would start out with a classic 2x2 rib watch-cap, but as the crown is shaped, continue on with a “top-down” sock foot, so it’s like an overgrown tassel. It should look like you grabbed a sock by the cuff and yanked it on your head (except it fits better).OK, that might be pushing the piano off the Chrysler Building! The “sock-scarf” itself is bad enough - dear Mister Bee would not be seen on the street with me, sock bobbing along behind my pate.
This scarf was done with Knit Picks Parade, which is in the process of being discontinued. If I’m truly going to push the piano off the cliff, I’d better attend to the SEX now.
