When I posted the picture of my latest project on Thursday, I thought for sure that it was obvious. When I asked for guesses, I got a surprise that had unintended effects. The project is, as many thought, a replica of the Season 12 scarf that Dr. Who wore. (Because of copyright, and the fact that Dr. Who belongs to someone else – the thing is cleverly called "Who’s your Favourite Time Traveller?" I got it as a kit from The Little Red Mitten, but the pattern’s here. It was irresistible.)
I started it on Wednesday, and let me tell you, I was chock full of delusion. I honestly thought that it would be done by now. I’ll pause here to allow those of you who have knit one of these bad boys to pick yourself up off the floor and wipe the dust bunnies off the side of your face.
You see, it’s about 12 feet of garter stitch in sport weight wool. Yeah, that’s a fair bit of knitting, but I realize now that I allowed three little words to convince me that it would be a walk in the park. I heard "garter stitch" and "scarf" and decided that there was absolutely no way that this would be hard, and it turns out I was sort of right. The knitting itself? Easy peasy. How couldn’t it be? The trick to this isn’t knitting it, it’s not stopping knitting it. The skill this takes? It’s stamina. Last night I was knitting away on it, and realized that I’m about halfway, and I took a break and went to read the comments on the blog post for a while.
I was surprised at all the great guesses. Andrea thought it might be a Baby Surprise Sweater for Lou. (Although with that much yarn, it would be for his 18th birthday.) Pamela thought maybe a Moderne Log Cabin blanket. Etcgirl said it might be All the Shades of Truth, Pat had her money on a Betty Mouat cowl. Kimberley said a Ron Weasley Blanket,
Sue, Jennifer and Mary said a Temperature Scarf…. and as I went along, looking at all those pretty things, I started to get a little feeling.
A feeling that said "Hey Steph, this scarf is sort of long. You should maybe take a break from it and make something else. One of those things. Or something like those things… like a hat. Or a lace shawl… or maybe a sweater… a grey sweater. A pink hat. Rainbow mittens….or you know… ANYTHING THAT ISN’T THIS." I heard that voice, I respected what it was saying, and I thought about it. I thought about it enough that before I even really knew what was happening, I was in the upstairs stash pulling down all sorts of things and getting ready to take a little scarf break and then it hit me. 
This scarf is like a marathon. I am not the sort of person who can stop. If I stop to take a little rest, I will never get back up. The scarf will go to the back of the closet, I will pretend I never started and it will become something else that Rams and Presbytera mention and I ignore or WORSE it will go to the back of the closet until next December, when I will drag it up (because it is the 50th anniversary of Dr. Who, and how am I supposed to let that go) and try to finish it in a few days in a marathon of garter stitch nightmare that – while it may be fun for you, will be terrible for me.
No, no. There is only forward my friends. Only forward.
You’re already further than I’ve seen most people get, so good work there! It’s looking great, keep up the great work!
Though you said it’s taking forever, I do love the way it’s knitting up at the tighter gauge. I’ve seen so many of these scarves and the gauge at which you’re knitting it makes it look so tidy and nice!
Onward to victory!!
I’m working on a sport-weight black shrug that is 2×3 rib, and it is taking _forever_–it’s cuff-to-cuff and has to be about 5 feet long total, which I do know is nowhere near 12 feet–so you go, girl, and maybe we can both persist long enough to finish the darn things! Best, randmknitter
I feel like you should just look at it as the ultimate in Zen Knitting. Tell yourself that it is a meditative experience, a test of will. A few glasses of wine may help. 😉
It was more than a little bit chuckle-worthy that you thought you might be done already. I know you knit quickly and you are consistent in how much time you spend, but that is a monstrous pile of garter stitch!
How about this, the more time you knit it the more love and warmth the recipient will have from it?
Okay, it was worth a try. I was asked to knit one of those bad boys a couple of years ago and said no. I realized that I would have to love someone an awful lot to knit that much. 🙂
1) my son or daughter would love this scarf
2) I am knitting a marathon scarf – 10′ in cream colored wool in Stockinette stitch on size 10 needles. I am halfway in. I resist the urge to put a knitting needle in my eye daily.
The words “garter stitch” are enough to warn me off any knitting project, no matter how desirable the end product may be. Boredom from HELL.
Hope you’re weaving in the ends along the way too ’cause they look like they’ll bite you in the butt when you’re finally done with the garter stitch knitting!
50th anniversary is, I believe, November 23rd. You have lots of time!
omg! The Doctor’s fiftieth anniversary? I’ve got to make something commemorative too!
