Loyalty

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As of this evening, I’ll have been working on this scarf, and this scarf alone for one week.

Seven days. Seven days of the same thing without a single moment of disloyalty, unless you count socks.  I don’t count socks, because they fit in my purse and this? I don’t mind trucking along several feet of scarf, but I’m not the sort of person who can manage 8 balls of yarn on the subway. I’d get home and discover that I was short a ball of Saddle Tan that fell out of my bag on the Spadina platform, and as much as I don’t care for the colour, I do need it, and soaking in a puddle of salty slush is no place for any yarn to end up, no matter what colour it is. 

So, if you don’t count socks (and we are not going to) I have been totally loyal to this scarf for seven days – and tonight it stops. Tonight I’m finishing.  Even though I have 105 ridges (that’s 210 rows) to go, I can tell that tonight’s my night. With my wool as my witness. I will finish this scarf on the seventh day, and it and I will part ways tomorrow.

The force is with me.

144 thoughts on “Loyalty”

  2. I am beyond impressed at how fast you’re knitting this up. When people talk about it on Tumblr and the like it takes them months, sometimes years!

  3. Your scarf looks amazing, and I’m proud of you for sticking with it this long, despite the saddle tan (which I’m not a huge fan of either). It’s gorgeous, and good luck finishing!

  5. Dear Lord–you’re not going to change your moniker to the Yarn Monogamist are you?

  9. I’ve been working on my husband’s for over a year now, but a) I’m working it in Worsted weight for some reason and b) I’m not as dedicated. I applaud you.

  11. What I want to know is, who is this scarf for? Seems it might be a little on the long side for someone vertically challenged (I would know, being 5’1″). My husband, a Canadian, back in the 1980s when he was a doctoral student at Duke University, used to wear a long knitted scarf. The undergrads nicknamed him “Dr. Who” because of it. It seems that long, knitted scarves weren’t a common sight south of the Mason-Dixon line. Maybe I should make him one like yours to remind him of his youth!

  12. So it has been said. So it shall be.
    (Does this include the tassels? Just asking….)

  13. Well it looks fabulous and darn, my daughter has seen this and now I am hearing “Well if the Yarn Harlot can do this…so can you….for me”. May the force be with me as well! It looks great!

  14. And you still have to weave in all those ends. I am thinking of you, every day for the next seven days.
    Ruby (aka Rav:MzCruse)

  15. Oh gosh, you haven’t been weaving in the ends… That’s what will hurt. Good luck!

  18. When my kit comes I hope I can finish as fast.
    For my 6ft 6inch nephew who’s birthday is
    The 50th anniversery of Doctor Who
    I might be finished by then

  19. Saddle Tan looks very much like “Navajo White”. The most ubiquitous color of the 60’s along with Avocado and Harvest Gold appliances!
    No wonder you’re not fond of it!

  21. You know, the saddle tan looks fine in with all the other colours. You are to be congratulated for your persistence and stamina. It’s a lovely scarf and would suit my 6′ 5″ husband. Now comes the weaving in of ends, and I know that takes yet more persistence and stamina. I hate doing those and I don’t really know how to make them look tidy on the edge of a scarf. Can you show us a bit of the edge when you’re done, so I can see how the edges of a striped scarf are supposed to look?

  22. Not being very up on Dr Who- my misspent youth alas- I’m having trouble imagining someone wearing a 12ft scarf…. I keep seeing itsy bitsy you and your little neck wrapped in pounds of wool(Saddle Tan,too). Will we see anything of your face below your eyebrows?? Please oh please give us a picture of you wearing your scarf. I do live to learn!

  23. I salute your dedication – and hope you have a really nice bottle of something appropriate to hail the finish and encourage you in the hour(s) of ends!

  24. You COULD stop now and tell the recipient that “It’s bigger on the inside.”

  25. I have never felt a need to make a Dr. Who scarf. I have never had an inclination to do so. And after hearing about your experience, I know I never will. Not even begging grandchildren will have the power to move me from my stance. No Dr. Who Scarf. Never.

  26. Best of luck – you can do it! I actually enjoy the zen of weaving in yarn ends. Congratulations on a lovely scarf!

  27. I love the name Saddle Tan. I just painted my living room Sagey and Teepee Brown. I can tell you that NOT Saddle Tan it cat puke pink. can you knit blind folded?

