Showing posts with label Mittens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mittens. Show all posts

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Mitten Knitting Mission



I have had a wonderful weekend, one of the best in a long time. Think it was because someone upset me on Friday with their incompetence and I took the decision to sort out the problem myself and felt satisfied and more relaxed that I did so,  that's the perfectionist in me talking. Ooops!  So to allow me to get over my little upset I watched the Tim Burton Animation called 'Frankenweenie' (I'm a big fan of his animations with 'A Corpse Bride' being one of my favourites) whilst knitting some mittens. Mittens that had been sitting in my queue forever; Suzi's Gloves, and today I decided to put my needles to work and knit them. I think I’m on a mitten knitting mission as I have just finished one mitten pattern Veyla, and now I've jumped straight onto another pattern. I've always liked this pattern but just never got round to making them, so when I came up with the perfect yarn; Rowan 4ply fine I knew it was about time I made them. However, I didn't read the pattern through before starting them and as soon as I cast on amount required I noticed the pattern was knit in the flat. I didn't like this one bit so I didn’t go with it,  I decided to knit them in the round only because I thought it would give a better finish and because I'm lazy, I really didn't fancy seaming them. I did, however, knit the thumb flat and then seamed it. I have found sometimes knitting thumbs in the round causes some gaping, between the thumb and index finger,  but knitting it flat and picking up the stitches at the base to continue in the round has somehow given the area a wonderful finish. I also decided to use pearl beads in the centre as I did not have any flower buttons to hand.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

The Joy of Daydreaming!





"A daydream is a meal at which images are eaten.  Some of us are gourmets, some gourmands, and a good many take their images precooked out of a can and swallow them down whole, absent-mindedly and with little relish."  ~W.H. Auden
 


Apparently in the late 19th-century daydreaming was held in disrepute in society and was associated with laziness.  Some people argued that those who had daydreams were filled with grandiose fantasies and self-gratifying attempts at "wish fulfilment". In the 1950s, some psychologists even warned parents not to let their children daydream, for fear that the children may be sucked into neurosis or psychosis.

                                                               Leopard  dreaming

 Truthfully I can't remember the last time, in a long time, where I have just sat in my chair and suddenly drifted off into my own little world, you see,  the therapy I am undergoing for PTSD is very quite intrusive and hasn't allowed me to find peace inside myself for nearly a whole year now. The therapy makes me feel so spaced out and at times, numb and detached.  I can quite easily just gawp blankly at the wall, no thoughts, no feeling, just zilch.  That was until yesterday. Yesterday was totally different.  A whole half hour just disappeared, I was fully aware of what was happening, and this time I wasn't just staring at the wall - I was daydreaming.  I was daydreaming about putting together a Happy Box, a box that I will fill with objects and treasures that make me joyful when I'm down. A box full of my secrets and wishes.  Well, in reality, I wasn't dreaming about the box itself,  I was dreaming about what makes me happy.  What do I find comfort in?  What sight, sound, smell makes me happy?  And anyone who has suffered from PTSD will know the last sentence is crippling and downright terrifying, to say the least. These three senses can cause nightmares, flashbacks and quite a likely foreboding if the trauma is left untreated.

So where did my daydreaming take me? What makes me happy? Where do I start? My first daydream ( in no particular order) I have a fondness for:

-The feeling of t-shirt material between my hands, although it has to be cold.
-The feeling of velvet, the way the pile moves under my fingers
-Freshly laundered bedsheets, (this peeves my O/H off, as I always manage to jump into bed before him) so I gain all the newness to myself.
-The softness of my dog's ears.
-Frozen soil, crunching under my feet
-Scuffing my feet through fallen leaves.
-Period dramas such as Pride and  Prejudice, Bleak House, Tess of the D'ubervilles and Emma.
-Michael Nyman's soundtrack for The piano
-Gattaca soundtrack
-The innocence and naivety of the character Amelie in the film of the same name
-The Flumps, Bagpuss, Bod, Timmy Time and Button Moon
-The smell of warm bread
-Falafel
-The smell of coconut, chocolate and vanilla
-The sun on my face
-Wading into the sea
-My dog sleeping and snoring at my feet
-Red gerberas

There is additional dreaming, but I won't bore you with a huge list.