Holy cow, it’s sport weight yarn but still 12ft long. More power to ya.
Maybe it’s just bigger on the inside.
I made one out of worsted weight a few years. It still makes me shudder. But I found myself reading your post and thinking hmmmm. Must stop now. It was really traumatic.
Keep going! I knit mine during the 2012 Olympics, so my recommendation to you is to put something you love on the t.v. and keep knitting! You’ll be so glad you did! (Although mine wasn’t as long as the real one – I didn’t want my brother-in-law to trip on it or get it caught in the car door…)
Just think of it as the knitting equivalent of your Toronto to Montreal bike ride (tho’ not providing grist for Rams’s and Presbytera’s respective mills ought to be sufficient inspiration.)
And I think I ought to cast on now in case my 13 month old great nephew turns out to be a Dr. Who fan.
Mine is also out to sport weight yarn. Took me 2 months. You are going to have this bad boy done in 2 weeks!? Yikes!
Congratulations on fighting off the startitis. If you don’t think you can push straight through, maybe you could reward yourself every 3 to 4 color changes with something else. Like a few rows of a fussy Latvian mitten. 😉
I do feel your pain though. I have about 40 inches left of a yellow & red double knitting scarf that was a request from DH. I sprinkle in socks, hats and mittens in between fits of work on it.
You have made the right decision — this scarf is a marathon, abeit a non-sweaty one. Personally I really enjoyed the mindless knitting involved. I had an added bit of fun in that I was making it on the sly for my husband & could only work on it when he wasn’t around. Given that we both work from home, in the same room, it was a bit of a challenge. I managed to complete it, without spoiling the surprise, in about 2 weeks — it was wrapped & ready for his birthday with time to spare.
Have fun with it!
Maybe you could give yourself a reward at certain points? When you’re halfway finished you can cast on a sock? (Or finish Joe’s if you haven’t already). Knit part of a sock when you reach the 3/4 mark? Or just something really small to remind yourself that there will be an end to this and some fun at the end. Maybe a swatch for the shawl?
Wheras some of us are going to backtrack: I haven’t mentioned that gansey in YEARS, letting poor Presbytera carry the load, but since the expression “Might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb” has greater resonance here, I think it mat be time to give her a break. A big, grey, wooly, hand-washed, lock-aligned, break. From Cornwall. Whose interesting bits you were approaching, if you think about it… (Sit back, Presbytera. I’ll take it from here.)
Looks like fun….
Only forward. I like that. I think that scarf will be absolutely amazing but yea… definitely not a walk in the park.
I started one of these for my brother 7 years ago after much pleading and grovelling. He asked where it was on December 24th this year. I had completely forgotten about it- there were two moves since I put it aside and forgot about it! I am going to have to begin it again, although I have no idea where I stashed the 2 feet that I have already knitted.
It looks lovely. Don’t stop running.
I went back to see what I’d thought the pile o’wool was and it looked like a sweater to me. No way would I have guessed a scarf.
Just the words ‘twelve feet’ would stop me. I’m doing a scarf in seed stitch which I lengthened (voluntarily)because it was just too short to look good. However, these last few inches have warped out of the known space/time continuum. Effort expended no longer co-exists in harmony with time expended. But I know there is hope when I see how much you’ve accomplished on yours. Somewhere the world makes sense again. Thanks!
I know the feeling. When learning to knit I started a scarf. The shop owner cast on for me and I started knitting. Since I didn’t know how to stop I kept knitting thereby convincing myself I was accomplishing something toward xmas gifts. When I finally made it back to the shop for help the scarf was about 8 feet long! Even wrapping around the neck more than once it still touched the floor!
I just love Rams.
That is all 🙂
The scarf is in gorgeous colours! I’ve never seen Dr. Who, but I might be tempted to knit such a scarf. Even though garter stitch takes longer, and something that long takes forever! But think what you will have when it’s done!!! Off to look at Dr. Who patterns on Rav….
Onward, brave knitter!
Just finished a simple rib scarf that was only 80 inches long and that seemed to take forever!
Thanks for the heads up about the 50 year anniversary for Dr. Who!
Once made one for a teddy bear – a small teddy bear – and almost lost my mind. No Way!! (aka “famous last words”-checking stash tonight for colors). 🙂
The 50th anniversary isn’t that far away – 23rd November this year. Come to think of it, I should get going on my own replica scarf for then.
keep knitting maybe it will be done before winter is….hope that sounds as pithy as its meant to…
It would look great warming the neck of one of the life-size dinosaurs that appears to be breaking through a brick wall at our children’s museum., too!
