Recently, while consulting with the kids about what I should knit next, this little guy quietly sidled up next to me, shined his sparkly blue eyes my way, and said in a soft voice (this is how he gets things done, this one), "You could make me a sweater, Mama."
"But Harper", I replied as gently as I could, "you have a few sweaters I've made for you and you don't seem to wear them very much. That's okay - really. But I don't want to spend a lot of time making another one if I don't think you'll wear it."
He paused for a moment, and I could see him thinking hard, trying to phrase what came next in way that I could understand.
"Mom." he said quite seriously, "They're not purple."
But of course! What was I thinking? Clearly not, for - more and more - this Purple Working Man prefers everything to be as such. Tool boxes (thank goodness they make such a thing), the tools within, ski helmets and everything else imaginable. Purple.
I cast on with vigor about a week ago, with Quince and Co. Osprey in Petunia (such a great name, yes?). And here's where I must pause to give props to local yarn stores and specifically my favorite local(ish) one, Knitwit, and the shopkeeper herself, Suzie. For I do remember picking up some lovely DK, and even some fingering in those aisles, before she ever so gently led me on the straight and narrow back to the Aran aisle, saying something like 'Purple Working Man is going to want that sweater sooner rather than later, yes?". And again I found myself saying, But of course! What was I thinking?
Anyway, a sweater was finished in less than a week, which is in equal parts owed to his persistent asking about it, along with my staying up far too late each night working my way through two seasons of Girls in just five days, and of course, the fact that it's Aran weight yarn and he's still a little guy, really. (Other important details for you knitterly types - the pattern is TAMA by Kelly Brooker, which was fabulous, really. Versatile in yarn choices, easy to read, and resulting in a great knit. The buttons are from Wooly Moss Roots, and oh - I love them so.)
It was just right, the timing, the color - everything - for Harper who anxiously awaited this sweater. Twenty four hours of blocking by the woodstove was almost more than he could bear, checking it nearly on the hour. But at last, it was dry and ready, and so was he. True to his word, the purpleness of it made all the difference. He's worn it for at least a part of every day since I gave it to him, giving sparkly-eyed and wholehearted words of thanks here and there to me. And well, I'm not sure what makes a knitting Mama happier than that.