On the way home from MDSW, I realised with a start that the following weekend was Mother’s Day and, having just finished and falling in love with my cobbled-together version of Mary-Heather’s Simple Things shawlette, I decided to quickly knit one up for my mum.

I cast on the next day, using the Rumba yarn I’d picked up at MDSW and knit as fast as two demanding toddlers would let me.  Big needles (8mm) helped it move along quickly, and I finished it just in time.

Unlike the previous version, I loved this yarn, loved the way the deep raspberry colour melted into the caramel brown.  And I kept asking myself if Mum wouldn’t really be perfectly happy with a hastily bought bottle of perfume…?  But I was a good daughter and gave it away on the Sunday.  Mum was suitably delighted, which softened the blow.

I note, however, that she hasn’t worn it once so far — never mind that the weather has never dipped below 70 since — and if I don’t see it round her neck soon, I may be stealing it back!

I love the way the yarn overs came out using bigger needles.  There’s something really graphic about the big stitches, the big holes.  It looks to me a little like this scarf has a spine… looks a bit like the skeleton of a dinosaur in the natural history museum.  That’s really weird, but I kinda like it!