What's in a name?

Alex and I were married about 25 years before he decided I ought to take on his last name. There were two reasons for this: first of all, we worked together and he didn't want people to think I got my job because of him. This made sense. Sometimes he'd go to a company and I'd follow him. Sometimes I'd be the first, and he'd follow me. We liked each other and have always enjoyed working together. Well, for the most part. When he phones me and says, "Come here," and hangs up, I'm not all that thrilled. Despite what he thinks, I am not sitting at my desk, staring off into space and contemplating the meaning of life. I'm not eagerly awaiting a call from him to say, "Come here," so I can obediently race right over to his office to find out whatever it is he wants.

More often than not, I'm dealing with some horrific time-sensitive issue -- like Amazon has just de-listed us because they think our photos have watermarks on them. They don't, but Amazon keeps thinking they do and they shut us down. More often than not it takes me three days to convince them that they're wrong. They apologize, of course, and turn us back on.

This has happened four times.

So, when I'm frantically trying to fix the problem with Amazon and Alex calls and says, "Come here," and hangs up, you can imagine what I'd like him to do with his telephone.

The second reason I don't use Alex's name is that no one can pronounce it. They look at it, get a quizzical expression on their face, and then begin to stumble.

"Nik...Niki...Nikif..." Invariably they'll decide the name is too long and that it's actually "Nicky Fortchuk" instead of "Nikifortchuk." I can't tell you how discomforting it is to be wheeled into surgery and the last thing you hear the doctor say as you start to go under is, "We'll take good care of you, Nicky."

I'm not Nicky! What if he has a "Nicky" patient who's going to have her nose bobbed or tummy tucked or boobs implanted? (Hmmm...maybe I shouldn't worry all that much.)

Oh! That reminds me of a third reason I don't use my husband's last name. I was once married to a fellow named "Knight" and if I ever turned out to be an ax murderess I figured it was better to disparage the name "Knight" than "Nikifortchuk." Any old "Knight" could deny being related to me. But a "Nikifortchuk"? Fat chance.

Oh, rats...that makes me think of a fourth reason why I've refused to use my husband's name. His father died while we were in the process of obtaining our US citizenship. When you become a citizen, you get to choose an entirely new name free of charge! Well, who could refuse an offer like that?

Alex's father had just died and we were all very sad about it. Once the old guy was gone, Alex's mother decided to tell us the truth: His father was Russian, not Ukrainian and his name was really "Nikifor." She said that his father had changed his name during the war because he'd gone MIA from the Russian army. Good story, eh?

Good enough that we swore to uphold the principles of the US Constitution with our brand new name, "Nikifor." I was transformed into "Deborah Knight-Nikifor" and I set about the task of changing my identity on credit cards, air miles cards, my driver's license...you name it.

Just as I was finishing this lengthy and cumbersome process, I decided to do a little research. And guess what I found out? "Nikifor" is not a last name. It's a first name. Like "Bob." There was no way his father's name was "Sergei Bob."

When I thought about it, I felt like an idiot. Nobody, but nobody would escape from the Russian Army with the name "Nikifor" and then change it to "Nikifortchuk" and think, "Whew! Now they'll never find me."

So I asked Alex's mother, "What's our real name?"

She wouldn't tell me. I pressed. Surely to heaven she knew what the real name was. To this day, she refuses to tell me.

"I forget," she says. "I'm old. I forget things."

I can remember the name of the dog we had when I was four years old. I can remember the name of the guy who lived across the street when I was three. I really cannot believe that anyone, anywhere can actually forget their name. But she's tight lipped and I'm married to a guy whose name I don't even know. Could be "Stalin." Could be "Kruschev." Could be "Rimsky Korsakov." But seeing as how he shows no sign of musical genius, I figure it's more than likely "Stalin."

I sleep with one eye open...just in case.

Why am I writing this? Because a few weeks ago our niece, Sasha, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. They named her "Tatiana Irenya." "Irenya" is the name that Alex's mother uses, but I haven't a clue if it's real.

Already, this little baby who is only a few weeks old is being referred to as, "Tatiana," "Tatya," "Tasha," and several other variations I cannot remember. Alex's sister, Lucy (Ludmilla) said that she didn't think it was odd because she was called by EIGHT different names as she grew up. EIGHT!!!

I've decided that this is a strange Russian thing where the instant you're born, you start accumulating aliases. Throughout your life you have so many names that nobody really knows who you are. That way they'll never find you.

Who? Who knows?! But they're out there and they're looking to find all these Russian people who have eight or ten different first names and last names they can't remember.

Well, I've tricked those cagey "Stalin-Nikifortchuks" because I got their DNA and I submitted it to National Geographic and FTDNA. There's a big database out there searching to match up my husband and mother-in-law's DNA with some other person on the planet. Someday I know I'll receive notification of a match and I'll finally know what my last name is.

And do you know what? I have more than a hunch my name isn't going to be "Romanov."

Look what I made!

As many of you know, I love Rowan Kidsilk Haze. It's got everything I want in a yarn: softness, color, an ethereal halo. Ahhh...

When we were at VK Live working with Linda Pratt on our online fashion show she showed me how to knit the new Rowan Kidsilk Creation yarn. It took her about twelve seconds, so it's not very complicated.

I grabbed a ball before we left for the airport to come home and I started on my scarf while we waited to board the craft. By the time they announced our group could be seated, it was finished! When I got back to the office I gave it to Stef and Michele so they could take a photograph.

