April 18, 2007
In the Modeling World, You Get What You Pay For
Who knew that one of the Great Mossy Cottage Kafuffles would be about, of all things, a massage? While I so appreciate y’all having my back (pardon the pun), really, kind citizens of Blogland, the post-massage bodily wear-and-tear was, to a great extent—and I’m not being coy here—my fault, since the masseur did ask regularly and often if he was pressing too hard but I, based on past deep-tissue massages, thought some discomfort was normal and responded accordingly (between the most unattractive squeaks and grunts). And the silver lining? The only cure for my inexperience? More massages! Woot!
As I mentioned in my last post—as I backpedaled frantically after confessing I had knit for another charity—I did finish the once-ill-fated Dulaan sweater. The redesigned sleeves came out perfectamundo and other than (a) running out of various colors and having to get wildly creative and (b) the tedium of weaving in four yarn ends for every stripe, it was a great sweater to knit.
The photoshoot, though? Not so good. First I tried to recreate this modeling feat of a few years ago:
...but the pooch would have none of it. She had an instant brain fart, forgot what “sit” and “stay” meant, and tried very determinedly to walk right through the fabric while I screeched and grabbed and yanked and tried to extract her claws from between the stitches while simultaneously pulling the sweater up over those embarrassingly ginormous ears.
Then TMK, who had observed the entire circus, offered to pose with the sweater and, well...
…she was no better behaved. But I threatened to send her back for another massage, and look—instant cooperation!
Here, for good measure, the ubiquitous lavender shot so you can better see the color-flip-flopped sleeves, the result of having to juggle rapidly diminishing balls of yarn. Five small brass buttons for the left side of the neck and it’s off to Flagstaff.
Still on the Dulaan front, I wanted to let you know about the inspiring work being done by yet another one of our Champeens of the Mongolian People, Emma, at Sweet Briar College. Big-hearted Emma has adopted Dulaan as “her” project and has been marketing the project around campus. She has received responses from faculty, staff, students, and even spouses of faculty, has succeeded in having an article posted to her college’s online web newsletter, and has even sent out press releases to further her cause.
As a result, to-date Emma has made or received these items:
Now, knitters, take a gander at the teal sweater in the back and the cream-colored sweater in the front. These are remarkable for two reasons. One, look at the cabling, look at the intricacy, look at the workmanship! And, two, these come from one Dr. Elisabeth Muhlenfeld, the president of Sweet Briar. Wow! That Emma knows her some peoples.
Emma, if there were such a thing as a Dulaan Medal, one would be on its way to you. (Which, actually, gives me an idea for next year. Hmmmmm...)
What a great article from Sweet Briar! those donations are beautiful!
Pat
Aack! It's TMK Sweaterhead! That middle picture (with the arms held out) is particularly scary. Cute sweater, though. :)
P.S. Way to go, Emma!!!
Posted by: Denise in Kent, WA on April 18, 2007 01:45 PMGo Emma! And President Muhlenfeld! :) That teal sweater in back...is that WendyKnits' Melody Sweater?
Ryan, your Dulaan sweater turned out so precious - and TMK, you're an awesome model!
Posted by: Julie on April 18, 2007 04:01 PMI've got a stitch in my side now from laughing so hard! Ow, oh, better fun than an overly muscled massage therapist!
Posted by: Kristen on April 18, 2007 05:26 PMOh, thanks for the laughs. Even after a car and furnace trouble day I had to smile at your sweet dog objecting to being in another sweater. Your descriptions make it so easy to picture. And your 'model' partner in the beautiful stripey sweater is so imaginative. Really, that sweater came out cuter because of the yarn shortages. I'm on hat #6 and now I'm getting ideas for a striped one with all the leftovers.
Posted by: Lydia on April 18, 2007 07:38 PMI love the TMK pictures. Too funny!
Posted by: Kris on April 18, 2007 09:38 PMooooh I am loving on that corgi (it IS a corgi, yes?) Anyone who thinks that our furry babies 1) have no sentience; 2) have no sense of humor; 3) cannot SMILE - have never seen YOUR furry baby. That is ONE smiling pupdog! I'm determinedly cranking away to finish my nearly-finished WIP; then I'm reading about Dulaan and A4A. Seems like excellent summer projects - (and hooray to young Miss Ellen, I stand in awe!)
Posted by: Dale-Harriet in WI on April 18, 2007 11:46 PMI can fully support the more massages thing. Maybe we should have a little Dulaan massage club. For every 5 Dulaan items we knit, we go and get a massage from the not-quite-so muscled.
Posted by: Seanna Lea on April 19, 2007 03:51 AMI freaking love that little sweater!
Posted by: Renee on April 19, 2007 05:43 AMI agree with the assessment that the little sweater came out cuter because of the yarn shortages. Love it!
Way to goooooo, Emma and Sweet Briar and President Muhlenfeld!
Posted by: Norma on April 19, 2007 06:14 AMRyan, I love the sweater! It's gorgeous! And those cabled sweaters--wow! I am emerald green over those sweaters--my pitiful cabling attempts look like a spastic monkey worked the needles!
You have the best models, too--but I do have to confess I'm partial to Ms. Frankie. What a doll! Any time she's ready to help me pilfer TMK's gorgeous yarns, have her call me! lol! The snackies are on me!
Posted by: Nancy O. on April 19, 2007 08:00 AMAnd Emma--faboo job! You rock!
Posted by: Nancy O. on April 19, 2007 08:11 AMwow, that is amazing(the presidential sweaters, not tmk's modeling abilities, or lack there of.) i'm kinda like ann in that respect. they (the people in mongolia) deserve the best i can give them. and it gives me a chance to play with patterns i'd never use otherwise (i'm doing the asymmetrical v-neck in toddler size from teva durham's loop d'loop, and it's fun! (with mohair, itch,scratch,itch, as a carry-along(it's warm enough here that mohairdrives me mad!)))
Posted by: minnie on April 19, 2007 09:18 AMHmmm, for me - i notice the more tension I've been holding in my body in direct relation to how much a massage hurts! I hold a LOT of stress in...and a massage helps..but it's painful when it happens!!
The pics just made me laugh and laugh...except for the awesome pics of the stuff Emma's made/received...those two sweaters??? All that work to donate to charity? That is an amazing person. I'd wanna hang them on the wall or something....
Posted by: Lisa in Oregon on April 19, 2007 09:39 AMAt least, TMK takes direction better than the doggie. Very cute sweater, Ryan.
Way to go, Emma!
Posted by: Cookie on April 19, 2007 10:51 AMLovely warm sweaters, all of 'em, unwilling modeling notwithstanding :-)
Posted by: kmkat on April 19, 2007 11:00 AMDoes that mean this project is definitely a go for 2008? Cool!
Posted by: Ivy on April 19, 2007 02:57 PMHA HA HA!! I am *so* glad I wasn't drinking anything when I got to TMK's sweater photo or it would have gotten sprayed all over the monitor. Very cute.
Posted by: morenna on April 19, 2007 06:56 PM