E likes to make fun of Camilla so I promised him an emotional support (whatever) for his birthday. It was decided to be a tape measure.
Whenever Harbor Freight offers them free he finds a way to get at least one (same with flashlights).
I started this on Tuesday 28 January 2025 and finished on Monday 03 February 2025. With time to spare before the deadline.
I used the Valley 3/2 cotton from the sweater I knit him in 2012 that he never wore (ravelry link). I don't blame him, he never wore it in part because of the sleeve caps and mostly because even though it was in cotton, it was still too warm for him. I held it doubled and worked it with a 3mm/D hook. There were lots of breaks and stretches.
The tape is some twill I picked up over 15 years ago either in the original purl soho location or gotham quilts (29th?). It's not accurate which is probably why it sat in my stash for so long. The yellow is some louet gems fingering and is knit on 2.5mm needles and the edge of the tape and the clip (currently non-functional, we were out of magnets with holes) is I think some Lion Brand I bought a very long time ago when I was going to make a tea set and needed to make a spoon.
I asked what accent color and a safety colour was requested and then at the same time we both remembered a ball of glow in the dark yarn he'd bought from aliexpress several years ago. It's incredibly splitty and I decided a small circle was enough. It will sort of glow faintly when given some light to charge. And it's bright even when it doesn't glow.
The tape is in its own compartment that's covered with some loose stockinette stitch. There is also elastic affixed to it, but it's not working as i wanted. It doesn't stretch much (which is likely how I attached it). Unfortunately to put the tape back you have to manually shove it in the compartment.
I have ideas for v2 but wanted to meet my deadline so this version doesn't work.
It's stuffed with fine wool noils from R H Lindsay. Currently overstuffed. From Camilla I learned it'll settle.
Photos feature my tape measure which he has to ask permission to borrow.
E requested an emotional support something for his birthday so I made him a tape measure. This will be v1 ... or the prototype. I have ideas to make it better. There won't be a pattern. Things like this do not lead to coherent patterns and honestly most want the thing at the end of the day. I wish I'd made the tape snap back in as I wanted to and that's what v2 will improve upon.
But not right now. I have blanket ends to weave in. So many ends.