The Knitting Diaries (9 page)

Susan Mallery

My thanks to Debbie and Christina
for including me in this wonderful collection.

Nikki Mallery—a Puppet Knitting Pattern

Designed by artist Jean Townsend
www.jeantownsend.com

My name is Nikki Mallery. My mom is Susan Mallery. You know, the writer. She writes books about love and mushy stuff. Out of all the dogs in the world, she loves me best. She likes to dress me up in pretty little outfits and put adorable bows in my poofy hair. Then she posts pictures on her website, www.SusanMallery.com. In fact, she gave me a whole page of my own on her website. You can see all my video adventures there. I’m very adventuresome! Oh, and I’m the official mascot of Fool’s Gold, California. As you can see, I live a very full life.

MATERIALS:

For puppet:

Small amount of polyfill

1 skein worsted-weight yarn in tan

Small amount of turquoise fingering yarn

Small amount of copper-colored worsted-weight and black worsted-weight yarn

Size 6 double-pointed needles for body*

Size 2 straight or circular needles for eyes

For dress:

1 skein each of fingering yarn in mint-green, purple and orange for dress

Size 3 straight or circular and dp needles

For hair and tiara:

1 skein of bouclé about worsted weight

Pipe cleaner

Felt for a star

Small jewel

*
This pattern will fit the average adult hand. For a smaller or larger puppet, use smaller or larger needles. It is also
a right-handed puppet. To make it left-handed, fold the thumb from the left side to the center before attaching the parts.

ABBREVIATIONS

st = stitch

dp = double-pointed

inc = increase

k = knit

p = purl

ktog = knit together

ssk = slip, slip, knit (slip two stitches to right-hand needle, put right needle through the back loops, knit together)

pu = pick up

PUPPET BODY

Using worsted-weight and size 6 dp needles, cast on 44 stitches and divide onto three needles, mark beginning of row.

Work 6 rows in stockinette st, purl one row for the turn of the hem, then continue in stockinette st for 1½ inches from hem line. On next row, dec 2 st evenly spaced. Continue in stockinette st for 2 inches from the hem turn. (42 sts)

Thumb Gore:

First inc round for thumb gore: inc 1 st in next st (first thumb st), k1, inc 1 in next st (last thumb st). Knit to end of round. (44 sts)

K2 rounds even.

Second inc round: inc 1 st in first st, k3, inc 1 in next st, k to end of round. (46 sts)

K2 rounds even.

Continue to increase 1 st in first and last thumb st every third round (4 times) having 2 sts more between incs after each round. (54 sts)

K2 rounds even. Slip to a strand of yarn or a small holder the 15 thumb sts. At the end of the last round cast on 3 sts. There will be 42 sts.

Work even until desired length, allowing 1 inch for finishing, decreasing 2 stitches evenly spaced in the last round.

First dec round: ktog every 3rd and 4th st, 10 times.

K3 rounds even.

Second dec round: ktog every 2nd and 3rd st, 10 times.

K3 rounds even.

Third dec round: k2tog in succession 10 times.

Break off, leaving an end. Draw end tightly through all sts.

Fasten off.

Thumb: slip to 2 needles the 15 sts of thumb, with a third needle pick up and knit the 3 cast on sts. There are now 18 sts on the needles. Knit around until thumb measures 2 inches above cast on sts.

First dec round: *k1, k2tog, repeat from * 5 times.

K2 rounds even.

K2tog in succession 6 times.

Finish as for top of mittens.

Finishing: use the tail of the yarn joined at the thumb to pull together any open spaces at the thumb join, reinforcing it. Weave in ends.

Arms and legs: cast on 18 sts on size 6 dp needles, work until desired length, finish off as for thumb. Arms should measure 2 ¾ inches and legs should measure 6 inches. Fill with small amount of polyfill, just enough to fill out the form. Baste top together.

Slip stitch hem in place.

Tail: with a double strand of worsted and 2 size 6 dp needles, cast on 3 sts. * K3, do not turn work. Slide sts to right end of needles. Pull yarn to tighten. Repeat from * until cord is 3 inches long, leaving a long tail of yarn end.

