A Zick Zack Photo Finish......................

Oh Zick Zack Scarf/Shawl by Christy Kamm, I am in love with you.  I wasn't a few hours ago but I am now.  You are going to be a wonderful gift for my friend Sue, whose husband passed away just three short weeks ago.  I can't wait to wrap you around her shoulders and tell her that you are now represent a hug from me to her.  

You are gorgeous and I think you know it, but like all of us it took some work for you to reach this level of beauty.   Like all of us it takes a lot of work to get us out the door looking good, and you are no exception.

I actually swatched you early on and decided that you and your Noro Silk Garden loveliness were going to work perfectly with 72 stitches cast on and size 10 needles.  You fooled me into thinking you would be 16 inches across and you were for the first few inches.  But then something happened along the way,  I got tighter with my stitching, you started to curl up on yourself as you were rolling off the ball.  I do not blame you because I did unravel you from a previous project and did not take the time to wet you down and and get all your kinks out.  So what we had was a bit of a yarn fight, me constantly trying to untangle you, and you shrinking width-wise on me at a rapid rate.

I knew it was happening yet knit on in a total frenzy trying to get you done.  And like a novice knitter I did not remember the longer you make a project, the heavier it gets and thus pulls in on itself, losing the crucial width that was so desired.  I am so lucky that my dear friend is a tiny whip of a thing.  She is just over five feet tall and weighs as much as my thigh.   You will do well for her especially since this morning I spent about an hour steam blocking you to within an inch of your life.  I actually used an entire iron full of steam to get you to a width of 16 in. and a length of 75.  I was not trying for that extra length but I got it.  At one point you were only 12 in. wide so I think it was a victory for me and the iron.  

You started out as this project which I made years ago.  I loved it yet never wore it so I decided the Zick Zack would be perfect for you.  

I wrestled with you trying to pull you apart.  But I got there and even fixed a few of those annoying joins that Noro is so famous for while I was rolling you up into balls.  Look how fun you look all ready to go and become something new. 

Look how different you look using two alternating balls of yarn, the change is incredible.  

And here you are all finished and I am exhausted from all the steam blocking you needed to get to this point.  You are wide enough to be considered a shawl, which is what I was going for but actually could be used as a scarf, well if you were 5' 10" like me you could.  Anyway I thank you for the steam bath you gave my face this morning as I wrestled with you and blocked you into submission a proper size.  

Next time I make you oh you gorgeous Zick Zack, and if you know me there will be a next time, I will use bigger needles and add one more 12 stitch repeat.  Noro Silk Garden yarn, I still have a love/hate relationship with you, but you came from my stash and you look beautiful so I thank you for that.

I am so glad it all worked out between you and me, and I sure hope Sue loves you, because even though we had our differences a lot of love was put into you so she would feel it when she needs it.

And if she doesn't like you, you can always be a table runner.