  28. In one go is definitely the only way to work this monster of a scarf. I applaud your dedication. It is in no way marred by the necessity the project requires.
    This almost makes me sorry that I didn’t agree to make this for one of my friends.

  29. And has The Force mentioned the gansey lately? Because you could work on that tomorrow and it would be far more entertaining for both of us.

  30. Wow…a whole twelve foot scarf in a week. I am incredibly impressed. In the past week I’ve managed to knit, umm… half a sock. And that was mostly in meetings where I needed something to keep me from getting royally irritated with people.
    Look forward to seeing what you pull out next! How are Joe’s socks coming?

  31. Oh, Presbytera, that’s just mean. Heh. (I have a hibernating two-color hat project lying about, that DH reminds of now and then.)
    Steph, your dedication to the scarf is impressive, and for your sake, I hope that bad boy is done tonight!

  32. The crowd is on their feet, going wild, the cheers are coming loud from the finish line … you can do it Stephanie, you can do iiiiiit!!!!

  34. Bravo. Seven days is enough for any scarf, even one as lovely as that. Much as saddle tan is a bit grim on its own, it does bring out the other colours.

  36. Without the Saddle Tan the other colors would not work as well. There is something profound there but I can’t put my finger on it.

  37. Let’s not mention the ends that need weaving in
    : O
    It’s looking very TimeLord suitable
    x

  38. Does anyone want to mention the obvious… hardly anyone would be able to finish that much scarf in a week while having any kind of JOB. I am marveling.

  39. Building on the You Could Stop Now movement:
    The scarf got progressively shorter during its time on the show. People cut off pieces of it for whatever reason.
    You Could Stop Now and say it’s a later season scarf (and find out which season it would line up with).

  40. Having now browsed other’s comments, how many of us are out there going “oh no … look at those ends to weave in”?
    You have a lot of empathy from us blogfans and fellow weavers of ends …

  41. Oh, dear Stephanie, reading your 1/9 post makes me think of my second husband, and I’m not sure how I feel about that. But anyway, I guess it’s just that once you’ve made a decision, STICK WITH IT NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE ELSE SAYS! When it’s time to part company, IT’S JUST TIME.

  43. Well done, you. Really. It’s wonderful.
    I have a terrible time watching the Doctor wear his long scarf, though, because I’m so nervous that he’s going to trip on it. Seriously. I was much more comfortable when Tom Baker was on Monarch of the Glen. Still lots of really lovely knitwear, but no dangling scarves.

  45. I’m impressed that you knit a Dr. Who Scarf in 7 days. That is impressive in and of itself.

  46. Oh Stephanie,
    I need to remember to not read your blog whilst I work. I snorted coffee a few minutes ago reading yesterday’s and today’s post. I so agree with you about that color saddle tan. and I love the finished product! it really is the yin to the other color’s yang. (Has anyone ever told you that you have a way with words? 😉
    How on earth will you be able to weave in all those ends!!!???
    BTW, i’m a huge mindless-knitting fan, I’ve done a couple of Modernne baby blankets, and a few of Jared Flood’s Tweed baby blanket, and few color affections. I’m a big garter fan, but I don’t think I could do that scarf because… too many ends to weave for the row counts
    Just saying

  47. My poor sister just finished a Dr Who BLANKET for her daughter. Not stripes, either — it’s illusion knitting, so if you look at a certain way, you actually see Dr Who holding some weird instrument. It took her forever to finish.
    I forwarded your post to her, and her only response was to beg me not to show my niece.

  48. Sailor Coruscant on ravelry made a splendid example of this scarf, it’s roughly 10 metres long (yes really) and 45cms wide.

  50. I only see ends on the second half of the scarf; have you woven in a bunch of them already?

  52. I’m chuckling at the loyalty divisions. I do completely agree re not taking the scarf on the subway, but am smiling over the idea of saying “I’ve been totally loyal to my spouse…not counting what happens when I leave the house!” 🙂 For the record, I’ve been loyal regardless, but the idea made me giggle.

  53. SO, 210 rows is a lot. I don’t doubt you. I’m not discouraging your efforts. But, let’s just say, it would be OK if it took 8 days instead.