With black yarn, make toenails on the paws.

DRESS

With green yarn and circular or straight needles, cast on 144 sts, work in moss stitch for 8 rows. In next row, K2tog across. Purl one row. 72 sts.

Change to purple, work in stockinette st for 5 rows. Work 2 rows in orange.

Armholes: K16, slip these sts to holder, bind off 2, K36, slip to holder, bind off 2, K1, SSK, K to end. Purl next row. Repeat these two rows till 8 sts remain, place on holder. (This is left front.)

Right front: Attach yarn at front edge, K to last 3 sts, K2tog, K1. Purl next row. Repeat these 2 rows until 8 sts remain. Place on holder.

Back: Put back 36 sts on needle, with right side facing, join yarn at right edge. K1, inc 1, K to within 2 sts of edge, inc 1, K1. Purl next row. Continue until there are 52 sts. Break yarn.

Knit 8 sts of right front from holder, cast on 2 sts, K52 sts of back, cast on 2 sts, K8 sts of left front. (72 sts) Work 2 rows. In next row, decrease 8 sts evenly spaced along back between armholes. Work 2 rows, bind off.

Sleeves: With size 3 dp needles, pu a total of 30 sts around the arm opening (13 sts on each side of arm, plus 2 sts at top and bottom of opening). Work 9 rows of stockinette st in purple. Change to green, work in stockinette st. for 3 rows, bind off in P st.

Bow: With orange, work an I cord on 2 size 3 dp needles for 19 inches, bind off.

Fold in half. Fold dress in half and match fold marks. Stretch I cord slightly while whipstitching it along the top of dress with purple yarn, stopping ¼ inch before front edge on each side.

Sewing up: Use mattress stitch to sew up front on dress. Weave in all ends.

HAIR

Make a generous hank of yarn about 20 inches long. Tie piece of yarn in a bow around one end. With another piece of yarn, tie a firm knot 3 inches from the top, wrapping the yarn several times around the hank. Untie the top bow and clip the ends, this forms the top knot.

Separate the section below the knot into two equal pieces (like ponytails). Beginning close to the top knot, use a piece of yarn to firmly wrap a ¾ inch section of the ponytail, securing the ends by using a yarn needle and threading the tail back through the wrapped section. Do this the same way you would wrap a lock of hair around the rubber-banded part of a ponytail to hide the rubber band. Repeat on the other side.

Place the hair across the puppet’s head, and secure by stitching with a doubled yarn into the knitted fabric. Placement is important! The bangs should be close enough to the eyes to fall across them. When the hair is in place, trim it so the ears reach to just above the shoulders (generous ears!). Leave the topknot hair longer in back to flop a bit over the back.

Make a small pom-pom, about 3 inches wide, and attach it to the I cord tail.

TIARA

Affix a pipe cleaner to a star (I used an old felted piece of knitting) by folding the edge of the pipe cleaner over about ¼ of an inch to make a loop, then sew it onto the back of the fabric or paper. Make a bend in the pipe cleaner about two inches from the star and nestle it into the top knot. Wrap the remainder around the base of the top knot and secure ends. Cut off excess pipe cleaner. Glue a jewel into the center of the star (a glue gun is easy and quick). Fluff out the top knot around the pipe cleaner so it does not show. The star should be just peeking out.

ASSEMBLY

Pull the eye shapes into shape, pointing both the ends, and pin to head for placement. Then sew on with long tails. Use a double length of black worsted to make pupils in satin stitch or French knots.

Place the bobble on the nose spot and use the tails to sew the outer edge of the bobble to the knitted fabric.

Lay the puppet flat and fold the thumb from the right edge to the center. The thumb gore should begin ½ inch inside the body. Place the arms at a diagonal and slightly overlapping. Sew on firmly with a whipstitch. Sew lower legs to inside of hem.

Slip the dress over Nikki’s arms and tie bow tight enough to hold the dress up along the back (but not too tight).

