<<whispers>> I’m taking a risk writing this post, because it’s about a gift that I’m knitting for a friend. I don’t think Mary reads here – yarn is not her thing – but occasionally the most unexpected people fess up to following my blog, so you never know.
So for reasons of secrecy, I’ll keep my voice down. And if I suddenly change the subject AND START TALKING LOUDLY ABOUT HOW ISN’T IT A LOVELY DAY TODAY, AND OOOOH LOOK, A SQUIRREL! then that’s because I’ve spotted Mary looking this way, and I don’t want her to see what I’m making. OK? Thanks for your understanding.
Mary and I go way back, but these days she lives in a beautiful stone cottage in deepest south west Wales with her husband and dogs, and she works in a theatre. Trust me, you’d like her a lot. But the universe hasn’t been particularly kind to her this year, and her health has suffered. This culminated in some properly major surgery, as a result of which she’s currently flat on her back at home, working hard on getting better.
The week before her surgery, she came to visit us here in Oxfordshire, and we talked about what her life was likely to be like as she recovered from the operation, and that’s when an idea began to form. I should mention at this point that Mary and I met about 15 years ago over our shared love of literature. At the top of her staircase at home is her ‘book nook’, a small library with just the right kind of seating for losing a few hours in a good read. Mary planned to spend a lot of time there as she recovered. But being in an old house, the book nook can get chilly. You can probably see where all this is going. I offered to knit her a blanket to keep her warm as she read – she said yes – so whilst she does know that a blanket is coming, the details are to be a surprise, hence all this whispering. We were both pretty realistic about the fact that this thing wasn’t going to ready by the date of her surgery, but I promised it’d be done as soon as humanly possible.
Obviously I couldn’t make something simple. Or normal. Or easy. That was never going to happen.
So I decided to knit her a book. Yeah, it was obvious, really, wasn’t it?
I’m not making an entire book; I mean, there won’t be separate chapters or any complex sub-plots. But I drafted 67 words of a micro-story about Mary, and knitted them in dark blue and parchment-coloured yarn. And now I’m knitting the cover in purple, ready to embroider it in gold. Pages will then be sewn to cover, to create a blanket that is also an open book.
Because my love of stranded knitting doesn’t extend to purling the stuff, I worked the pages of text in the round with a steek, which I’ve since cut. (New to steeking? I’ve written about it here.) It’s not really a proper steek because the yarn is mostly acrylic, so I had to super-reinforce it with a lot of violent hand-sewing and I’m still worried that it’ll unravel at some point. The yarn is Stylecraft Special Aran With Wool, by the way. And the text?
Once upon a time, there was a marvellous woman called Mary. She lived in an old and beautiful house near the sea, and was loved by all her friends. Her favourite thing was to read, and she was never without a good novel. One year, she was ill, but with her books and her friends’ and family’s love, she recovered, and lived happily ever after.
Simple, I know, but there’s only so much character development and plot-twisting you can cram in to 67 words.
So I’m getting there. I just hope that Mary likes it. And whilst I really do wish her a speedy recovery, I hope that I can get this thing finished whilst she’s still just about poorly enough to appreciate it! I promise to show you once it’s finished.
Wow that’s just brilliant. Your friend Mary will love it. What a lovely friend you are .
I HOPE she will. I will be nervous when I give it to her.
Don’t be – she will… just be ready with the hugs and tissues! Sometimes actions speak louder than words – even knitted ones ; ) x
That is amazing! I want a friend like you!
I’m rubbish and disorganized, usually. Poor Mary puts up with a lot.
That’s just wonderful. Lucky Mary!
Thank you. 🙂
It’s that kind of compassion that really does make people feel better.
I hope so, because she really does deserve some better fortune.
That is a splendid gift. I particularly like the way you’ve replicated a printer’s font style for the lettering – nice you h! X
Ha ha, I was looking at it and thinking it looked a little like the ‘Courier’ font!
Wow!!! What a fantastic idea and a fantastic gift.
It HAD to be book-related, it really did.
The first thing that I thought was, “ That’s brilliant!” Then I saw someone else had the same thought. So then I thought, “Great minds think alike????”. You are making a treasure for your friend and it is lovely.
Thank you for such kind words. I just hope she likes it. I’m fretting, because I know that she heartily dislikes beige, and the pages are suddenly looking a bit… beige.
I’m pretty sure that if she had a beloved book with beige or cream colored pages, she wouldn’t dislike it at all. She would treasure it and it would have a special place on her book shelf. What a tremendous undertaking you have wrought. And I mean by using that word that you are a beautiful friend to care so much!
Definition of wrought:
1 : worked into shape by artistry or effort
2 : elaborately embellished : ORNAMENTED
What an original idea from a very kind friend!
She so deserves it, though.
What a lovely open book. I’m sure she’ll cherish it. Never done steek but will read about it in your post and maybe try it on a later project.
Thank you. And trust me, cutting a steek is only scary the first time that you do it. 🙂
Oh, Phil! You have outdone yourself and all for the love of a friend. Brava!
Thank you for such kind words. I just hope so much that she likes it…
WOW! Just WOW – what an amazing gift! Wishing Mary all the best for a speedy recovery. x
Thank you. And I’m hoping that all these internetty good wishes towards her will speed her convalescence.
Wow. You amaze me. Wonderful work! Mary is a lucky friend.
Nah, I’m the lucky one in this friendship! (But thank you anyway.)
What an incredibly wonderful thing to do! And the idea of the two best things in the world being combined (books and reading) is almost magical. Please post us a picture of the final piece in all its magnificent glory?