  54. Congrats! Doesn’t it feel great to have the scarf all done before next December?

  55. This is making my fingers itchy to knit lots of midweight garter stitch. Guess I should dig the mdk moderne blanket (not the baby version) out of the bottom of the closet again, though I’d much rather start something new…

  56. I saw this scarf on a repeat of Big Bang Theory!! Stuart is dressed like Dr Who for the New Year’s Eve costume party…I didn’t know the significance of it until now. I was pretty excited when I saw it, more excited than the others thought I should be. But then, they’re not knitters.

  58. Well, it won’t be a correct scarf, but it’s your knitting. Give the recipient the leftovers and they can find someone else to finish it.
    For those who are wondering how you wear a 12-foot scarf (let alone the later 18-foot ones), you loop it very loosely so even the center loop hangs to your waist. Look at photos of the later Tom Baker seasons.
    =Tamar

  59. Well, I offered, but since Presbytera has reshouldered the gansey-cross, I’m free to observe that just as beautiful mittens make me want to knit idiot-strings connecting them, so this makes me want to staple it to the nape of its recipient. Because the day they lose it is gonna be a bad, sad, day.
    No sympathy on those loose ends, though. You know my views on knitting ’em in. Stubborn’s what you are — which is how you’re going to be quit of this. Well (almost) done.

  64. I am embarrassed to admit that, (not being a huge TV fan), I’ve never seen an episode of “Dr. Who.” HOWEVER, I totally love this scarf! Seeing your progress on it has motivated me to maybe try watching an episode, because I kind of feel like I need a floor-length scarf now. . .
    I love fantasy and sci fi, so I just may like it.
    Great work on the scarf! I think it’s awesome!

  65. Only one week! Jiminy Cricket! That’s got to be some kind of record. Someone call Guinness… or get this woman a Guinness!!! It’s fabulous!

  66. The Force? That’s a whole different show!
    But the scarf has time lord properties so you may be able to bend time to your will!

  67. This makes your bike-a-thon look like a walk in the park, Steph. You go,girl. The Force is definitely with you.

  68. Iknow you are not sold on the beige-y color, but the scarf is beautiful. Once it is done, you will love it. Who is it for? You, I hope!

  69. I can’t wait to start mine — I’m getting the yarn this weekend. I’m sure I’ll be cursing it by mid-week. It took me two years to do a Harry Potter 3rd Year Gryffindor Scarf. It wasn’t difficult, just boring, but I managed to finish it to wear to the 7th film.
    And thx to whoever mentioned the Tardis Socks pattern in the last thread — I’m definitely going to do those as well.
    Congrats Harlot — it looks fantastic — I bow to your greatness!

  72. I have been catching up with your blog since about August of this year. All eight years of it. I finally am up-to-date. I have really enjoyed reading it.
    Please tell me again why your blog is called Yarn Harlot. I can’t remember what I read on one of your postings.
    Also, is this scarf for you or someone else?

  73. I just saw, on the BBC Canada website, a Doctor Who Tardis talking cookie jar. At that point, a week’s work on a scarf seems reasonable.

  74. We knew that Saddle Tan would come to no good end.
    The scarf looks great on your couch!

  76. I made a Dr. Who scarf for my grandson, 12 ft. long, but used my knitting machine. It’s not cheating, automatic or fake knitting; every row takes a pass of the carriage, but it does save one’s sanity on a project like this!

  77. Ray Step! Best ever Doctor Who scarf for me was 14 days and exhausting. You must be a speed knitter.

  78. If, as you said, you are making it for next Christmas, why not do 1 foot every month? Wouldn’t that save your sanity? Just asking. It is beautiful.

  80. I love how you don’t count socks. All your reasons for NOT counting them are pretty much the same reasons I use for making them virtually only thing I ever knit!
    I love you anyway, and have all your books.

  83. So impressed, with both your loyalty and your speed. I hope I get into your Speed and Efficiency class at Yarnover, I really want your secrets!

