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Ruth’s needles are plastic red ones, and are 10-inch long size 8s…the perfect size for making this dishcloth. I wonder if that’s what she used them for… The needles I usually use for making dishcloths are aluminum, size 6, and are quite a bit longer. These red ones are a cheerful color, a gentle touch because they’re plastic, and my gauge is just fine with them (4.5 st/in) as long as I don’t knit continental.

Ruth was the mother of a friend of mine. She had no grandchildren, I never met her, but I admired her. She lived by herself in a small house in the northern part of California - the part of California where it snows in the winter, and gets blistering hot in the summer, and where fire danger was a yearly concern. Her son would come up in the Spring and Fall each year,and ready her house for the upcoming season. He would get her some firewood cut and stacked, or weeds whacked, or fix the roof if it needed it, and the whole rest of the year, except for a visit or two from her son, she’d take care of her own needs. She was independent, and able to stay that way up until she died. After her death, he brought me some of her needlecraft things because he knew of my interest in all things fiber. I have used some tatting that she had in her stash on my grandchildren’s clothing, or edging for other fibery art. I often wonder if she would be happy that her stash is being used in a way that [hopefully] honors her.

So, as I sit knitting a dishcloth on the pair of plastic red knitting needles, I think of Ruth, the same way that I think of my own grandmother when I’m using things I inherited from her sewing stash. I lived close to my grandmother as a child, and when I inherited her sewing stash, as I sorted through it, I recognized fabrics and patterns she had used to make clothes for my dolls when I was 8 years old. (Amazing how long SOME things marniate in the stash, isn’t it?) I wonder if my grandchildren will do the same some day. I wonder if they’ll appreciate working with their hands, making things that other people think “why don’t you just buy that?”

Life is so full of trade-offs. Sometimes the trade offs make things you wish for unobtainable. My visits with my grandchildren are all too few and far-between now - a result of one of life’s trade-offs. I guess they won’t have the same type memories of me that I had of my grandmothers and great grandmothers. But, I wonder if, by the time they are grandmothers, they will be able to appreciate the difference between an heirloom and a disposable item? I wonder if they’ll find value in a simple pair of knitting needles. I wonder if they will know that this was their Grandmother’s Favorite Dishcloth?

Yarn:Valley Yarns Northhampton which is an Aran/Worsted range 100% wool, purchased from WEBS. One skein of Midnight blue, and 2 skeins of the silver color.
Needles: Denise circulars size 13 and size 10.5 to pick up stitches.
Gauge: Probably 4-5/inch - kind of moot since I felted them, but it was about that.
Pattern: Fiber Trends Felted Clogs, by Bev Galeskas, purchased online at One Fine Yarn.
Size: Men’s Large.

As I mentioned - I only bought one skein of blue, so I did end up having to fudge a little, but it only took 3 skeins of yarn.

I love this yarn. It’s so soft and cozy to knit with - although not always appreciated in the 100 degree Fahrenheit heat we have been having.

I put Regia “sock stoppers” on these for a little traction; purchased a while back from Astrid. I think she has some still on her sale page. We will see how long these last. I may try the silicone next.

Began: August 22, 2007
Finished: August 26, 2007 (While I watched the Cowboys LOSE to the Houston Texans. From one 49er fan to another - gee, isn’t that too bad? And - how alarmingly good does Houston look this year? OY.)