A Christmas Gift for my new
daughter-in-law.
I don’t think she reads my blog
so it will still be a surprise.
I haven’t knitted in a long time
but after the tree went up,
I felt
nostalgic.
Making gifts is so much better
than buying them.
The silk sat in my studio
for over six years.
Silk I bought
for my mom
who died
before
she could make it into something.
I took it back, knowing that I would find
a home for it someday.
Now scarves are so big.
Mom would love it.
And she would love Kim.
LargeSelf 
Beautiful
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Thank you, dear Boomie.
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gorgeous colors! 🙂
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Thanks, Elisa. This yarn is called “Sari silk.” It’s a cottage industry in Nepal. Women spin yarn from recycled saris which are almost always made of silk – hence the beautiful jewel tones. It’s a creative way to recycle old garments and also create an industry for supporting women and their craft.
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I have seen similar scarves, but never knew what you just shared with me until now, thanks! It certainly is pretty. Have a happy Monday 🙂
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You, too, Elisa! Have a great Monday and a fabulous week. 🙂
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I can imagine how luscious this scarf must feel! And of course I love the idea/practice of hand-made! What a lovely gift! 🙂
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Thanks, Kari! And your wonderful polymer clay ornaments are soooo awesome! I’ve been thinking about you recently. Want to meet for lunch sometime soon?
Cathy
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It’s beautiful, what a great gift. I’m making one for my sister, but it doesn’t look nearly as awesome as yours. I’m a novice knitter. Maybe I can guilt her into wearing it anyway >:). Haha.
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Isotera,
Isn’t it great to make gifts for you family? I bet your sister will absolutely love your scarf with no guilt involved. 🙂 My pattern isn’t that complicated – it’s just this amazing yarn. Search on “Sari silk” and you’ll probably come across a source for it. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Cathy
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Cool I’ll search for it. Actually a few rolls of that would make a great gift for my grandma, who taught me how to knit. She loves her knitting and she would probably love some Sari silk yarn. It’s really pretty. Thanks!
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What a great thing to share with your grandmother!
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I love the scarf, and I love the sentiment in making it! I also love home-made gifts and I lament the fact that I don’t have the time to make any this year!
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Cranky Giraffe,
Thank you. I’m hoping to get a few of these made in the next week or so. I, too love handmade gifts for Christmas. Fortunately, these go pretty fast with the big needles.
Cathy
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What a lovely thoughtful gift. I am sure you mum is looking down and thinking that too. A handmade gift is so personal and special.
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Thank you so much, Athena. I think my mom would approve, too. She made a lot of wonderful handmade gifts when she was alive and I so miss that, but I also am truly glad to be able to carry on her legacy. Thanks again for your kind words.
Hugs,
Cathy
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Absolutely beautiful! We’ve been knitting and it feels so good. 🙂
Love you, Cathy!! XO
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It really does feel good to get some knitting done. I’ve really missed it! Thanks, Crystal! Hugs and love, Cathy
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Love the colors and love the poem. 🙂
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Carrie,
Thank you so much! I love the colors of this yarn, too. And I think it will go with pretty much everything! 🙂
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I love the idea of taking silk originally meant for your mom and using it as a gift for your daughter-in-law. The continuity is perfect.
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Thanks, Weebs. It felt so right to do that. And I had lots of time yesterday so it’s almost done!
Cathy
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Beautiful. And- new daughter in law- congratulations. And- what Mme Weebles said.
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Thanks, Clare! Peter’s son, Blake really picked a wonderful woman! She’s definitely one of those people who I’ll enjoy gifting some of my handmade treasures.
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I triple what M Weebles says because she said it so perfectly. What a meaningful extension of family you are gifting her.. in all senses of the word
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Thank you, Audra! I really hope she likes it! Suspect she will. I think I’m going to send her a copy of the poem with the scarf.
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Cathy– it is a perfect gift: scarf and poem.
