his is the way she knew he was gone: The door was open. His boots were missing. The cage where he kept a hawk was empty. He’d never said a word. The night before he went missing he’d gathered the firewood, cleaned the pots, fed the hawk. He didn’t bother to leave a note.
She ran out the door, barefoot, crying his name so loudly that all the birds in the trees rose up in one achingly blue cloud. She went to the edge of the lake and saw him on the other side. The water was black that day. His boat was on the shore directly across from her. The hawk was on his shoulder, but it flew back to her. The hawk, at least, was loyal. He, however, did not answer her calls. And he wasn’t alone. There was a woman waiting for him. That was when her heart broke into two pieces that fell into the grass.
She went home, her heart in her hands. She kept her broken heart in a glass jar on her bedside table. In the dark, the glass glowed with pale red light. She shared her dinners with the hawk. Bones, turnips, onions, only bitter things. One night she dreamed the man who had left her told her he’d never really loved her. When she woke she took a knife and cut off her long gold hair. It was the part of her he’d always said he loved best. He’d insisted she wear it long, and she’d done as he asked, even though it was often tangled and difficult to comb. Now it was in a pile in a corner.
People started to talk about her, so she stayed away from town. Everyone knew she wasn’t the same. If you looked at her carefully you could see the space where her heart should have been. It was empty, as if there was nothing more than a cloud in the place where her heart had been, the color a dim gray. To hide what she was missing, she took two sticks from the kindling, then reached for the pile of her own gold hair. She began to knit a vest so that no one could see what was missing inside her.
* * *
Without her heart she could no longer feel, and she was grateful for that. She had felt enough when she lost her heart beside the black lake. She worked in the garden in the hot sun all day long and was never tired. She stood knee-deep in the ice-cold lake to catch fish and didn’t shiver. When she knitted her fingers never hurt even though the needles were made of splintering sticks. In the dark she curled up in bed to knit by the light of her own heart. Moths were drawn to the red light. But she felt nothing. Her heart was like a caged bird. It called to her, but she didn’t answer.
* * *
The vest was done in no time. She wore it day and night so no one could tell how empty she was. Then one day the hawk flew into the woods crying out and she followed. She found a man in the woods whose legs had been broken when he fell from a tree. She helped him home. When he leaned heavily on her, she didn’t feel any pain. He was a carpenter who’d been looking for wood to fashion into tables and chairs. She let him sleep on her porch, and she didn’t feel a thing when he thanked her and took her hand in his.
But the pieces of her heart encased in glass burned even more brightly through the night.
The doctor came and set the carpenter’s legs and said he couldn’t walk for four months. He would be a burden, but she didn’t mind. She had no heart; she didn’t care about anything, not how handsome he was, or how kind. When the hawk ate from his hand, not their usual bitter fare but sweet berries, the carpenter said nothing should be kept in a cage. She thought of her heart, that bird in a glass cage. She shrugged. Why should she care?
The carpenter ate supper with her, and in the evenings he set to work on carving a beautiful wooden bowl as a gift for all of her generosity. He fell in love with her when the snow began to fall.
I wouldn’t do that if I were you, she told him. She showed him her heart in its glass container. She said it could never be put back together. But he was a carpenter, used to fixing things. He shook his head and smiled. He vowed he’d find a way.
Impossible, she said. The carpenter’s legs were now healed enough for him to leave. Go before I wake in the morning. Don’t say goodbye.
Instead he stayed awake all night. He’d often watched her knit in the evenings, and now he took up the needles. In the morning she saw what he’d done. He’d cut off all of his hair and used the strands to knit a pocket on her vest. Into that he’d placed the pieces of her heart. The longer she wore her heart in the pocket, the more it mended, until one day it was a whole heart, inside her once more. She still wears that vest, even though she’s a married woman now, and her husband knows all there is to know about her heart. He gave it back to her, and no matter what happens, she doesn’t intend to let go of it again.
Brokenhearted Vest
DIFFICULTY: Advanced beginner
MATERIALS
Long Island Yarn & Farm (100yd/91m, 1.75oz/50g) 75% Llama, 25% Merino, 10 (12, 14) skeins in color Naturally Dyed with Cutch (A), 1 (2, 2) skeins in color Dirty Wash Denim (B).
Or any worsted-weight yarn that meets gauge.
