Mo' Mobius

The Cavalcade of Completion continues with Mom's Möbius. It has the distinction of being the only thing I've ever finished twice. I gave it to her (off the needles, thank you very much) for Christmas, but have just added an additional 10 inches to give it the looser fit she prefers.

(Why yes, I do know that Christmas was in December and that it's now August. Would you like to step outside and discuss it?)

If you aren't familiar with the möbius you can read about it here. At the moment it's all I can do to recite my phone number, let alone explain The Riddle of the Universe.

These days I suppose Cat Bordhi is the name most associated with möbius knitting, but it's generally accepted that Elizabeth Zimmermann was the first person to work the concept into a design. If you check out Knitting Around (and you should, it's a delicious read) she uses it to create a scarf, a vest, and a jacket. This möbius is a descendant of Elizabeth's, and the designer gives her due acknowledgment.

Project: Magic Mobius

Designer: Susan Levin for Knit One, Crochet Two

Yarn: Douceur et Soie (silk/baby mohair) in colorway The Hell If I Remember

Needles: US8

Notes: I picked this out for my mother because she hates wearing hats (they crush her hair) and scarves (they bind her around the neck) and I worry about her catching a chill. The möbius, when properly worn, elegantly covers both those areas without choking or flattening, especially when knit up in something as feathery light as this yarn. And in spite of the light weight, it's surprisingly warm.

It's a very pleasant knit, a worthy variation on Zimmermann's original, and Susan Levin has incorporated a very clever edge treatment that doesn't interfere with the diaphanous look but does give the selvedges a little extra body.

Now you have no excuse, Ma. Put something on your head before you catch pneumonia. You think I don't know when you're cold?