Mlister Doda's Lantern a tale
Many years ago, I visited the dojo of Mister Yoda. I had traveled many miles to get there, curious as I was since the day I heard that Mister Yoda kept a big secret. I did not go there to take lessons in fighting - he was a Martial Art teacher, but was in search for inspiration. Yoga from Yoda, my friends usually joked. I let them laugh and at the moment I climbed uphill to visit the dojo they knew that it was serious. Yoda stood there in front of the house; a tiny little man. He knew, just by watching me climb that I came for a different purpose. His eyes pinched through me, and he read my mind. "You are here to find out what I have in the golden treasure chest!" I was surprised, but also tired, so my reply was short: "Yes sir, that's correct!" He started to laugh. "Not even my wife knew the secret of the chest. Are you a knitter?" I sat down in front of his feet and opened my bag. Hidden inside were a couple of double pointed needles, with a sock in the works. "Ahhh.... these needles are not Bamboo... "No, these are Birchwood needles, sir", I replied and automatically started to work on my sock. "Put them away... Come!" I did what I was told to do and followed him to a small room in his home. There I saw the golden treasure chest, that was closed with two enormous locks. He opened the chest and took out a pair of needles and some yarn. A few seconds later, he sat down in front of me. "My wife is not a knitter. She does not know why I do it. But I will tell you, as you are a knitter. You will understand." I bowed my head, and kept silent, as there was more to come... "As a child, I was forced to go and live at the Royal Palace, where the Emperor lived. He was a very hard man to all of us. At the moment we entered the palace we were told that there was one way to get out of there. Each of us had to learn one unique thing, and if we could prove to be a master in it, we were free to go. The Emperor came, looked at me and said: A wise man knows the ability to warm his own body, by knitting socks and blankets, sweaters or whatever is needed to keep him warm. I shrunk as I thought the Emperor was a giant and deep inside I wanted to go home. So after long days of work I found myself looking for someone who was able to teach me how to knit. In the townhouse of the palace lived an old lady, later I found out that it was the Emperor's mother. She had taught me the first beginnings of knitting, by creating lantern shaped cloths." He stopped for a moment, reached in the chest and grabbed a small cloth. "I had to make them without errors, before I could go on to knitting other things", he said. He handed it to me, and I looked at it. "The yarn is shiny, I guess there is Bamboo spun into it, and it feels like silk." "Not bad, for a foreigner! What more can you tell me?" I took a look, counted rows and on a piece of paper I wrote down what I saw. He looked over my shoulder and nodded. "Do you teach others the art?" he asked. “Il do. At home I have a class of four at the moment.." I replied. "Go, and teach them how to knit the Lantern. I will put this back into the chest. Only knitters with the true spirit are allowed to see.. Now go!" I bowed and thanked him for his lesson. As I climbed downhill I heard a sigh of relief; and as I looked up once again I saw him standing there...with a smile on his face. He knew that I would pass on the Lantern to my students.. $\circledcirc$ Bianca2008
Doda's Lantern
For this dishcloth you will need: Single pointed needles, 2.5 mm/US 1,5 1 ball of cotton, suitable for the above mentioned needle size. Tapestry needle. Cast on: 20 stitches Knit 10 rows. \*fivetimes: step 1: knit 2, yarn over, knit 1, yarn over, knit to 3 stitches before end of the row, yarn over, knit 1, yarn over, knit 2. (turn) step 2: Purl entire row (turn) \* two times: Row 1 and 2: knit 2, purl 2 (repeat to end, turn) Row 3 and 4: purl 2, knit 2 (repeat to end, turn) \*two times: Row 1 and 2: knit 1, purl 1 (repeat to end, turn) Row 3 and 4: purl 1, knit 1 (repeat to end, turn) \*five times step 1: knit 1, knit two stitches together through the back loops, knit to 3 stitches before end, knit two stitches together, knit 1( turn) step 2: purl entire row (turn) knit 6 rows. Bind off stitches. Weave in ends. $\circledcirc$ LittleBlueClipperDesigns 2008