Size 9 (5.5mm) needles or size to obtain gauge.
Cable needle.
Stitch holders.
Additional needle for 3-needle bind off.
Darning needle.
SIZES
Small (Medium, Large).
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
40 (44, 48)"/101.5 (111.5, 122)cm hip width, 23 (23, 241/2)"/58.5 (58.5, 62)cm length.
GAUGE
16 sts x 19 rows = 4"/10cm in K1, P1 Rib, after blocking.
18 sts x 21 rows = 4"/10cm in Climbing Cables stitch, after blocking.
Take time to check your gauge.
Knitting Wisdom
Selvedge stitches are extra stitches that are included for seaming. They are added to the lower sections of the vest. After the first bind offs, the selvedge stitches are removed.
This is a good pattern to learn how to cable without using a cable needle, by repositioning the stitches and then knitting them in a new order to create a cable. For the 3/3 LC: Put right needle behind work and slip into the back legs of the fourth, fifth, and sixth stitches; pull left needle from all 6 stitches (3 remain on right needle, 3 will drop toward front); insert left needle into the 3 open dropped stitches; slip 3 stitches from right needle back to left needle. Stitches have been repositioned. Knit across 6 stitches.
For the 3/3 RC: Put right needle to front of work and slip into the front legs of the fourth, fifth, and sixth stitches; pull left needle from all 6 stitches (3 remain on right needle, 3 will drop to back); insert left needle into the 3 open dropped stitches; slip 3 stitches from right back to left needle. Stitches have been repositioned. Knit across 6 stitches.
STITCH GUIDE
K1, P1 Rib (over an odd number of sts)
Row 1 (RS): K1, *p1, k1; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): P1, *k1, p1; rep from * to end.
Climbing Cables (multiple of 16 + 8) for sizes small and large only
Row 1 (RS): *P1, k6, p2, k6, p1; rep from * to last 8 sts, p1, k6, p1.
Row 2 and all WS rows: *K1, p6, k2, p6, k1; rep from * to last 8 sts, k1, p6, k1.
Row 3: Rep row 1.
Row 5: *P1, 3/3 LC, p2, 3/3 RC, p1; rep from * to last 8 sts, p1, 3/3 LC, p1.
Rows 7, 9, and 11: Rep row 1.
Row 13: *P1, 3/3 RC, p2, 3/3 LC, p1; rep from * to last 8 sts, p1, 3/3 RC, p1.
Row 15: Rep row 1.
Row 16: Rep row 2.
Climbing Cables (multiple of 16) for size medium only
Row 1 (RS): *P1, k6, p2, k6, p1; rep from * to end.
Row 2 and all WS rows: *K1, p6, k2, p6, k1; rep from * to end.
Row 3: Rep row 1.
Row 5: *P1, 3/3 LC, p2, 3/3 RC, p1; rep from * to end.
Rows 7, 9, and 11: Rep row 1.
Row 13: *P1, 3/3 RC, p2, 3/3 LC, p1; rep from * to end.
Row 15: Rep row 1.
Row 16: Rep row 2.
3/3 LC (3 Over 3 Left Cross)
Slip 3 sts to cable needle, hold to front, k3, k3 from cable needle.
3/3 RC (3 Over 3 Right Cross)
Slip 3 sts to cable needle, hold to back, k3, k3 from cable needle.
For more abbreviations, stitches, a
nd techniques, see Glossary.
INSTRUCTIONS
Back
With A, cast on 89 (97, 105) sts. Work in K1, P1 Rib for 5 rows, increasing 1 st on last row. 90 (98, 106) sts.
Row 1 (RS): K1 (selv st), pm, work row 1 of Climbing Cables to last st, pm, k1 (selv st).
Row 2 (WS): K1 (selv st), sm, work row 2 of Climbing Cables to last st, sm, k1 (selv st).
Continue in patterns as established until rows 1–16 of Climbing Cables have been worked 2 (3, 3) times, then work rows 1–8 of Climbing Cables 1 (0, 0) more time(s). Work measures approximately 81/2 (10, 10)"/21.5 (25.5, 25.5)cm from cast on.
Bind off 18 sts at beg of next 2 rows.