A guy from our indy pub knitters group recently finished another kind of dr. Who garter stitch scarf, also ginormous. More awe-inspiringly, it was the second one he’s made: his dad saw his and wanted one too.
Persevere, dear Harlot, and remember: you’ll still finish it at least twice as fast as we mere mortal knitters could.
Wow, 50th anniversary? Maybe I need one of these scarves (and he was my fav. Dr). But maybe I should wait until a certain someone’s baby blanket is done (which also involves a lot of garter stitch, damn it).
How many M&Ms are required to complete a 12′ garter stitch scarf?
I’ve made one of these (and fell in love with the Doctor at the same time). It’s totally worth it. Run, Stephanie, Run!
Also, it’s Doctor. Not Dr.
Love,
a Whovian
Hmmm. This might be a wonderful opportunity. You could foist–I mean–share the knitting of this with a child or knitting beginner. Wouldn’t that be nice? Then that person could finish the scarf while you start one of those lovely projects.
Steph-
Ah yes. I knew what it was instantly. I am currently knitting a set of TARDIS mittens over here. I had been asked to make the scarf, but I delayed with mittens instead. I feel your pain.
It seems to me that a lot of people do simple projects/simple stich paterns this time of year. It must be that post-christmas relax period. I’m doing a garter stich blanket presetly (Frankie Brown’s Ten-Stich Blanket, just enough challenge not to dull the mind, but easy enough to relax with)
My sister got me watching Doctor Who, but I don’t watch every single episode. (Dinosaurs on a Spaceship is one of my favorites however)
It seems to me that a lot of people do simple projects/simple stich paterns this time of year. It must be that post-christmas relax period. I’m doing a garter stich blanket presetly (Frankie Brown’s Ten-Stich Blanket, just enough challenge not to dull the mind, but easy enough to relax with)
My sister got me watching Doctor Who, but I don’t watch every single episode. (Dinosaurs on a Spaceship is one of my favorites however)
One day I will make a Doctor Who scarf, one day.
I didn’t even comment on the last post because it was so blindingly apparent it was Tom Baker’s scarf.
My 14 year old requested the same for Christmas about 3 days before it. Right after I had been released from the hospital MAYBE with the same thing that knocked you on your arse. I knew it was laughable, and mentally queued it for his birthday. Had been considering Cascade 220, but I think the sportweight would be more pleasant to wear… Do you like it?
Back of closet….. Like Joe’s Gansey or did that get finished? It was a work of love.
I knitted one a few years ago for my Dr. Who loving husband. He wore it for a while, but then determined it unpractical… sigh…. I have asked him on occasion to wear it again, but it does fall on deaf ears… Took me about a week to knit it about 9 winters ago… It is pretty… and I can say I made one!
Keep at it, Stephanie! You can do it!!
Omyhell. The flashbacks are crippling! Get this: I had found knitting after a 30-year hiatus (my grandmothers taught me to knit when I was 7 years old, but that’s another story for another time). I thought, “It’s just garter stitch, I’m back in the groove again, no sweat!” So, I knit one of those scarves for a dear friend of mine.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
Even though she loved it, and still wears it, I didn’t pick up my needles again until 3 months had passed since completing it. Ah, the pain! And this was 9 years ago.
If you had made that on your loom instead of knitting it, you probably WOULD be done by now… jes’ sayin’… ;^)
I didn’t jump on the wagon until Chrisopher Eccleston, and truly, David Tenant is “my doctor”, so I can’t see knitting this scarf… ever… However, I’m on sock tardis #2 at the moment. I can’t get over how many ‘inspired’ projects there are on Ravelry.
Who is the recipient of the scarf?
Smart you to do the garter stitch scarf all at once! I am working on a Sky Scarf – I’m eleven months into it – and it feels like knitting a millstone. In fact, I just put up a blog post about the scarf and lemon curd (it makes sense if you read it). It was funny to post that, then come over here and read how you are tired of knitting the same kind of thing!
I’m willing to wager that 12 feet of garter stitch takes more stamina than a long run … and I’m a runner and a knitter, so I’ve got the knowledge to compare. LOL My grandmother started a Dr. Who scarf using just scrap pieces of yarn she had leftover from projects. When she passed away in 2008 she left it to me — the only other knitter in the family — with the request I finish it. I did and it was tedious. I didn’t even knit very much of it’s huge length (it’s like 13 feet long) and it took a lot of effort for me to even pick it up. It’s not useful as a scarf. Much too wide and 99% prickly acrylic yarn. My daughter uses it for her dolls now. I think my grandmother would be happy someone is getting enjoyment out of it.