Isn't it beautiful? (Oh, that's not me in the photograph. That's someone who's professionally pretty.)

Imagine making this mohair and silk scarf for only $24.80 in about an hour! If you're starting to think of holiday wear or even holiday gifts, this is something you'll want to consider.

I love my twirly, twisty, pretty scarf. I think you'd love one, too. We've got six beautiful colors for you to choose from.

See the fashions, reviews, and interviews in the FREE Online Knitch Magazine!

The fall edition of Knitch Magazine, the online fashion magazine for knitters has just gone live and you won't want to miss it.

This season's issue features interviews with Benjamin Levisay of XRX and Jay Opperman of Knitting Fever. It also present fantastic articles about the autumn fashions, great reviews of yarns and books, and some of the highlights of the recent VK Live Event in Los Angeles.

Best of all, Knitch has lots of free patterns!

Be sure to read Knitch Magazine and subscribe to the Knitch Alert so you'll know whenever there are new articles and reviews to see.

October newsletter has just been released!

If you want to know the styles and colors that will be big this autumn, be sure to read our new Yarnmarket Newsletter. In this month's issue, Jan presents yarns and patterns from many of our favorite brands: Anny Blatt, Artyarns, Debbie Bliss, Berroco, Rowan, Filatura Di Crosa and more!

If you don't subscribe, you can read it online.

We send out FREE newsletters to our subscribers every month...so be sure to subscribe today so you'll be among the first to receive our informational and inspirational publications. We promise we'll never sell or share your email address.

The Block n Roll from The BagSmith is perfect for my MaggiKnits project!

I was sitting around the office minding my own business when Alex yelled out, "Hey, call Becca!" Being the very obedient wife I am, I did. Well, not really because I'm obedient -- because I only pretend to be obedient while I do exactly what I want to do (just like every other wife I know). But I wanted to call Becca because I really like her a lot...and I sure do wish I had that great pair of eyeglasses she bought for herself in Paris.

Anyway, Becca said she'll be in LA for the VK Live Event which is great because I'll have a chance to stop by her booth to say hi, and then she reminded me about her newest product The Block n Roll.

Now, if you're like me and you've been using your living room floor as a blocking surface, you're in for a big treat. (The answer is yes...I have been known to melt carpet with my iron. If you've done the same you MUST read on.)

The Block n Roll is a terrific new blocking tool that has a huge, soft, Teflon-coated surface that rolls up when you aren't using it. Isn't that great? You can stuff it anywhere out of sight.

But when you are using it, it's got grid lines to help you ensure your project is straight and a terrific surface for steaming or ironing.

Whether you're a knitter or a crocheter or a quilter or scrap-booker, you're going to really love this handy tool. I know that it's going to make a heck of a difference when I block my beautiful new MaggiKnits Trellis Tweed Scarf!

I think you ought to get one of these right away from Yarnmarket. Sure, I could recommend you buy it someplace else, but that's the one thing Alex tells me never to do...and I obey him just because he's the boss.

My MaggiKnits Kit is almost finished!

I've been working away on my very first MaggiKnits Kit and am happy to report that I finished knitting it last night. I've been pretty pleased with how well it's worked out...even if I did make a few mistakes here and there. But in the inimitable words of Maggie Jackson, "The world will not stop if there is an extra stitch OR we are 1/2" over supposed length!!!"

I love that attitude.

Later today I'll be writing an article about Maggie for Knit 'n Style. Do any of you have questions you'd like to pose for her?

Sure...it's easy for Maggie Jackson!

You know, when you ask a designer about any of her patterns, the immediate response is, "Oh! It's simple!"

It doesn't matter who you ask -- Nicky Epstein, Iris Schrier, Maggie Jackson. They all say the same thing. This is because they're the best in the industry and, to them, nothing is difficult.

As you know, I love Maggie Jackson's MaggiKnits kits and patterns. They can transform an extraordinarily dull person (me) into someone who looks like they might have a bit of style (everyone else on the planet).

A couple of weeks ago, when Alex and I were getting ready for our flight to Scotland, I decided the plane trip would be the ideal time to begin my MaggiKnits Trellis Tweed Scarf.

Alex was kind enough to be my yarn swift in the airport, much to the amusement of a little girl who had never seen anyone wind a ball of wool, and by the time we got onto our flight I was casting on.

Now, I'm happy to report that the pattern isn't at all as difficult as anyone would imagine. I'm sure it's relatively straightforward for a normal knitter. But I don't happen to be a normal knitter. I'm left-handed and have a heck of a time sorting out what's supposed to be right side or wrong side to a right-handed knitter. And, worst of all, I've become ambidextrous so if I've got to do a stocking stitch, I knit a row one way, and then knit a row the other way -- switching from left-handed to right-handed. But I'm not sure which one is which. (If I'm moving the stitches to the left needle, am I knitting left-handed or right-handed? I really don't know anymore.)

When you combine my goofy knitting method with my tiredness on the plane...well, so what if I was supposed to change yarns at a particular but forgot to do it? Maggie says anything goes!

Today when I brought my uncompleted project into the office, the ladies agreed that it really didn't matter. The piece looks terrific even if the part that's supposed to be in Linen is in Tweed. I'll make up for it later in the piece, I guess.

Anyway, I'm having a lot of fun with my MaggiKnits kit and I just know that when I complete it and put it on, I'm going to look just like the pretty little blonde who's wearing it in the photo!