Continue in pattern as established on rem 54 (62, 70) sts until piece measures approximately 23 (23, 241/2)"/58.5 (58.5, 62)cm from cast on, ending with cable pattern row 8 or 16. On separate holders, place 14 (14, 16) sts for right shoulder, 26 (34, 38) sts for back neck, and 14 (14, 16) sts for left shoulder.
Front
With A, cast on 85 (93, 101) sts. Work in K1, P1 Rib for 5 rows. Begin cable and rib patterns on next row as follows:
Row 1 (RS): K1 (selv st), pm, work row 1 of Climbing Cables over next 24 sts, pm, p1, [k1, p1] 17 (21, 25) times, pm, work row 1 of Climbing Cables over next 24 sts, pm, k1 (selv st).
Row 2 (WS): K1 (selv st), sm, work row 2 of Climbing Cables over next 24 sts, pm, k1, [p1, k1] 17 (21, 25) times, sm, work row 2 of Climbing Cables over next 24 sts, sm, k1 (selv st).
Continue in patterns as established until rows 1–16 of Climbing Cables have been worked 2 (3, 3) times, then work rows 1–8 of Climbing Cables 1 (0, 0) more time(s).
Bind off 18 sts at beg of next 2 rows.
Continue in patterns as established on rem 49 (57, 65) sts until piece measures 20 (20, 211/2)"/51 (51, 54.5)cm from cast on.
Divide fronts for neck shaping on next RS row as follows: Work 24 (28, 34) sts, bind off 1, work to end. Working right and left fronts at same time with separate balls of yarn, continue in patterns as established until piece measures same as back, ending with cable pattern row 8 or 16. On separate holders, place 14 (14, 16) sts for each shoulder and 10 (14, 18) sts at each front for neck. Return held shoulder sts to needles and, with right sides together, join shoulders with 3-needle bind off.
Neck
Return held neck sts to one needle as follows: 10 (14, 18) held right neck sts, 26 (34, 38) held back neck sts, 10 (14, 18) held left neck sts = 46 (62, 74) sts. With RS facing, join A and work as follows: [P1, k1] 5 (7, 8) times, p2tog, then continue in K1, P1 Rib to end—45 (61, 69) sts. Work even as established in rib for 51/2"/14cm. Bind off loosely in pattern.
Pocket
With B, cast on 40 (48, 56) sts. Work in K1, P1 Rib for 5 rows. Begin cable pattern on next row as follows:
Row 1 (RS): K1, *k6, p2; rep from * to last 7 sts, k7.
Row 2 and all WS rows: K1, *p6, k2; rep from * to last 7 sts, p6, k1.
Row 3: Rep row 1.
For sizes small and large only
Row 5: K1, *3/3 LC, p2, 3/3 RC, p2; rep from * to last 7 sts, 3/3 LC, k1.
Rows 7, 9, and 11: Rep row 1.
Row 13: K1, *3/3 RC, p2, 3/3 LC, p2; rep from * to last 7 sts, 3/3 RC, k1.
For size medium only
Row 5: K1, *3/3 LC, p2, 3/3 RC, p2; rep from * to last 15 sts, 3/3 LC, p2, 3/3 RC, k1.
Rows 7, 9, and 11: Rep row 1.
Row 13: K1, *3/3 RC, p2, 3/3 LC, p2; rep from * to last 15 sts, 3/3 RC, p2, 3/3 LC, k1.
For all sizes
Row 15: Rep row 1.
Row 16: Rep row 2.
Rep rows 1–16 once more, then rows 1–8 once.
FINISHING
Seam sides. Attach pocket to lower front on center rib panel with opening at top. Darn ends. Steam or block to desired measurements.
Climbing Cables Chart: Sizes Small and Large
Climbing Cables Chart: Size Medium
Climbing Cables Chart Key
Chapter 8
Charm
he loved him from the time she first saw him, but he never noticed her. She was a plain young woman with dark eyes who didn’t speak up for herself. But she knew what she wanted and she knew what she felt.
She had been walking in the woods and there he was. They might have passed each other in the city a hundred times without noticing each other, but now her eyes were open. She crouched down behind a tree so she could watch him, the way a person might observe a rare creature. For this was the thing that made her love him: He was kind.
There was a blue jay caught in a hunter’s snare. The young man climbed a tree and carefully freed the bird from the netting. When the jay flew away, her heart flew with it. In a show of gratitude, the jay returned to sit on the man’s shoulder, and the young woman found that she was jealous, and wished she could sing as sweetly into his ear.
