New Orleans, Home of Kent

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I don't really know where to begin. First, I want to say that we feel very, very fortunate that my brother is safe. He has called New Orleans home for many years, and we know that it is the true home of his heart. We waited for several days before hearing yesterday that he is indeed physically safe and sound. First he was in Baton Rouge, now in Shreveport with a friend. But Kent, like most of his friends and neighbors, has lost everything. His house is gone. So are his possessions. He doesn't know the status of several friends. He is fairly certain that he will not have a job for a very long time, and has no other source of income. It will be weeks before he will be able to get back home, and even then there really isn't a home to go to....and it will be months before the true losses are known, even longer before things can get back to normal, and how normal will that even be? He is surely in shock; everyone is in shock. How can an entire huge city just be gone?

So many of us feel very, very helpless, and what does a good knitter want to do? We want to knit. We want somehow to wrap all of our loved ones, their friends, their neighbors, and strangers who could have been us in something warm and soft ... a substitute for holding them close. While we waited, I was paralyzed. I couldn't knit a stitch. I didn't sleep. That very close bond with Kent made me imagine every possible situation, and how I knew he would react. He did try to stay, just as I thought. He was lucky enough to be riding out the storm in the third story of a friend's home when her mother managed to get through on a cell phone and demanded that they leave. Thank God for mothers. He wanted to stay, to help other people. I know my brother. He gives his last penny to strangers. He often takes food from where he works to feed those who are hungry. That's who he is. Kent is a chef. His greatest joy has always been to feed everyone around him, and he's a damned good cook. He also lives (lived?) in the Ninth Ward, one of NOLA's worst neighborhoods. Most people are terrified to walk around there, even during the day. But not Kent. He is social, and knows everyone around him. He and his group of young friends have done what they can to improve living conditions in the area, and it's just another way that helping out makes him who he is. He doesn't brag about it, but we know him, and I'm his sister, so I'll do the bragging.

New Orleans has always been famous as a food city, and Kent found his true calling after living all over the U.S. in his younger days. He managed to work his way up in several kitchens, learning more on his feet than most people learn at culinary school. He is passionate about his work, and just as passionate about music and art. He is a little famous for playing bass in bar bands, and he is very good. He surrounds himself with his "family" of musicians, artists, foodies, and other friends. They all take care of each other. Now they are scattered, and in his line of work (fancy schmancy restaurant/resort cooking), we know that it will be a long time before that arena can offer paying jobs to even the best of the best. I want him to come out here. Mom wants him back in Indiana. He has friends and offers all over the world, but I know Kent. He will be back in his town, feeding people, one way or another, as soon as he can.

After catching my breath today, I made him a hat. People don't really need hats right now, they need money. We will send him all that we can. I await word on what else I can send, but I know that the emergency is for money....to the people, and to the right organizations. SOOOOOOOOO, I hope you like my hat. I hope you want to make one. We are offering the pattern for sale, with every single penny going to the American Red Cross. They are usually the first organization able to set up shelter and provisions for people in America after any kind of disaster. This is the first time that LusciousGraciousStudios is offering an electronic pattern for sale. Pay with PayPal, and we will send a pdf file directly to your e-mail address within 24 hours. You can enjoy your purchase right away, and know that your donation is working quickly during this critical time. If you don't want to use PayPal, send us an e-mail at www.stephen@lusciousgracious.com and we will let you know where to send a check.

I hope that together we can do something, and I know that knitters are generous people. Thank you in advance. Thank you for your kind words these past days, for holding my hand in person and in cyberspace. Thanks to Carrie W, who got me thinking about Fair Isle Guitars in the first place. And if you don't want the pattern, donate to your favorite organization anyway. You can usually do it quickly and painlessly through internet sites, especially at times like this.

Now, I will dry my tears (tears of sweet relief), and tell you about the pattern.

KENT is for a hat that will fit a youngster up to adult male. It is made of super stretchy yarn, so yes, even bigheads like Mr. LusciousGracious can wear it. So can the little ones. It features two guitars stitched in Fair Isle, and is easily made in the round. Don't like the idea of stranded knitting? You can also make it plain, or with stripes. Hang on to the Fair Isle chart for when you get around to learning about it (you know you will.....I hear there's a bandwagon 'a comin'). You can also use the chart to decorate a sweater, a bag, or your favorite and mine - a wristband! The directions are clear, and you are always welcome to e-mail me for any technical support.

MEASUREMENTS
The hat measures 16 inches/41 cm around and 9.5 inches/24 cm high before it is stretched, and will easily accommodate a head up to 28 inches/71 cm around. Just for reference, my biggish head (for a woman) is 23 inches/58 cm. No wonder I have to make my own hats.

MATERIALS
YARN
For comfort in all types of weather, as well as for the stretchiness factor, I made this hat with two colors of Cascade "Fixation"
{98.3% cotton, 1.7% elastic - 50 grams/100 yds (before being stretched) per skein - less than 1 skein each of Black and Red}

*Note: If you would like to make a warmer hat, I recommend worsted weight wool, usually 100-150 yards is all that is needed for a hat. Remember, though, that wool (or any other yarn) will not stretch as much as Fixation. You will need to use larger needles to get the right size of hat. Please swatch.


NEEDLES
US # 6/4.25 mm - 8 inch/22 cm or 12 inch/30 cm circular needles, or size needed to achieve gauge
4-double pointed needles (dpn's) in the same size
*Note: The entire hat can be knit on the dpn's. I prefer circular needles, especially when knitting with two colors.

NOTIONS
6 stitch markers - make sure one of them is different from the others and use it to indicate the start of the round
Tapestry needle

GAUGE
22 stitches = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch before stretching, and up to 12 stitches = 4 inches/10 cm when fully stretched

PRICE
$5.OO. Yep. Only $5. Go HERE. Please. I won't even try to hypnotize you, or tell you to ignore the beautiful celebrities.

So, that's it. Get knitting again if you have been in any type of a slump. Knit on to most of you. Thank you all for taking the time to read my post, and for getting to know just one of the many, many people who make New Orleans a very special place. At least you got to know him a little bit. Someday I'll tell you about how he dressed up the dog. I love that boy.

Sincerely,
kikiluscious, who may finally sleep now