I introduced the pattern to my mom last Saturday. Gave her some size 8s and a buttload of yarn balls. While the boys went down for their nap and knowing grandparentals were in charge, I took a nap. I figured I would wake up and see a minimum of two fish complete and laid out on the coffee table. I woke up to find one fish head. I then spent another hour demonstrating how to knit in the front and the back and how to SSK and then attempted to show her a slip knot and the long-tail cast on (I gave up and just told her to do it her way and knit one row before starting the pattern). If she didn’t work for cheap, I think I would fire her. She has thrown my tessalating brain into a tailspin (get it, tailspin???!!).
For the last few evenings, I have been the equivalent to a Beautiful Mind with calculations on when I could get this done (using post-its) . I knew the boy’s 2nd b-day in November would be way too obsessive. Christmas? This is when my Beautiful Mind started. 2 fish for me, 2 fish for mom/day = 4 fish a day. I figure I would need at least 2 weeks seaming and weaving in ends. 278 fish needed – 12 fish complete = 266 divided by 4 fish a day = 66.5 days. Do-able! Then my sweat shop labor employee went and got herself unionized. She wants breaks and training and vacation/sick time and health benefits/diability for her sore wrist AND the ability to make choices regarding what colors and brands of worsted yarn. Mother in law and fam are out because they crochet. Then my knit group peeps came up with an idea…an idea I have been on the fence about but, after watching my employee painfully struggle with the pattern, I figure I would give it a go.
A plea for fish WITH an incentive of yarny goodness. If this works, the boys could have it for their 2nd b-day and my Beautiful Mind (and my calculator) can take a Beautiful rest.
Knit me a fish (or two) out of worsted weight (I KNOW you all have leftover balls in your stash) ANY COLOR and ANY BRAND yarn using size 8 needles. Don’t worry about gauge because some fish are coming out bigger and smaller and I’ll sort it out when it’s seaming time. I’m still trying to figure out what seaming method to use as others seem to not choose what will work best until they try to seam them all together. So, I am leaving a bit of a tail of yarn after I bind off if I choose to do the mattress stitch. The pattern is located here. E-mail me (krisgarciaATcomcastDOTnet) to get the details of where to send them. If you are local, we can arrange a pick up. EACH fish you knit will enter you into a drawing for a great prize (I’ll give details of that when I figure out what it will be, but it will be great!). Also, you will be making Scrappy and Gangles all cuddling warm on their sofa as they point out each one and learn colors and numbers after throwing a temper tantrum about who gets to sit on what side of the sofa. Some have asked – will you make two? No. Whoever graduates with a full ride scholarship and sets Poppa and me up in a beachside home will be granted primary ownership of this heirloom afghan. The dealine for completing and sending is November 3, 2008. On behalf of Scrappy and Gangles and one tessalating Beautiful Mind, Thank you!
25 Comments
September 22, 2008 at 9:51 am
I’m going to try to do some fishies for your boys. I’ve so enjoyed watching them; it’ll be fun to do something for them.
I’ll be in touch if I get some done.
September 22, 2008 at 10:04 am
I will see if I can get a couple done for you.
I wanted to give them a try, but didn’t want to make a school of fish. Just knitting off a couple will satisfy me.
Cool!
September 22, 2008 at 10:50 am
Woo Hoo – such fun. You’ve got some New England seafood on the way soon!
September 22, 2008 at 11:38 am
count me in. when ella marries scrappy and they put ALL of us up in that swanky villa, she will know her own cussin’ granny made some of those fishies.
September 22, 2008 at 12:34 pm
I’m in. I have been wanting to knit a few of those fishies, but not enough to make anything out of them. So, you can expect to receive some Canadian fish too.
September 22, 2008 at 1:27 pm
LOL, I was thinking “Send me the pattern, I’ll crank out a couple for you” before I even got to the begging part. Shoot, I knit them sweaters before they were born, this is only appropriate. Just don’t ask me to contribute to the college fund.
E-mail me the address deets when you have a minute.
September 22, 2008 at 1:29 pm
You know I’m good for some fish.
September 22, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Being a Pisces, it’s only natural that I should be totally into this fish idea. Fish from California will be arriving shortly.
September 22, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Sure, I will take a few patterns to Tues.Night Knitting at The Yarn Garden too and see if I can get anyone else to “take the bait”.
September 22, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Dude I should just send you the like 9 I made in my pathetic attempt to do this blanket. I’m just not that motivated. No worries about entering–they’re just taking up room in my knitting bag making me feel guilty. Mocking me…
I love the way you’ll determine final ownership of the blanket. Hubby and I like to think of Chunky as our little walking retirement plan too
September 22, 2008 at 9:15 pm
I’ll take the bait. Fishing tales are always fun!
September 23, 2008 at 8:27 am
I’ll mention this tomorrow!
September 23, 2008 at 10:19 am
i want in, too! : ) fishies sound like fun.
September 23, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Next week I think you should ask for loaves of bread?
September 23, 2008 at 3:52 pm
I didn’t mean to question mark that one. But since I’m here I might as well ask: Wasn’t there wine in that story too?
September 23, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Hey, this sounds like fun and something new to do. Very cool! I’ll email you for more info, but I’m going to knit a couple of fish for you and the boys =)
September 23, 2008 at 11:28 pm
marcia, i think it was fishes. but, it’s your story so you can tell it anyway you want.
September 24, 2008 at 7:15 am
What fiber content do you prefer? If I can actually get a couple knit then I’ll get your address from you
September 24, 2008 at 10:50 am
I knit a ton of these fishies last spring! I’ll see if I have any leftover fish floating around. If you give me your address, I can send them along.
BTW, I tried the crochet seaming method. Not my favorite! I ended up whipstitching the fish together (at a nice diagonal slant), all with one color of yarn, and it looked great.
September 24, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Some of the Tues. knitters were up for the challenge-I have 3 made. Will send them all in one package when I collect them.
September 24, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Aww… what a good idea!
I’ll make some for ya out of that blue stuff I’m supposed to be making my sweater out of. hehe I saw that blanket once in someone’s blog and it was fabulous… 
September 25, 2008 at 6:03 am
If I can do it you can!
Just finished a 160 piece afghan for my daughter in about 28 days
Have a look on my blog for proof that we knitters can do anything if we put our minds to it
September 25, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Happy to help. I’ve so enjoyed your boys, pets and blog–seems like the good karma thing to do!
Do you truly mean any worsted? Would you prefer washable? Even if that means acrylic? Am I asking too many questions and should just get knitting?
September 25, 2008 at 6:14 pm
I’m going to “Stitch” tomorrow morning, so I’ll see what I can do about the fishies. Since I LOVE a contest, and I live on the water (well, six blocks up), and you’re in Michigan, too, it must be serendipity that I try out the fish pattern! Now where are my 8s?!
September 25, 2008 at 10:33 pm
yes I must also know whether you need it to be a washable yarn too…