R
obyn Mulligan was relieved to find everything in her grandmother’s knitting store exactly as she remembered. The bins filled with beautiful yarns in different colors and textures, the big table in back where customers could work on projects while chatting with each other, the good-looking, somewhat scruffy cowboy sitting at the table, the big windows that let in the—

Robyn stepped through the doorway and let her small duffel drop to the floor as her gaze moved back to the table. A cowboy? Here?

Only Ewe was a popular Georgetown, Texas, knitting store, and while there were a few male customers, women outnumbered them at least a hundred to one. Robyn couldn’t remember ever seeing a guy sitting down with a project, talking away as if he belonged.

She remembered something about her grandmother mentioning a man had joined their regular group, but Robyn had been picturing someone older and not quite so hunky.

Not her problem, she told herself. Customers, whatever shape, size or gender, were always welcome. That
had been her grandmother’s philosophy. It made sense. Without customers, the rent didn’t get paid.

Robyn glanced around at the bustling space, noting that Adeline, one of her grandmother’s two best friends, stood at the cash register, while Marion, the other best friend, helped a young woman who was very pregnant. Eleanor, her grandmother, was probably in back, looking through the new yarns to find something special for a customer.

There was a warmth to the store, she thought happily. A sense of belonging. What on earth had she been thinking, staying away so long? Quick, annual vacations had only made her miss home more.

Adeline completed the purchase and looked up. She spotted Robyn, clapped her hands together and shrieked.

“Eleanor, hurry. She’s back. Our girl is back.”

Everyone turned to look at Robyn, but she only saw the three seventy-something women rushing toward her. She tossed her duffel, held out her arms and breathed in a sigh of relief as the women who had always loved her hugged her until it seemed like her ribs were going to snap. Nothing had ever felt better.

She inhaled their various perfumes. Adeline, tall and intimidating with a stern appearance, wore the scent of roses. Marion, still coloring her hair a golden-blond, was shorter, rounder and favored White Diamonds. Then there was Eleanor, soft and pretty, wearing Chanel No. 5. The mingling scents had been a part of her childhood for as long as she could remember. Anything she’d made in the store had been infused with the delightful blend, comforting her during stormy nights or when she was sick.

“Let me look,” Eleanor said, shooing the other two
back, then putting her hands on Robyn’s shoulders. “I’ve missed you so much.”

Robyn felt her own eyes burn with tears. “It’s been too long.”

“Six years,” Adeline said, as if any of them would forget. “Weekend visits don’t count, young lady. We were wondering if that city was ever going to let you go.”

“New York is like that,” Marion said, her hands fluttering. “A difficult place. Oh, but our girl is so glamorous now. And thin.” Marion patted her own ample hip. “Thinner than you were when you visited last year. You look like a model.”

“High fashion.” Adeline sniffed. “You look like you need a sandwich.”

“Leave her be,” Eleanor told her friends. “She’s just barely in the door. Let her get her feet under her.” Eleanor smiled at Robyn. “I’m so glad you’re home.”

Robyn hugged her and then just held on. “Me, too. I should have come back a long time ago.”

“To be with a bunch of old women? Why would you want that?”

Six years ago Robyn would have agreed with her. Leaving Georgetown, going to New York, following her dream, had meant everything. But dreams were tricky things and hers had pretty much chewed her up and spit her out. Right now something close to normal was looking really good to her.

“I need to clear up a few things here,” her grandmother explained to her, stepping back and smiling. “Do you want to go on ahead to the house or wait for me?”

“I’ll wait,” Robyn said, bending down and picking up her duffel.

Marion’s gaze followed her action, and then she grinned. “Presents?”

It was a familiar tradition. Whoever went away had to bring back something for those left behind. She set the duffel on the counter by the cash register, then opened it.

For Adeline, she had bought an oil painting of New York in the rain. Robyn had loved the artist’s work since she’d first seen it two years before. The tall, gray-haired woman stared at the small framed painting for several seconds.

“It’s very nice,” she said gruffly. “I know just where I’m going to put it. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Next came the lace she’d found in a vintage shop down in the East Village. “They said the bolt dates back to the 1950s and it’s just like the one Grace Kelly picked for her veil,” she said, handing the folded fabric to Marion. “Every bride should be a princess on her wedding day.”