Anyway, good luck with the scarf. 🙂
Onwards is the only way – but now may also be the time for a really good audio book or a box set of DVDs – if you started with the first Doctor you’d probably have finished by the time you got to Matt Smith!
My mother-in-law made one for my husband back in the day, it weighs a ton, it is at least a foot wide and probably more like 15 feet long by now from pure stretch. My daughter loves it but at a petite 5’1″ she can’t wear it as a scarf but has been known to wrap herself up like a mummy in it. I’m a lazy knitter and was wondering if some talented dyer had come out with self striping yarn so that I could recreate the feel in something she could wear without a hundred ends to weave in. I’m making her an over sized blue sweater and want to knit the TARDIS on the pocket and somehow make the pocket bigger on the inside.
Pom pom cheer!
I’m sure you can do it. I like Carie’s suggestion of the DVDs or audio books.
I’ve knit a lot in my time in front of Netflix with “How I Met Your Mother” on. 🙂
Katie =^..^=
Of course, now that you say “sport weight” I’m trying not to say “are you nuts”? (in the nicest way possible of course). I made both of mine in worsted, and that seemed long enough. The second one (technically for Xmas this year but more likely for his bday at the end of the month) has been interrupted due partially to boredom and partially to making cute little mice for another friend’s wedding. They’re so much faster….
I took breaks. Mine took almost two years to complete.
Keep running, you can do it!
(Especially if you complete it before spring — or maybe it’s just me who is constitutionally unable to knit on a scarf during the springtime…)
P.S. For the person wondering about a self striping yarn: Time Traveler colorway of Felici.
As a new to knitting kind of girl…this seems overwhelming!!! As a newbie knitter, I still have to count, and refer back to my instructions when jumping between stitches…..
And I totally get the picking the right yarn….my first project I picked a beautiful KPPPM verigated and almost died…I couldn’t see the stitches, i was forever frogging it….when I went into the knitting store they just laughed at me, handed me a size 13 circular and some super bulky and my scarf was done in a few hours!!!
I look forward to it, Rams. I’ve only really prepared the ground for you.
And I absolutely agree with Steph when she says a marathon of garter stitch nighmare would be fun for me.
The only people I know who knitted Dr. Who scarves, knitted them for themselves – after all that knitting, not one gave them away as a gift. You’re a better person… 🙂
This was my first knitting project! And the second as I did the season 18 scarf immediately after. It takes time but honestly it was so worth it.
I had a project like that this last semester. You see, my former university is really big on interdisciplinary courses (one course shared by two professors from different departments; this one was a German history class)and the culminating project was an art project. I charted out a Käthe Kollwitz lithograph, knit it in a hodge podge of colorwork techniques, and fulled it. So far, so good. Then…then I knit a garter stitch scarf to sew this patch onto. It ended up being about 7.5 feet long and a foot or so wide. The whole shebang took me the entire semester to complete and was a smash hit. I couldn’t cheat on that scarf, though.
I love love love garter stitch – I always have a project on the go using it. Great for taking in the car – mindless knitting, no patterns to spill coffee on 🙂 I’m in the middle of a gansey (lol) using Trekking and 2.5mm needles. Believe me, the garter stitch projects are the ONLY thing saving me. In this house, it’s the damn sweater that’ll end up in the closet…only seven more balls to go…..
So…how IS Joe’s sweater coming?????????????????
Hmm. We may need to start a pool. On the one hand, this is a woman who rode her bike from Toronto to Montreal. OTOH, we do have a certain history of knitting ADD. OTOOH (On the other other hand), Stephanie has recognized the danger and is determined to avoid it. OTOOOH, knitting ADD. Even odds, do you think?
Seems that there is a lot of extensive garter stitch in sportweight…maybe it should be KAL and everyone can be “finished” by the end of January?
Though, Stephanie, somehow we all belief that if you had to endure an endless stretch of garter stitch knitting a week before Christmas 2013…it would end up being entertaining for The Blog. Because there would be something else happening, too.
I have every confidence that yours will be completed before December 2013. Mine, on the other hand, is a great maybe. I’m doing something similar to 13th or 16th season scarf and it is about 40% done (I started it in 2003). I just hate all the ends!!
You’ve just hit the wall. Keep going!
And good luck. You’ll soon be sprinting to the finishing row.