  84. I spent much of the morning in a hospital room with my daughter. I was knitting, but the walls – the walls were Saddle Tan. I thought of you – and am not sure I could knit with that color. ugh.
    said daughter would love the scarf though…

  87. WOW! Lots of us seem concerned about weaving in the ends. Personally, I dislike all the finishing bits. So, with that in mind, I usually tuck in as I go. Sometimes I don’t like to stop and do it, but remind myself that it sure is satisfying to finish a project and only have an end or two to tuck. Along the same vein, I also dislike having to sew knit pieces together. That from someone who loves sewing (with a machine, that is). Good luck on the tucking—and Congratulations on that scarf whopper!

  89. Searching out the yarn to make this scarf for a well loved Dr. Who fan, you may be pleased to know the colorway, “Saddle Tan” seems to have vanished *smile* I shall be using “latte.” I hope he doesn’t notice.

  90. I’m hoping that you have tomorrow free, because I think you’re going to be up late tonight … (not that I ever didn’t sleep instead of knitting on…)

  91. Just got caught up and, surprise! My 13-yr-old is knitting a Doctor Who scarf too! She’s free-ranging the colors, however, which means zero Saddle Tan. 🙂

  93. What a gorgeous Dr. Who scarf! I have heard other knitters complain about the never ending beige. At least you get through it faster than most.people!

  94. Are you going to sew the wee patches on it as well? Lovely Doctor Who scarf!
    Now I want to knit one… ::drags self back to Colour Affection::

  95. Do it! I saw that comment on weaving in ends and cringed for you, but if those are bringing you down, check out how awesome your selvedges are.

  98. And I thought I was doing good to get my son’s Dr. Who scarf done in a month and a half, (but I wasn’t knitting everyday. He loves it.

  99. I hate to say it (and honestly, it feels kind of mean spirited to do it) but the saddle tan really does look nice.

  100. You go girl! I like a stint of garter stitch now and then but I’m not sure I could do that scarf. Also, I smile at the thought of you juggling 8 balls of yarn on the subway. I couldn’t do that either.

  101. Wheoo, that scarf should come under the word ‘commitment’ in the dictionary. However, it is quite good looking.

  103. You may have to change your name! However, Yarn Monogamist just doesn’t have that Je ne sais quoi we associate with you.

  104. Can you show us the other side? Is there any way to avoid the extra line of color where the colors change? Of do you just accept it as part of a garter stitch scarf?

  105. I’m going to assume finishing it does not including weaving in those loose ends hanging out the side. We can call those a design feature for now!

  106. In the later episodes, at least, the Tom Baker scarf was sewn to itself in the big double loop, so he could remove it between takes and put it back on the same way – except for the scenes where he got it on backwards. I noticed because I was trying to work out the pattern (this was before they published it).

  107. If weaving in the ends doesn’t drive you mad, the fringe will.
    And Joe’s gansey is jealous that you can devote so much time to boring garter stitch, with a color you don’t like, while it languishes in a forgotten corner of the UFO bin. I can feel its pain all the way in Chicago. You’re not just a Yarn Harlot, you’re a Yarn Heartbreaker, you hussy, you.

  108. But wait …. you have to make the fringe ….
    (she said — and I made one for youngest, using the same pattern source)

  109. One question…who is tall enough to wear 12 feet of scarf, 8 balls of yarn would weigh more than the average scarf.

  110. Can I just say…I love you?
    Big Dr. Who fan! I want to make it for myself and my brother (This will take a while as to acquire money and schedule time)
    Thank you for bringing out my inner/outer/total geek!

  111. Oh, my, memories! In the summer of 1984 I got my mom to teach me how to do garter stitch and cast on,and we bought 4 colors of yarn (just whatever I thought would look good on my first serious boyfriend) and I knitted until his birthday in October. It was worsted weight acrylic, and 9-10 inches wide, and 18 feet long when I finished, and he still has it. I did a couple of feet of one for myself and got bored. I still have it, though, and finishing it for the anniversary seems like a great way to celebrate……

  112. Fantastically even edges without blocking yet. I am very impressed.
    Enjoy the next project!!

  113. Mary at 10:46 escaped the boyfriend/sweater curse, it sounds like. I would think an eighteen foot scarf counted for at least a sweater’s worth of commitment! I am scared to tempt the curse with more than gloves, myself.

  116. I think you should give yourself a week off before weaving those ends in. You’ve earned it!

  119. The simple stripes are beautiful…and they go on and on and on! I’m impressed with the scarf but even more impressed that you’ve got a jump start on Christmas gifts for next year!