* * *
Other men were invisible, nothing more than shadows. Often she spied the man she loved among the crowds of the city, but he never looked her way. She wanted to speak to him, and followed behind, ready to declare herself, but no words came out. She went to the printer’s shop where he worked, but she found herself unable to walk through the door. She was mute in his presence. For what she felt, words would never be enough.
She saw him at dances, with other women who weren’t afraid to speak up. She decided then that her shyness was a curse, one she must be rid of. In the end, she did what her mother and her grandmother and all her aunts had told her she must never do.
She went to the witch.
* * *
The cottage was in a far field surrounded by stones, and could only be found by those in need. When the young woman arrived, the witch was on her porch, knitting.
What have you brought me? the witch asked.
Luckily, the young woman had a new strand of blue beads the color of the sky, which she presented as an offering. The witch tapped at them, knowing they were made of clay rather than precious stones. All the same she slipped them on and listened to the young woman’s story, then she told the lovestruck woman what she must do.
Catch a blue jay, pluck out its heart, and boil it into a tea to give to the man you love. If you can’t do that, maybe you don’t deserve his love.
The young woman returned to town, running all the way home. She saw jays in the trees and she knew she could never be that cruel. Still, she couldn’t give up. She went back to the witch the next day. Again, the witch was knitting. This time the young woman brought her a pie made from the apples of the tree in the center of town, the one that was said to bring good fortune. The witch shrugged, unimpressed, though she ate every crumb. Then she advised her visitor.
Make a tea of your own blood and his, and then both drink from the very same cup.
Again, the remedy was impossible. She could not even speak to the man she loved; how could she draw his blood, and why would she ever want to hurt him so?
On the third visit she brought yarn spun from the finest wool. The witch nodded and stopped her knitting. At last she was pleased. She handed the wool back to the young woman. Now she gave the best advice of all.
Knit three small bags. Fill each with every plant that grows in the place where you first spied him, then for three nights place a sachet outside his window.
* * *
The young woman followed the witch’s instructions. She knitted all through the night, three bags perfect for gathering herbs, but in the morning, when she went into the woods, she couldn’t find the spot where she’d first spied the man. She wandered through the fields, desperate. Late in the day, she saw the blue jay in the treetops. She followed him until she recognized the very place where she had lost her heart. She gathered lavender, wild roses, ferns, wild mint. When the bags were full, she went to her beloved’s house and placed one beneath his open bedroom window, as the witch had instructed. She did so the next night, and the night after that.
* * *
Each night he dreamed of the scent of mint and lavender and rose
s and ferns, and each day he searched out that fragrance. He thought about little else. In time he couldn’t sleep. People who knew him joked that he must have fallen in love, and he agreed, but who his beloved was remained a mystery. He followed the scent of the perfume into the marketplace each day, and just when he thought love was nothing more than a dream, there she was, waiting for him, the woman who was meant for him all along.
Charm Bags
DIFFICULTY: Beginner
MATERIALS
Shibui Knits Rain (135yd/123m, 50g/1.75oz) 100% Cotton, 1 skein each in colors #2003 Ash, #2022 Mineral, #2035 Fog for bags, 1 skein in color #2004 Ivory for I-cord handle.
Or any DK-weight yarn (see Knitting Wisdom) that meets gauge.
Size 6 (4.0mm) needles or size to obtain gauge.
Size 6 (4.0mm) double-point needles for I-cord.
Darning needle.
Crochet hook (optional, for threading I-cord through top of bag).
SIZES
One size.
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
5"/12.5cm width, 41/4"/11cm length.
GAUGE
22 sts x 30 rows = 4"/10cm in Stockinette stitch.
Take time to check your gauge.
Knitting Wisdom
Each bag uses approximately 65yd/60m of one color yarn aside from the contrast color for I-cord handle. A traditional 50g skein or ball of DK-weight yarn will yield at least 2 bags at this gauge.
For a crisp fabric, use a cotton, linen, or hemp fiber. A rough and more natural wool, such as a Shetland or Icelandic, would also work well with this piece. A local farm yarn that may still have some hay stuck in it suits the theme of plants and nature from the story.
Faerie Knitting Page 5