Having made one, all I can say is – Soldier on! I found that I could not put it down to do something else. I knew I would not pick it up again. And my nephew was thrilled…when people started to comment about it! He was new to the doctor and didn’t know how far reaching his popularity was!
I am making season 14 for my son who checks on the length every night. I am cheating with worsted weight yarn and briefly considered doing it on the knitting machine at my lys but then it would be stockinette, not ok.
So…is it harder than the bike ride?
I had a friend who knitted one of these scarves for at least three months. I believe you are more along than she ever was. I am going to make Tardis socks instead to celebrate.
A woman in my knitting group made a Dr. Who scarf. When she was finished the knitting she had a party where people came to help weave in the ends. She bought us cappuccinos and we helped with the hard part. A good time was had by all.
I looked at your link for the kit but didn’t find it. I have a friend who has been asking for one for years and since it IS the anniversary year, this might be the time to do it. Do you have to message them about the kit?
Great colors & fun design… but there is no way I’d ever choose to make something that needed so many color change “ends” woven in. That has got to be the worst job. Love the idea of a knitting party where all your fiber friends take a turn at hiding a few of those! Just think, Steph, it will be done soon and then you can move on to one or more of your other fabulous project ideas! Your determination and perseverance are remarkable. Perhaps you can talk to a sweater I started three years ago and moved to the back of my closet… 😉
Well, I hope that at least the change in colors is perhaps enough to keep you motivated. It doesn’t become the “black hole” where you knit for hours and have an extra 2 inches to show for it. Changing the colors gives you a sense of progress. (Although I made the Moderne Baby Blanket, and had the same thoughts as you – garter stitch, easy peasy, but I was SO sick of garter by the time that was done!) I will stand on the sidelines and cheer you on to the finish! Go, Steph!
No way could I ever deal with that much garter stitch, and let’s not even talk about weaving in all the ends! Brave, brave lady that you are!
I’m not opposed to garter stitch in moderation and where it makes sense. In fact I’ve knit a lot of garter stitch in the form of jackets, hats, and scarves; just not twelve feet of it in sport weight with colour changes.
This is almost exactly my Dr. Who scarf experience. I was knitting two at a time because I promised them to two of my friends and knew I wouldn’t go back for round two if I made them separately. I put them down to try a new project – JUST FOR A SECOND – and all of a sudden it was two years later. They were finally finished, but never again. Never. Again.
My dh has been bugging me to make him one of these for years….. The logic before when I wouldn’t was that he smoked… he’s now 18 months out from the day he quit smoking and he’s still bugging me to make him one…
Y’know, Indigodragonfly has a great Tardis colourway. Socks are much more entertaining than 12 ft garter stitch scarves… with all… the ends… to weave in… And you really like Indigodragonfly. And there are some really cool Dr. Who tribute sock patterns out there.
Sorry. I won’t distract you from your shiny garter stitch marathon. Who knows what’s around the corner? Ooooh! More knit stitches!
Julie at 2:20 PM: you can make a slot at the top of the pocket and sew an inside pocket behind it that is bigger than the outside pocket.
So since its on the blog it won’t be a surprise,you should give it when finished. What about everyone else?????? Don,t you think the girls / Joe would like???
It’s really a blanket of sorts
It looks fabulous darling. At least it’s not a Christmas sock you took a break from and now only have the empty hole where the afterthought heel goes staring you in the face as you work on a lace scarf and dream about sock patterns.
Oh, WHY did you have to post the pattern for this scarf? With a grandson who loves everything Who-ish right now, I am going to HAVE TO make him one. Sigh.
It’s lovely. The colors are great. I finished a maybe 7 foot charcoal gray scarf, in alpaca, by Christmas, and the recipient has already lost it at the movies. I said maybe we should go to the theater and look for it and was told not to worry, he’s going to look on Friday. He’s right that I shouldn’t worry, or bug him about it, but I don’t think I want to make him another one, either.
I’ve knit this scarf twice before, faithfully sticking to the pattern and obscene length because any diehard Doctor fan would never accept anything less. Secretly though, I’ve always kinda wanted one for myself, but being just a bit over 5′ tall myself, I decided to make it with modifications.
I chose the season 14 version as it claims to be the shortest (either my gauge is WAY out or they’re big fat liars btw), I shrunk it down to 50 stitches and…hold onto your hats here you purists…. I knit it in the round! On circulars! Oh yes I did, because you know what? I think stockinette is so much prettier than garter, plus that gives it the double thickness I prefer for my cold Manitoba winters.
