TURKEY BUTT!
Okay, that was juvenile. But it was also accurate — that is a turkey butt! You see, yesterday I was seized by the urge to knit a Thanksgiving turkey. When I conducted a rapid online search, I could not find a turkey pattern that matched my own mental picture of what a knitted turkey ought to look like. Though I only had a little time left before bed when the Turkey Craze seized me, I would not be deterred, so I picked out some yarns (all leftovers) and formulated a plan. I told David before falling asleep last night, “All you have to do to get me out of bed in the morning is say ‘turkey.’” That turned out to be pretty well true: as soon as I was just awake enough this morning to remember the turkey, I shot out of bed and made a beeline for my knitting chair. The picture shows how far I got in about an hour of knitting — half a body. Tonight I hope to finish the other half, and maybe the head, too, if I’m lucky.
If the turkey comes out well, I’ll post the pattern here for public consumption. Meanwhile, if any of you folks are crazy enough to want to knit a turkey for your Thanksgiving table along with me, just start following the Sheldon pattern line for line, only use chunky-weight yarn and size 10.5 needles or whatever size seems to work. The body will eventually be felted a bit, but not too much, so the fabric can be slightly holey but shouldn’t be totally loose and open. When you get to the part where the body on Sheldon is at 42 stitches and the instructions say to work even, instead you should keep going with the increase rounds on every other row until you have 60 stitches, and then work even for 8 rows instead of 4. (If anyone actually does decide to knit this along with me, let me know in the comments, and I’ll keep posting instructional updates; otherwise, I’ll assume that I’m on my own here.)
Incidentally, the universe approves of my turkey fixation. My evidence? On my run this morning, I saw six turkeys by a small pond. They looked cold and kind of menacing, and I see turkeys often when I run, but still, Turkeys! On my run! It must be a sign of something.
Before being seized with Turkey Madness, I did finish the second sleeve for my herringbone sweater. I even cast on for the back and knit the first five rows or so, but then my wrist said “Enough with the metal needles already!” and I decided to give it a rest for a few days. I am pleased with what I have so far.
Also, I’m close to the end of Lucie’s Christmas stocking. I’m going to have to buy more yarn before I can start a second one.
Now I have to get back to work, because if I get enough work done, I can take a break and knit on my turkey. I am a woman obsessed.
If I had a stash of yarn that could be used to create a turkey I would be following right along with you on this one. This obssession of yours amuses me greatly…in fact I laughed out loud. I may try to visit a yarn shop while I’m in Green Bay this weekend…any recommendations? The herringbone sweater lookes lovely by the way.
The turkey posterior is both fascinating and horrifying. I can’t look away!
I am going away for the weekend, or else I would have liked to join in – this is the only way I would ever consume a turkey (although it does seem like the turkey is consuming you right now!
) Looking forward to the final bird.
Hey, I’m knitting a Sheldon-related turkey, too, only mine won’t be plucked.