Knitting

For the past few weeks, all of my spare time has been dedicated to knitting. I've wanted to make a gift for each member of our host family- although I don't know how well the "hand-knit gift" translates, culturally. At home, a handmade give shows time and effort. Here, it might just be seen as cheap. I hope not. In any case:

I made Haikushik a had that I really like. I'm going to have to remain myself a hat from this same pattern at some point in time. Here I am, modeling the hat (photo credit to Sam, who also insisted on getting a view from the back):

I also made Goqor a hat. I think that it would have felt a little boring and light except that I modified the pattern to be knit in 2 colors in a fair isle style. The 2 colors give it some visual interest, and the stranded knitting gives it additional weight, making it feel warmer and more substantial. 

Zahak and Alla both got scarves. Zahak's scarf was a simple lace pattern that was complex enough to make the fabric interesting, but not so lacy as to feel feminine. It's a little short, but I was running out of yarn, so it is what it is. 

I'm really proud of Alla's scarf- it's not something I'd want for myself, but it fits her style perfectly. I'm really glad it turned out so well. Alla has been amazing to us while we've lived with her, and we owe her so much. I really wanted to give her a gift she would like, and I think the scarf will really fit the bill. 

Grampa George got a pair of fingerless mittens. I don't know if they're a particuarly well suited gift for him, but they're what I could do in the time (and with they yarn) that I had. They turned out okay, but I don't think that it will matter that they're not stunning. Grampa George isn't exactly picky about his clothes. 

The last member of the family, Mets Haikush, was also going to get a set of fingerless mittens (I liked to order of it: hats for the kids, scarves for the parents, fingerless mittens for the grandparents), but then I realized that mittens weren't a very good gift for her. Mets Haikush had a stroke sometime in the past, and as a result no longer has the use of her left arm or hand, and depends on a cane to walk. So, not only is she unable to put on a pair of mittens without help, but having a slippery knit surface between her good hand and er cane seems like a good way to invite a potentially fatal fall. So, instead I decided to make her a simple muffler. She can put it on with one hand, and it will stay on and not cause problems as she walks around the house. It is the piece I'm least proud of, but, like Grampa George's gloves, I don't think that it will make much difference to Mets Haikush. 

So, these are the gives with which we'll be leaving our Host Family when we go to Sisian. I don't know that they will really communicate how much their hospitality and kindness has meant to Sam and me, I hope they know anyway.