Anyways, things was going along swimmingly until it occurred to me that I was maybe a third of the way through and I had quite a LOT of scarf piled up already. Yup, sure enough I was already over 5′ and a third done.
*Now you purists should REALLY stop reading now, seriously. Because this will hurt you and make you want to hunt me down.*
So, I counted rows and figured out where in the pattern to start again, the point at which I could accurately follow again and have it look good colour-wise, yet only add another 4 or 5′ more….and I skipped a HUGE chunk in the middle. Yes I did.
Darn thing was still too long. My 6’4″ husband now owns a ‘reminiscent of the doctor scarf’ and loves it. Loads of compliments from three sectors, those that recognise it for what it is, those that think the colours just look great together, and a lovely Korean lady who says scarf is very very lucky with those colours.
And me? I apparently need more wool to try again.
At least it is winter and the holidays are over – perfect for snuggling in with a book on tape or movie and knit and knit and knit and knit …!
The pattern must have just been for the colors. Looks snuggly and warm.
Yup. No getting off the T.A.R.D.I.S. once it has taken off.
I have a garter stitch scarf started for myself (not a Who scarf, but fingering weight and quite long) and a couple of shorter “fashion” scarves started for holiday gifts for 2013. Yet I saw this post and couldn’t resist ordering the yarn to knit one of these scarves for my son. I must be nuts. But, I can justify it to myself by saying that I have *ages* in which to finish it, since I’d like to be able to give it to him as a surprise gift on the Doctor’s 50th anniversary. And he’ll dearly love it, and will wear it with pride and much love.
I can always justify such things to myself. It’s how I manage to delude myself so very well. It’s only when these silly self-imposed deadlines begin to loom large and the delusions begin to fray at the edges that I start to wonder how I con myself into these things time after time. I’m a very persuasive con artist — thank goodness I only con myself and noone else!
Several years ago, having nothing else to make with a large-yardage skein of multi-colored sock yarn that was well-meaningly gifted to me (who’s not now and never will be a sock knitter), I started on a garter stitch scarf in order to use it. After what seemed like months and months of knitting and the thing was just a skosh over 18 inches long, I threw in the towel, frogged it, and passed the yarn along to a much better home for it than mine.
I admire and salute your fortitude, patience, and stamina. Be thankful it’s not sock yarn.
You are aiding and abetting my husband, who keeps asking for one of these despite our living in the Deep South. Maybe the tie (
Oops, got carried away before I could add the link for the tie (http://wittylittleknitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/TiePattern.png). I also noticed that there’s a Doctor who Scarf support group (http://www.ravelry.com/groups/dr-who-scarf-support-group), and you’re far enough in to need their help :). Good luck to you on your marathon…..
Been there. Knit that — last winter/spring, for a soon-to-be-fourteen Dr. Who fan…Hahahahahahaha!
P.S. You’re right. Once I began it was difficult to put it down to do anything else!
Todd Battis was wearing a Dr. Who scarf reporting on CTV National News last night. How cool is that? See what you started?
That scarf is fantastic. I can see why a support group would be helpful, though. I would never get it done otherwise.
Riddle me this – why does the last bit of every project feel like a death march, assuring that I never get anything complete without gritted teeth? I like knitting, really a lot, actually. Do I have an undiagnosed case of the opposite of start-iris? Does that even exist? I’m surely not patient zero.
I’ve found that when I really need to get through a lot of otherwise fairly dull and straight-forward knitting, recorded books are the answer. I get mine from the local library and from Audible.
My first choice would not be that scarf! I’ve seen the TARDIS on all kinds of knits. I think I have even seen a knit dalek. That would be cool.
Excellent stamina! That was spoken like a true, mature adult who is goal oriented. Well done! … what is your secret? 😉
Love the Doctor. I got a Tardis cookie jar for Christmas that lights up and makes the Tardis sound when you open the lid. Excellent of you to celebrate the 50th anniversary – he’s getting a stamp in Britain.
Oh my can I relate…..I am also knitting the Doctor Who, season 15, scarf. It is the scarf that time forgot. I’m halfway. It’s INSANE. The rolled up bit is fastened together with a stitch holder and is the size of a newborn baby (or a very fat cat.)
Mine took 8 days.
Dare you to beat me. 😉
We actually have an “official” BBC-approved Doctor Who scarf pattern that my mom got by donating to a PBS fundraiser over a decade ago. (There’s even errata.) But, no one in the house has ever knitted it.