Well I’ll certainly post about the finished thing – I just hope that it’s not disappointing!
Wonderful Phil, just wonderful. Love it, love the thoughtfulness behind it, and would love to see the look on Mary’s face when she receives it. Sending all good wishes to Mary for a speedy recovery and hugs to you to keep you going til you finish knitting ????????????
Thank you for such kindness. I’m feeling nervous, because Mary HATES beige, and I keep looking at the yarn I used for the pages and agonizing over whether it counts as beige!
I think it’s a warm white rather than a beige and she’ll love it ????
It’s oatmeal – a cosy, comforting colour. Our best wishes to Mary.
You knitted her a book filled with warmth and much happiness. Surely it will help bring improved health and happiness.
I hope so. I really, really, hope so. She deserves some good fortune.
You are so creative!!
Or possibly ‘ridiculous’, but thank you anyway! 🙂
This is loving grace… you are so talented. ????
Thank you for such kindness. Mary is the most thoughtful and generous friend, so she truly deserves a little something in return.
I am already impressed and very much looking forward to seeing the finished blanket. You are very creative and kind.
Thank you. I thought all this garter stitch for the book cover would be quick, but it feels slower than working the text! Must… knit… faster…
Such a beloved work from the heart!!
It is certainly being made with love. I just hope that she likes it.
You are a gem, and brighten my day with every post! Good health to Mary!
And you are kinder than I deserve for saying this, but thank you.
It’s awesome! I’ve been admiring it on Insta up to now without being able to read it, so thanks for including the full text. What a lovely and thoughtful gift!
Thank you!
This is brilliant, creative, a testament to true friendship, and an act of grace all knit into an incredible work of art. May it enfold Mary in warmth, healing, and comfort.
(Can an American say she is gobsmacked?!)
An American can most certainly say gobsmacked! Meanwhile, thank you for such generous words. Mary is a very special friend, and deserves this and more.
Brilliant. I love it, and I’m sure she will too ! Wishing her a speedy recovery and best wishes.
I HOPE she likes it… but I’m confident that even if she doesn’t, she’ll understand that it was made with love.
Wow. When the current turmoil starts to get me down (I live in the US), hearing stories like this reminds me how many truly good people there are in the world. You are brilliant and kind and make the world brighter – remember that the next time you have a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day!
Eek, yes, I can see how this might not be the most hopeful time to be living in the US. (We have our own mini-madness too, in the form of Brexit. Don’t. Get. Me. Started.) Wishing for better, kinder, more tolerant times ahead for all of us.
This is so beautiful!! And lovely!! And looks cosy!! And such a wonderfull idea!!
Thank you so much! It is a bit bonkers, though.
Okay, we can add that one: And
really bonkers!! 😉
Yup!
How wonderful, for some reason it makes me want to cry and call my best friend.
Oops, tears was not my intended effect! But from all that I’ve seen you post over the past few years, I’m guessing that you’re a rather brilliant and loyal friend.
Your gift is so unique and filled with much love. We all need a kind friend like you in our life.
Thank you. Mostly, I feel like an inadequate friend, so I’m hoping to make up a bit of the debt by knitting this thing.
That is just beautiful and you should be proud of yourself!
Thank you! I just hope so much that she likes it…
Amazing!
Thank you.
And wishing Mary a full recovery
Also thanks!
What a lovely idea for your lovely friend ????
What an original and thoughtful gift for your friend’s recovery and beyond. I read the color as old parchment and with the Purple “cover” it takes on the magical air of a Harry Potter document. I never fail to be inspired by your posts, but this one is truly remarkable, both in invention and execution.
This is the most amazing thing I have seen in ages. Gobsmacked. When I recover I’m going to start fantasising about a similar project although it will not involve steeking, the very idea of which gives me palpitations.
Another American is gobsmacked! Bless you and your dear friend.
What an amazing gift. Best wishes to Mary for a speedy recovery.
I bet she cries when she sees this, it is amazing, and you are a wonderful friend to her.
Your creativity and innovation always astound me! Honestly! What a beautiful, heartfelt gift. I wish Mary a fast, speedy recovery (though she is bound to with that blanket!)
WOW! This is amazing work!
Wow! Oh wow! Oh wow!
What an amazing gift and creation you are making for a friend in need of some comfort. You truly are a wonderful friend and I am certain that Mary will treasure it, and you, for the rest of her life.
Wish I had a friend like you..
Best wishes to you both and also wishing Mary a very speedy recovery. x
You must be an amazing friend ! I loved this when I saw a sneak peek elsewhere. It looks even better bigger here. Wishing Mary a speedy recuperation – I am sure to be loved will help!
If I was her, Phil, I would feel loved to the moon and back
That is SO personal, so beautiful, so special!
Wow, I am amazed at your imagination, what a lovely gift for a lucky lady.
Best gift ever for a bookworm indeed. Lovely gift from a lovely friend.
What a wonderful and thoughtful friend you are Ms T. She is going to love this! Wafting good thoughts and healing vibes over from our approaching Aussie summer to Mary and that book nook, and delicious blanket, are going to assist her to heal more thoroughly than any medicine available…
Wow how wonderful, When I first saw it I thought a Santa’s sack.. But pages of a book, well that just blew my mind.
You are so talented and a lovely person…there is goodness in the world.
What a beautiful idea. I am sure Mary will be delighted with the end product.
Oh my goodness. How very beautiful the thought and the work. You are so talented. I am in awe.