The Tale of Two Rigmors

Or how I started knitting for my daughters

I’m new to knitting garments after being a longtime hat-and-scarf knitter. Children’s clothes seemed a smart entry into garments because of the low risk (time and cost) to the learning curve. Smaller knits, smaller mistakes, less to rip back. Smaller knits, smaller yarn cost per garment. I recommend the strategy, it proved true for me.

This is my first pair of finished objects for my two daughters. One is 5 years old, and the other is 5 months. My older daughter is eager to wear my knits, so I’ll ride that while it lasts. The younger, well, has no choice (yet). Did I feel ridiculous knitting them matching garments? You bet. Did I regret it? Not a bit. I learned a lot and got two garments out of one purchased pattern.

This is the Rigmor Summer Blouse pattern by Petite Knit, knit with Queensland Coastal Cotton in Magenta and Goldenrod. My gauge was larger with this yarn so I sized down for the girls. I made the 4-5yo size and the 0-3mo size.

Queensland Coastal Cotton is like Puffs kleenex with lotion. How’s that for a simile. As far as cotton goes, Queensland is butter. I discovered the yarn at Purly Shell Fiber Arts in Ilwaco, WA on a recent camping trip on the Washington state coast. Their logo is a mermaid wearing a shell bra who is weaving yarn. So weird, so good. The rest I purchased through Tea Cozy Yarn in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle.

The girls’ Rigmors taught me how knit lace, raglan sleeves, German short rows, and most importantly how not to let perfection get in the way of done.

Do you see how the neckline is different on the smaller size up there? I played yarn chicken and lost. But I made it work with a modified neckline after being inspired by Louise Tilbrook’s essay about perfection being the enemy of done (below).

In pursuit of perfection

I skipped the short row neck shaping since, let’s be honest, babies don’t have much of a neck. And I did two rows of ribbing instead of five. It is not perfect, and it is done.

Knitting is full of metaphors for writing and life. What are some that have stood out to you? The connection between knitting, writing, and life is what I hope to explore here at Yarn Tales. Thank you for reading my first post and please subscribe for free to receive each new essay.