Marion sniffed, then lunged for her. “Oh, Robyn. It’s wonderful. Thank you.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“Like it? I love it!”

Robyn turned to her grandmother last. “For your collection,” she said, pulling out a tissue-wrapped Steiff bear. “He’s a handsome devil, circa 1920, in perfect condition.”

Eleanor sighed as she carefully took the present and unwrapped it to see the gift that had cost Robyn her sofa, TV and her last hundred dollars. The price of Adeline’s gift had been her bed and nightstand, and the contents of her fridge, while Marion’s lace had been the easiest to acquire. She’d only had to give away a Michael Kors
cocktail dress she’d bought off the back of a truck and make sure the previous owner of the lace got Robyn’s lunchtime shift at the Wall Street bistro where Robyn had worked.

“He’s wonderful,” Eleanor breathed. “But you’re far too generous.”

“You’re my family. Who else would I be generous with?” The gifts were easy, Robyn thought to herself, it was telling the truth that was going to be hard.

And not something she was dealing with today, she reminded herself.

She zipped the duffel, then flattened it. As she went to tuck it under the counter, she happened to glance toward the table in the back, where the knitters sat. Most of them were busy with their own work, barely paying attention to anyone else in the store. But the man she’d noticed—the tall guy in the Western-style shirt—was focused entirely on her. His dark eyes seemed to burn their way into her skin, and not in a nice way. He looked angry and determined. He looked like he hated her.

His steady gaze made her heart stutter a little. From concern, she told herself. There was no way she found that horrible man appealing.

She stiffened, her chest tight and uncomfortable. “Who’s the guy?” she asked, knowing she hadn’t seen him before on her infrequent visits home.

Eleanor looked over her shoulder and smiled. “That’s T.J. He came to us, what, two years ago?”

“Nearly three,” Adeline corrected. “He was in a car accident. Serious injuries. He could barely move his hands.”

“His doctor thought knitting would help,” Marion added. “He came because he had to. For the first six
months he didn’t speak a word. Just sat there, trying to knit a row.”

“We saved him,” Eleanor said, sounding proud. “I think I’ve told you about him a few times. He’s all better now.”

“He’s not a puppy,” Adeline told her. “We helped him. He saved himself. There’s a difference.”

Robyn glanced over her shoulder, prepared to say that for some reason the man seemed to hate her. But as she looked again, she saw he wasn’t paying attention to her at all. When he did look up, his eyes carried the mild curiosity of any stranger.

She faced front again, wondering if the long drive had tired her more than she’d thought. She must have imagined his animosity. After all, how could someone who never even met her loathe her on sight?

Robyn parked in front of her grandmother’s pretty house in a quiet, suburban part of Georgetown. The houses all looked pristine—paint and landscaping all kept fresh and neat. This was a part of town where people took pride in their homes.

She got out of the clunker she’d borrowed for the trip home. It was a car shared by a group of people. Robyn wasn’t sure who even owned it. She just knew that in two days a guy would arrive to drive it to California. Her job was to make sure it was full of gas and to hand over the keys.

Her grandmother limped toward her. “What can I carry in?”

“I’ll get it,” Robyn replied, frowning slightly. “Should you ice your knee?”

“At this point, it’s beyond help.” Eleanor grinned. “But
in a few weeks, I’ll have the left knee of a thirty-year-old. I’ve asked the doctor if he can do that to my behind as well, but he ignores me.”

Robyn laughed. “Grandma, are you flirting with your medical professional?”

“Mostly giving him a hard time. Now hand me something to carry.”

Robyn passed over the lightest of the bags, then grabbed two more for herself. Deconstructing her life had taken less time than she would have thought, but despite selling or bartering nearly everything she owned, she’d still filled the car with her stuff.

Once they were inside, Robyn followed Eleanor to the room that had been Robyn’s since the death of her mother. The windows were clean, the curtains freshly washed. The faint smell of new paint made her frown.