  120. Wow, it’s gorgeous! Have you really only been knitting on it at home? I hope you get yourself a nice reward when it’s completely done 🙂 You deserve that!

  124. Congratulations! You have far more perseverance than I. I totally get the aversion to ‘saddle tan’, and to be absolutely honest, the other colors do not call to me either.
    Considering the pattern & stitch, this project looks like a wonderful way to use up all those odds & ends of yarn (doubling up yarns to get a worsted weight).

  126. I hope you were successful. I am amazed at your ability to work on it exclusively for a week. I’d be doing well to keep at just one thing for a day, much less a whole week!

  127. I don’t think I have ever read you being this monogamous in all the time I’ve read your blog. Amazing. I can see it does pay off even if it leaves you a little batty.

  128. Well, if anyone can manage that, you can 🙂 Staying up all night is cheating though… 😛
    Holy spamapalooza in the comments, Batman!

  129. In spite of all the other comments, I think it is BEAUTIFUL! The color combinations (including the infamous Saddle Tan) and the striping pattern are perfect! =)

  130. I have wanted to thank you for quite some time now. Last year 2012 was one of the hardest and saddest years of my life and this blog has provided me comfort and brought some joy back into my life. I love reading of your daily adventures whether it be your lovely projects, your travel, family life…. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being there for your readers. I love your books but your blog brings smiles and laughter which replaced the tears that i had shed.

  131. Losing a ball of yarn on the train platform…that’s something I’d do. Actually just lost a ball of yarn and collar in process on the train. Discovered loss maybe 5 minutes after it happened. Couldn’t retrieve it despite frantic calls to the lost and found. I’m certain the CTA train peeps who clean the cars throw nearly everything away. They don’t want to be bothered with dragging stuff to the lost and found, so out it goes to the trash. Unless it’s gold. Or dollar bills. That they keep for themselves.

  132. I’m with the others who’d like to see how you finish off the ends. I’ve done scarves/afghans where I’ve carried a repeating color up the side, sort of tucked into the edge, but that doesn’t seem possible with this type as the changes are so far apart. That’s how I’ve ruined some of my (otherwise very nice)knitting in the past – horrid, sloppy finishing. At my age now I simply avoid patterns that whisper to me that if I make it, it’ll look like crap, so just keep looking.

  133. You may have 105 ridges to go, but it’s plenty long enough for others to recognize it as a Dr Who scarf. Well done for persevering through the project!
    Next time someone asks for a Dr Who scarf, hunt up the Addi Express King Size and knit it up on that. It may not be garter stitch but it will go a LOT faster.

  135. OMG THAT’S what “Chesterfield” means??? Sofa ???
    I’m obviously American lol All this blog reading & I never realized what you were referring to – thanks to one of the commentors for clearing that up!
    Steph – you are AMAZING – keep up the great work.
    As someone else mentioned, 7 days or 8 days, we will still be in AWE over this great piece!!
    xoxo

  136. Simply amazing; but I admit that I am laughing with tears running down my face–had been kind of following your tweets and wondered what happened with the Dr. Who scarf, so decided to peek in here. Ohmygosh. You rock the knitting world, for sure!

  138. I’m very impressed that this got done in seven days! I showed the post to my husband, who reacted by saying “I thought you were fast when it was done in three weeks last year!” Congratulations on the early start to the Christmas knitting.

  139. What I really want to know is how are you going to safely wear this 12-foot long monster?
    I keep thinking of Isadora Duncan being strangled by her scarves.

  140. I’m halfway thru knitting a Dr. Who scarf-It is way too cumbersome with all its extra yarn balls to tote around. I’m be glad when it is done and gone

  141. Find the most complicate lace pattern you can and set it on the coffee table… That will be your reward for finishing the painfully boring scarf.

  142. I’m working on this project now (albeit the crochet version). It will take me longer than you, though, as my main project, at present, is a king-size blanket.
    It looks great, btw!

  143. I just had an article in the paper inspired by your crytoscopophila chapter. So now the readers of the Casper Journal have been introduced to the Yarn Harlot. You could read it at http://www.casperjournal.com and key in “cindy bower” to click on the article.

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