Proclaim your love for Tolkien and The Hobbit while staying warm with this beautiful hand-knitted scarf!
See more pictures here!
The pattern, designed by Cathy Francis, is called “There And Back Again Story Scarf,” and tells the story of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit.This particular scarf was hand-knitted by Katy Colby, a member of the Colorado-based Tolkien Smial called The Grey Havens Group. It is knitted from Lion brand Wool-ease yarn and is double knitted with both sides worked at the same time in opposite colors.
Katy has generously donated the scarf for auction to benefit the Grey Havens Young Adult Group. Grey Havens YA is a science fiction/fantasy discussion group for young adults grades 6-12, and it has been growing like a Hobbit who drank Ent-draughts! Your donation will be greatly appreciated and put to good use.
Bidding starts at $75.00 USD and the scarf can be shipped worldwide. The auction ends at 7:30 p.m. MST / 9:30 p.m. EST on Thursday, December 11.
The Grey Havens Group accepts payment via cash, check, Paypal, or credit card with a small fee for Paypal or credit card. Please email your bids to greyhavensgroup@gmail.com. The winning bidder will receive the scarf as a thank you for their generous donation. Regular updates on the bidding will be posted on the Grey Havens Group Facebook page. Don’t miss an opportunity to own this treasure!
When I asked Katy if she chose this project because she likes a challenge, she said, “I am known for jumping in to a project quickly, not considering how difficult it will be and then not being smart enough to back off. When Kelly Cowling [The Grey Havens Group Founder] posted the picture of this scarf just about a year ago now, and asked if any of our artists could make her one I said “Yes” before I looked at the pattern. Thus, the scarf took nearly 6 months from first stitch to blocking. Now, to be clear, the first month was spent learning how to double-knit as I’d never done it before. This was with scrap yarn, so I didn’t worry if things messed up. After that, I ripped out work about 5 times before I finally learned how to manage the pattern and fix mistakes without causing a bigger problem. The second scarf (yes, I made another one) took only about 10 weeks so I’m getting better.”
Learn More
The Grey Havens Group was founded in 2010 in Longmont, Colorado with the intention of bringing Tolkien fans together for discussion and fellowship. Only a handful of people attended the first meeting, but the group quickly grew to include members and partners all over the world. The Grey Havens Group hosts numerous discussion groups, a lecture/discussion series, an annual symposium, and regular activities for families, including Fandoms Unite!, a monthly event for young fans of science fiction and fantasy. In 2013, GHG grew to include Grey Havens YA, a group in which young adults grades 6-12 continue the legacy of celebrating and exploring imaginative literature.