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Auralicious! Now I wish we were related! 🙂
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Want me to adopt you, Jennifer? 🙂
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Heck yeah! My mom moved all the way across the country anyway. You live closer than California, right? 🙂
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I’m in Colorado. Where are you?
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I’m in Maine. You would love it here in the summer – both days of it. 🙂
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LOL. I lived in Boston in the late 70s. So I know what you mean. I’ve been to Maine and it is beautiful. Wow, your Mom couldn’t have moved farther away, could she?
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I know! Do you think it was something I said?
Btw, we took a tour of the Sam Adams brewery in Boston a few weeks back, and it was so fun! They gave us free beer and free little glasses. I immediately broke one just to be contrary, and now I drink cayenne pepper juice out of the other one. I’m pretty sure Sam would NOT approve.
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Oh, I think cayenne pepper juice is a good use for your little glass. And if Sam gave it to you, then you get to do whatever you want with it! And BTW, I love Sam Adams beer. Although I live in Fort Collins, Colorado where we have an amazing number of great breweries, including New Belgium – the makers of Fat Tire. I guess they’re giving Sam Adams a run for their money in the craft brewing world.
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I don’t really drink beer that much myself, but I do like their Boston lager, and especially the Octoberfest!
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So beautiful. I was missing mom this morning.
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Yes, I’ve really been missing her, too! Not really sure why more this year. Love you, Sis.
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This is super sweet and sentimental. Your daughter-in-law is a very lucky girl 🙂
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Thank you, Vyv. I feel pretty lucky, too. She’s a wonderful girl.
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That’s GORGEOUS ~ the colors are beautiful. She’ll love it – especially since it has a lovely backstory.
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Thank you, Denise. It feels good to be knitting again, too!
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I know so many people that get joy outof knitting (myself excluded) – it’s interesting to see how it’s come back into style again.
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Here in Colorado, it’s really popular. We have several stores that sell amazing natural fiber yarns. The colors and textures are so enticing. I guess that’s why I have a studio full of the stuff. I’ve got a self imposed moratorium on shopping in said stores until I make something out of all those wonderful yarns. As one of my Mom’s friends used to say: “It’s so much fun BUYING it!”
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Thank you for this very touching post. I love the colors and definitely agree that handmade is better than store-bought – any day! I am sure Kim will be delighted, and touched that it was wool for your Mom. A very special way to say “Welcome to the family. You are Loved.”
You bring such light into the world Cathy. Thank you for being YOU! Love, Gina
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Congratulations!
I have nominated your blog for the Shine On and/or Reality Blog Awards. If you would like to pick up either/both award(s), please use the below link:
You inspire me daily and your friendship is invaluable to me. Much appreciation to you for who you are in my life! XO
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Thank you so much, Crystal! I love you and so appreciate you in my life!
Cathy
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Seeing that makes me want to haul out my fiber and yarns and see what I can create! That’s gorgeous!
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Thanks, Tammy. So do you spin? Knit? Weave? Felt?
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Sorry this was so delayed – I’ve had to re-install Windows. Again. Blah. Anyway, I spin, and have actually on occasion INTENTIONALLY felted a few things, though most of my felting has been accidental during the fiber prep stages. As far as what I do with my spun yarn, I usually pet it and pat it and call it George until I spin up some new yarn. I crochet sometimes, and I *can* knit and purl, but I can’t read a crochet or knitting pattern, because I never learned what the stitches were called, or which was what, or how to tell them apart, or whatever, and I lack the vocabulary to follow a pattern. I’ve tried studying them both, and tried getting tutoring in them both, but it seems that nothing ‘sticks’ with me. So, while I can do simple stuff, fancy stuff seems to be beyond me, and patterns waaaay out of my league. But, I can still pet and pat and play with my yarns, anyway! 🙂
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I have studio full of them too, Tammy. I do spin, weave, knit, felt and I find I do more of that in the winter. Summers are spent gardening, but like you, I love the texture and color of my yarns. I did get three of these scarves knitted for Christmas presents – the last goes out today. But now I’m inspired to do more. Thanks for the great comment! Nice to “see” you!
Cathy
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