The Doctor's Scarf

Second Nerd Post in a row. Are you a Doctor Who fan?  I wouldn't go so far as to say I am about to sew myself a Tardis Dress, but as a knitter, the Doctor's Season 12 scarf does have appeal. The original was 13 and a half feet long, which translate the more modern 411 centimeters. 4 meters of scarf? Seriously, who needs that? 

In the series, the Doctor mentions that Madam Nostradamus knit the scarf for him, refering to her as a witty, little knitter. The scarf has a following, and a modern day witty little knitter has emerged with an entire website (and, perhaps life) dedicated to The Scarf: Witty Little Knitter. 

Sound odd? Yes, indeed. One of my favorite knitting bloggers, The Yarn Harlot, knitted a scarf recently, which is what initially piqued my interest. There are lists of the yarn for one to buy, and I idly poked around. It didn't take long to realize this was an expensive proposition. To knit the scarf from cheaper yarn would cost around $40US and from nice yarn, more than $60US. 

Now, I knit a lot. The photo below is my Closet of Shame. These are all finished knitted things that sit on the shelf for a good bit of their knitted lives. And, it's not my entire knitted scarf/sweater/hat/mitten/sweater collection. No indeed. This is a partial Closet of Shame. So, while I like to knit, and I certainly give myself permission to indulge my hobby, at some point, one has to realistically assess what one is spending versus the final product. It made me sad. 

In typically twenty-first century fashion, I posted my sadness on Facebook. Something along these lines: "I am suddenly obsessed with knitting the Season 12 Dr. Who scarf. It's the 50th anniversary year, you know. So, why not?"

Why not, because, hello! Another scarf? For sixty bucks? Hard to justify. 

Whereupon a friend emailed and said, "Dude, you knit me one, I'll pay for two." 

And a deal was struck. Instantly. 

Looky! She bought the good stuff!!

Now, if you are a knitter, you might be rolling your eyes, waving your fist at the monitor shouting, "Way to go! Way to undervalue your mad knitting skillz!" Because, we are talking about a lot of knitting. For ultimately, what amounts to very small return at a per hour knitting rate. 

But, people, I am a process knitter. Which means the following: 

The process knitter is one who knits for the love of the act of knitting. They love the hunt for the perfect marriage of the right yarn and pattern. Cables, lace, cables and lace. Big ass projects with thin yarn on teeny tiny needles. Bring. It. On. A project that takes months doesn't daunt the true process knitter. Were a knitter stranded on an island with one ball of yarn and one set of knitting needles they’d knit up all the yarn, rip it all apart and start again because it’s the act of knitting that they love best. The product knitter is nearly the opposite. On that deserted island they’d knit up that yarn and wear whatever they made. Top Floor Corner 

I don't knit because I give a rat's furry behind about the final outcome. I think my Closet of Shame is pretty clear evidence. I knit because I find the act of knitting soothing for all of those hours I spending waiting for my children at school and at those endless kid-birthday parties, traveling, and for those rare occasions when I find time to watch a movie. I virtually never sit and knit for the sake of knitting. It's always during "something else." 

So, why not have someone else pay for my OCD habit? 

It's a thing of beauty is it not? Photo on top of a Grand Piano that is not in my house. 

 

Here I have photographed it with the pattern. It's a simple thing, the pattern. The numbers printed on the colors are what are referred to as "garter ridges." Which translates to each number representing two rows of knitting. If the chart says "8," you knit 16 rows. If the chart says "32," you knit 64 rows. Got it? 

Why doesn't it just say "64" if you have to knit 64 rows instead of saying "32?" No idea. 

At last, the knitting was finished. 

Does this mean the scarf was ready to drop in the mail? Of course not! Look, it's only 296 centimeters long! Nowhere near long enough! 

Time for a bath. Washing and blocking, as every knitter knows, are critical to the success of any knitting project. In this case, I washed in VERY cold water; this wool felts like nobody's business. And the last thing I wanted was to end up with three meters of felted ex-scarf. 

 

Stretch a bit for the block, and ... 

432 centimeters. That'll do. 

I have already begun knitting the second one. The endless repetition is good for my process knitter's soul. 

Next: Watch it Wiggle, See it Jiggle! A Food Blog? Can It Be?? 

Comments

[Susan / ChocoMare]

My mom knitted me this sweater as a wee girl and I cried the day it didn't fit anymore. It's done with circular needles. Methinks Hope needs one ;)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Horse-Riding-Sweater-LADIES-Knitting-Pattern-Pattern-NOT-ITEM-KNW5-/170888599218?pt=US_Crocheting_Knitting_Patterns&hash=item27c9c116b2

[Rose]

ChocoMare I love that pattern. Not sure if I've ever mentioned it but I am Bells on COTH.

How funny - I have kind of the same problem w/a different twist. I love to knit. It is too blanking hot to wear sweaters or scarves for that matter in southern NM. Some days (who am I kidding - most days) it is too hot to even think about knitting.

That said last year I took a trip w/the neighbors to the Grand Canyon to ride the mules down to the bottom (do it - so much fun). As I wasn't a driver, I brought along a project and knitted a Griffendor scarf for my husband. He loves it as he loves Harry Potter but has he been able to wear it? No, as it is just too hot!!

Sometimes I miss New England weather.

[Debbie Hanson]

Hi ChocoMare and Bells! I'm RNB on COTH. I agree with you Susan....me thinks Hope needs one!! What do you think Ellen??

[Ellen]

My dearest ladies, I say this gently. My Hope has an internal furnace that burns brighter than the average bear. She does not wear sweaters. I can occasionally force a hoodie on her, but only if it is *really* cold, and the hoodie ZIPS. So she can escape its evil clutches.

As much as I find this sweater utterly charming, and would happily knit one up, the child would no more wear it than she would wear a hoop skirt.

[Ellen]

And, Rose, that is *heartbreaking!* As a process knitter, were I to find myself permanently in a warm location, I imagine I would buy myself a lovely bamboo yarn and set about knitting a shawl. That I might wear to an air conditioned restaurant once, maybe twice. I would then decide the pattern wasn't quite right ... frog and knit another. Lather, rinse, repeat until death (either mine or the bamboo, whichever came first).

[Rodney's Saga]

For BT fans. The scarf in action: http://rodneyssaga.wordpress.com/2013/03/08/foto-friday-dr-whooves/

[Rodney's Saga]

re living in a warm climate. I always need a scarf/sweater for overenthusiastic AC. I worked the Atlanta Olympics. The last thing I expected to be was COLD.

[Susan / ChocoMare]

Well then, Ellen, since you're a wee lady, you'd look right smart in it!

[Rose]

I am a bit like Hope and my furnace runs hot these days. The coldest air conditioning is never too cold. Tell Hope to keep her internal furnace in the northern lands!

Choco I was so into the sweater you posted that I had to go searching and found this lovely free pattern. Not quite the one that you loved as a child. I may just have to knit it just so I can stuff one more sweater into my drawer that looks a bit like Ellen's shelf. http://www.istex.is/Files/Skra_0038178.pdf

[Rose]

Bahha! I loved seeing Rodney in his scarf! How fun was that:)