“Tell me you didn’t paint this room for me,” she said. “You’re supposed to be taking it easy until you have your knee replacement surgery.”

“I didn’t paint the room.” Her grandmother winked. “T.J. did it. He’s the nicest man. When I mentioned you were coming back and that I wanted to spruce up your room, he volunteered.”

T.J. of the glaring eyes? Robyn had trouble believing that.

After leaving the luggage, they went into the kitchen where all important meals, discussions and decisions occurred. Eleanor got out the kettle to make tea. Robyn took it from her.

“Go sit. I’ll deal with this.”

“You’re tired from your long drive,” her grandmother protested.

“I can still boil water.”

Everything was where she remembered. The delicate porcelain cups and saucers decorated with flowers. The carved wooden box that contained a dozen or so different types of loose tea in worn tins. The tea balls in the drawer to the right and the teapots themselves, in the cupboard next to the stove.

“It’s wonderful to have you here,” her grandmother told her from her place at the Formica kitchen table. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too,” Robyn said. “I’m glad you asked me to come back.”

“I hated to take you away from your career. However long you can give me is plenty.”

There was no career, Robyn thought, feeling both ashamed and guilty. Once there’d been a dream, but it had died a couple of years ago, starved to death slowly and painfully. She’d actually been relieved when her grandmother had called and asked if Robyn could spare the time to take care of her after her knee replacement surgery.

“I’m staying indefinitely,” Robyn announced. There was no way she was heading back to New York, but that wasn’t a conversation to have her first fifteen minutes back. She would bring it up gradually over the next few days.

While she didn’t have the details of her plan worked out, she had a basic premise. She would help Eleanor for as long as she was needed, then she would find a job locally. She was an excellent waitress, with plenty of experience and recommendations. With all the wonderful restaurants in the area, she was confident she could find something nearby. She planned to live cheaply, save
money and figure out what she wanted to do with the rest of her life.

When the tea was ready, she carried the pot to the table and poured them each a cup. Her grandmother stirred in cream, then took a sip.

“Lovely,” she breathed. “It tastes better with you here.”

Robyn laughed.

“How was the drive?”

“Long.”

“You got here quicker than I expected.”

“I drove straight through.”

Her grandmother set down her cup and stared at her. “Robyn, no. Why would you do that?”

“I wanted to get home.”

Which was mostly true. There was also the issue of not wanting to spend the money on a hotel room.

“I drank plenty of coffee.”

“You must be exhausted.”

“My behind is a little draggy.”

Eleanor squeezed her hand. “Sometimes I worry about you. All right. I’m going back to the store. You stay here and rest. Climb into bed and don’t think about getting out until I get home.”

Bed did sound nice, Robyn thought. Her body ached from the drive and her eyes felt gritty.

There was a knock at the front door.

“I’ll get it,” she said, pushing herself to her feet.

She crossed the living room and pulled open the door, only to find T.J. standing on the wide front porch.

He didn’t look any happier to see her than he had before.

Now that he was standing, Robyn realized he was taller
than she’d thought, nearly a full head above her own five foot six. Lean, but with plenty of muscle, he looked like the kind of man who could handle himself in any situation. He had black hair that needed cutting and a determined expression. His dark eyes were cold and assessing as they stared at her over the threshold. If he would smile, she had a feeling he would be devastating…in a good way.

“Marion says Eleanor is needed back at the store,” he said. “I came by to see if I could help you unload the car.”

The kind words were totally at odds with his expression. It was like looking at a growling dog with a wagging tail. Robyn didn’t know which end to believe.

“T.J.,” Eleanor said, coming up behind Robyn. “You didn’t have to come all this way.”

“It’s five blocks.”

“Still. You’re so thoughtful.” Eleanor patted Robyn’s arm. “After T.J. helps you, dear, get some rest.”

“I will,” Robyn promised, then had to resist the need to beg her grandmother not to leave her alone with a man who seemed to find her so wanting.

But she’d been fighting her own battles for a long time now, so she ignored T.J.’s steady gaze and ushered her grandmother to her car.