I was planning a Liz Ten costume, but it never occured to me to knit The Scarf as well! Duh! I should get on that.
Any chance you could convince Little Red Mitten to put the kit on the website? If it’s there, I’m just not seeing it.
Look at it this way… it’s a scarf.
If it were Star Trek related, it would probably be a whole Klingon Bird of Prey.
I ran the NYC marathon one year, and it took 4 1/2 hours. To do one of these scarves takes far more dedication because you are home with lovely things to entice you away. Whereas in NYC, I was in the middle of 12000 people in little shorts and not about to stop in a city I barely knew, short of the finish line!
Someday I’ll figure out how to knit on the treadmill, and all my projects will get finished.
Relentless Forward Progress.
A phrase often bandied about in the ultrarunning world. And that scarf… that is more than a marathon!!
Seems you have an ultraknitting event on your hands.
Stay focused. Don’t look at the whole event, but instead go aid station to aid station (color change to color change). Remember to eat and drink at regular intervals.
And be glad that it is probably easier to go to the bathroom in this particular event then the typical trail ultra! 😉
In “Free-Range Knitter” you wrote about different projects being appropriate for different circumstances. Please take your own advice on this scarf thing. Just like socks are perfect for public transportation, this scarf is perfect for mindless television, while keeping your husband company. Hope you can find a big enough basket to put it in by your favorite chair
Oh, Stephanie, that’s gorgeous.
And looking at how much you’ve already done, I say you can stop at any time and call it done. It can be the scarf that went back in time to when it was just this long so far. Right in character.
Strange how Google didn’t have a picture of the Doctor wearing that scarf. . .also strange how your thoughts turned to a gray sweater when you thought you needed a break from all the garter stitch. Could it be your conscience telling you to complete Joe’s gansey???
BTW, Star Trek’s 50th anniversary is in 2016. Maybe you should start knitting appropriate sweaters — even a version of Dr. Crusher’s lab coat — now. Live long and prosper, Yarn Harlot of Toronto.
Watch out. Don’t let entropy take over! Knit on!
My mom had an old pattern just like this one from a yarn company that is long out of business. It was on a real xerox copy from the early 80’s where the print was fading and hard to read. It used a cast on of 60 on a size 8. This brings me back to when I made that scarf. It’s probably how I learned to make my stitches more consistent. Love it.
I made my husband Tom Baker’s Season 18 scarf (all 24 feet of it). It took 5 years because I was bored out of my gourd. It sits in a cedar chest, rarely ever seeing the light of day. I’m burying him it.
That sounded darker than I intended. The husband is alive and well.
ah yes, been there…done that http://www.ravelry.com/projects/lisaknitz/doctor-who-scarf—season-12
Good luck!
Just keep thinking how nice it will be to have a WHO scarf during the year of the 50th Anniversary.
Also it could be the Year of the WHO Scarf (or whatever we call it). It appears finished and unfinished in pictures taken throughout the year. I’m sure that there are several statues around here that would look great draped in this scarf.
Garterstitch without in- and decreases calls for watching episodes of Dr. Who, or in my case, knitting Baby Beanies for Save the Children East Asia Project, episodes of Little House. So unharmful in pre Christmas time to watch. Stockinette lovers can still avoid garterstitch if knitting in the round en turning the d.mned length inside out. YH, could you not have woven the whodone it with lightgrey for the warp? Just asking, because it would be cheating.
I’ve taught at least 7 people to knit specifically so they could make themselves 1 of these. As for me, no possible way, I’d go crazy with that much garter stitch.
My husband desperately wants one of these.
On the one hand, I love this man dearly. We have been together for nearly ten years. We have a son together. My husband is an amazing support system. He is a diehard Whovian who would probably wear holes in this thing.
On the other hand, that’s a freakin’ load of garter stitch, and I’m just not sure that I have it in me.
Maybe when I get done knitting all these baby clothes for various different members of our family, I will consider it. Seems like a good challenge!
From my comfortable position on the sofa not making a huge scarf I think you should carry on
🙂
I have always wanted a doctor who scarf and I saw on forbidden planet they had one but it was £50 but I’d much prefer to make one. Also I am below 5 foot so I can make mine shorter then most.
I’ve knit two of those bad boys myself, one for a boyfriend, one for a sister in law. BF is still wearing his all season, 3 years later, and I thought the SIL would cry when she saw hers on Christmas.
Yep, full length on both of them, too. I wish I’d known about the kits at the time, I scoured the internets looking for the right colors!
Good luck and speedy knitting!
