Knitting Adventures of Tin Tin

I absolutely love The Adventures of Tin Tin. I was lucky enough to grow up reading the comic books and watching the cartoon. It was Tin Tin that made everything in Europe seem so much cooler then my little neighborhood in Chicago.

(Don't know who is Tin TIn? Read up on the life and times of this beloved character here: http://tintinblog.com/who-is-tintin/ )

Tin Tin has a signature look which consists of red hair that sticks up in the front, brown pants, and trench coat and a blue sweater over a white collared shirt. And of course, let us not forget his faithful companion who is always by his side- Snowy, his dog.

When this widely popular iconic hero was made into a full length movie, I did not hesitate to go see it. While watching the movie, I realized just how much his sweater stands out. It is sort of a darker baby blue in color. Crew neck with set-in sleeves. How very simple, yet timeless at the same time.

When I got home from the show, I Googled Tin Tin's sweater and of course found Tin Tin memorabilia for sale. There are sweaters made after the famous character that can be purchased for a few bucks, but what's the fun in that?

I decided that for those true diehard Tin Tin geeks like myself, there would be no better homage to our beloved character then to knit our own Tin Tin sweater.

This sweater pattern by DROPS,  is close in shape and structure to the sweater worn by Tin Tin.



This Cascade Eco+ yarn in Delft, is a great color choice.



I hope that the movie will inspire some serious Tin Tin knitting and crochet designs. Maybe even a fan page on Ravelry?

The Sweater Dilemma

At some point in our knitting lives we have all either heard of or experienced first hand the knitting urban legend about the dreaded "Boyfriend Sweater" curse. If you knit a sweater for a guy that you're not married to, he leaves you soon after you gift him the sweater.

My question is- if you unravel the sweater to reuse the yarn for another project, does that reverse the curse? A few of my friends and I were discussing the thought that if we wanted to unravel and reuse yarn from a sweater of a man who is now an ex, would unraveling the sweater bring that jerk  back into our life?

We each had our suggestions on what to do to avoid the possible return of M. Ex. Those ideas ranged from  making sure you or the ex is out of the state at the time of the unraveling to rinsing the sweater in holy water before unraveling. So, knitters, what's your take on the curse and how should a knitter handle the unraveling of a cursed sweater?

My Three Year Anniversary

Today marks the three year anniversary of my liver transplant. It also marks the day that my son would have turned three.

It amazes me just how far I have come- both physically and emotionally:

There was the week long coma I had to recover from with my own realization of what I had just been through. The learning of new medical terms and medications. The month long healing from the operation. Dialysis every week while waiting for my kidneys to start working again. The staples and tubes getting removed. Four months of physical therapy to learn how to walk and feed myself. Bi-weekly blood draws and Prograf level changes. Learning to take care of our son with his own set of disabilities. Being diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Watching our son die and somehow finding the strength and will to carry on. Writing that first letter to the family of my liver donor. The volunteer work with the American Liver Foundation. The willingness to share my story in hopes of helping others. Finishing the sweater that was meant for our son and in doing so, rekindling my love for knitting. Joining the Boba knitting group and meeting Cookie A.. Coping with my Sickle Cell Anemia and its attack on my new liver. Accepting the fact that I could never get my old life back, but must now learn to create a 'new' life for myself.

I've come a long way, but it has not been a lonely journey. I would not be where I am today without the love and support of my doctors, family and friends. My biggest thanks goes to my husband. He is the person who has allowed me to lean on him so much without complaint or showing any sign of weariness. I always knew he was the love of my life. I just never knew he would become the hero of my life as well. Honey, I love you!

To Cory, my donor, and to all those who have made the decision to become organ/tissue donors- I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Without your selfless act of kindness, I, along with thousands of others would not be here today. Thank you for making the choice to give someone you may never meet, a chance at life.

You are welcome to join me tonight in raising a glass in celebration of my anniversary. May these three years be just a small part of the many years of happiness and good health to come!

Salut!