Whenever I see one of those pop up on the internet, I thank my lucky stars that I, nor anyone I know, is a Dr. Who fan! I don’t think I’d have the fortitude to complete it. My aunt started one back in the 70’s for a boyfriend. It’s in her basement, in a bag, unfinished!
you are a brave soul. this is why i don’t knit scarves anymore. hell- i can barely make it through a sweater and that has all sorts of changey parts.
just keep knitting! just keep knitting! just keep knitting, knitting, knitting….
You, madam, are a more generous soul than I. 🙂
A garter stitch project would really the spot right now.
I like the idea of knitting it in the round (as mentioned above). I may try that. Or I may just make a felted Doctor Who bag in the appropriate colors. It’s the lazy thing to do but I would probably get more use out of it.
While Nine is my doctor, I’m very fond of Four. Might have to have a Doctor marathon both TV and knitting…
The only comparison I have is that I knit 5 Harry Potter Scarves in less than three months. Those things are knit in the round, 70 stitches per row, 23 rows per stripe, and 19 stripes per scarf. That is over 30,000 stitches per scarf. It was basically 20 hours of knitting for each one… why do we do this to ourselves???
This scarf has its very own website, sactioned by by BBC- http://www.doctorwhoscarf.com
It has lots of detail and includes information on all the different versions. It has been made clear to me by the fan boy who getting the one I am knitting it is important to be very exact in all things when it comes to knitting this thing. I am a little short on the red and proposed changing the pattern slightly and he said then it would not be a Doctor Who Season 4 scarf, just a long scarf. Sigh.
I made mine with cascade 220 worsted. The misery can only be that much worse with a sport weight. There are support groups.
It is a color I refer to as “puke-tacular”. Dream of pretty colors, dear Harlot, lol.
I like you loved the Dr. Who scarf, however, I wasn’t in the mood for all those different yarns. I had a brilliant idea, I think, I purchased 3 different color ways of a varigated sock yarn called Indulgence. I knit in the round for @10″ with the first color, then 10″ more in the second and then the third; then I started over again with the first color. I ended up with a scarf @60″ long and got lots of compliments at our knitting guild meeting last night.
Wow, half way on a 12 foot scarf, impressive! It looks nice. The other colors compliment the saddle tan very well. 🙂
I totally getcha tho. I bought a very similar shade of the ‘color which shall not be named’, started knitting and soon realized it was going to be one very ugly shawl, and the pattern wasn’t helping. The 12 skeins (12!) have been sitting in my stash ever since (years now). I think I have recently found the pattern that will counteract the ‘ew’ – a vintage-look, fitted girly sweater that will look great with additional embellishment.
I made one of these for my husband and it took pretty much forever. He gets TONS of complements on it, but it still makes me a bit twitchy to look at. Somehow he also talked me into making a matching hat and fingerless gloves with the leftover yarn. It’s a pretty dashing set, if I do say so myself.
I started a Dr. Who scarf for my son in 1985…my mother had to finish it as I just couldn’t go on. Never again, even for the 50th anniversary!
I took one look at the colors in that scarf and decided I’d never live through knitting it. Saddle Tan is begging to be over-dyed.. it looks like a problem, to me.
However, if you load the photo of the scarf into any image editor, and click on “invert”, you get a lovely scarf full of shades of blue, grey, blue grey.. it’s absolutely nice:
http://www.uvm.edu/~jdion/pictures/invert-whoscarf.jpg
I could live with an inverted scarf.. the color polar opposite of the original.
…there is only forward…one stitch in front of the other…
I think Jessica Dion is a genius and now I am considering knitting an inverted Dr. Who scarf. ok. so she might be an evil genius. 🙂
waitwaitwaitwaitwait. You are a Whovian? A Doctor Who fan?
And I thought you couldn’t get any cooler.
(PS – just got your book All Wound Up….took me forever, but my best friend was an angel and bought it for me for Christmas….so amazing, I was sad when i came to the last page. Also “The Deep Dark” I connected with so well.)
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I made this for my husband for our tenth anniversary, I had kept count of the stats it was 1088 rows Hubby loved it! It was fun to make!
You know back in the late 60’s (back when Red Heart was a respected 100% wool yarn here in the states) I used to knit 12 foot long scarves, with ribs or cables or even multi striped like this one! Brought back memories! Thanks.
When knitting garter stitch, I tell myself it’s all about being in the moment…
Wow! Indomitable spirit survives! Looks so comfy.I alway get so inspired reading your blog:) just like your books.
Could you make that voice go away in my head too please? 😉