While daydreaming, I may have also had a smile on my face, which freaked  Paul out and lead him to ask what I was doing. I couldn't even reply as I was still lost in my own little world- Squirrel world ; D

Anyway, enough daydreaming.  I have been a very busy squirrel, spring is here, and I'm out of hibernation and been squirrelling away (sorry). I've been getting to grips with loads and loads of knitting, I've been very occupied, in truth no housework or spring cleaning has taken place for the past few days, and I was doing so well on the cleaning front too, what a shame..... Not lol!

Little booties-this pattern is so adorable: Ruth's Perfect Baby Booties by Ruth Bennett  knitted in Sirdar Calico- cream







Another adorable baby pattern: Tiramisu Baby Blanket by Alicia Paulson. Crocheted blanket with an easy repeat pattern. Decided to use ricrac to weave around the blanket border. Used ribbon for the bow which was secured in place with a teddy bear button.


Waistcoat from Sirdar Early Knits booklet. Yarn used Regia Extra Twist Merino in Greens, button band and arm edging- yarn is Regia Extra Merino Twist in Chocolate.


 Baby Mittens used Sirdar Calico in Turquoise the booties behind are Chausson's Mignons in Sirdar Calico Turquoise colour wave.


Makes a very beautiful baby set.




The pattern is Dear Wee Baby Singlet by Justine Turner knitted in Regia sock yarn by Design wave by Kaffe Fassett.


Improvised design, faces are from Monkey by Mary Ann Stephens on a basic roll brim baby hat.
Both items knitted in Sirdar Calico Cream and Dark Blue.


Baby Sweater Vest by Bley Hack knit in Sirdar Calico Turquoise and topped with Teddy Bear buttons.


Enchanted Wrist Purse by Michelle Heaney.
I'm loving this, and if Paul ever asked me to marry him (wishful thinking) I would make this to accessorise my outfit for the big day


On the iPod this week


And

Also listening to Cosmic Dancer by Marc Bolan & T-Rex
And


Other activities on my agenda that is other than sitting on my behind knitting. Decorating the living room. Paul would like the main feature wall this colour:

Dulux Red Currant



And my colour choice is this:

Dulux Blue Babe


I do like red- it's my favourite colour. However, I do think it is a touch overbearing, loud and angry for our living room. While the blue is calming, in fashion and will go with the sofa (cream cord) and curtains (rich cream) - think I may need a better argument lol.  I wonder if I will win the war of the living room! I've never seen an angry Squirrel before. Have you? Wonder if they're any good at fighting mmmm! Only one way to find out I suppose. Lol!

Paul  "the blue will look too cold" my reply "well stick a jumper on then"  Squirrel 1, Paul 0. Lol!





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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Ladybug (bird) Picnic Mittens!

Ladybird (bug ) Picnic Mittens by Elinor Brown.
Knitted in Rowan Pure wool 4ply. (Avocado, Red and Black)

 I just love these, I have a real thing for Ladybirds . My mum once caught me in the garden covered in them, they were crawling all over my hands and arms,  loved it, my mum didn't really see the fascination for it .  Even now if I see a Ladybird and I think it's in danger of being squished, I will save it's life . When my mum noticed what I was knitting she nearly fell off the couch laughing, she can't believe at the age of 38 and 3/4 I still have this obsession with ladybirds. I haven't got the heart to tell her if I could find adult wellies in a ladybird design I would wear them Oh! and a mac to match.






I just love the twisty cord around the cuff and the picot edge. These where really fun to make and I would definately make them again. The Ladybird is supposed to have 6 spots but it was too busy for the mits and you lost the effect so I ended up unpicking the sewing of the dots and went for a 2 dot ladybird instead.Think it was just my knitting that made it look too busy.

p.s. please don't look at what I'm wearing in the 2nd photo. It doesn't match purple and white polka dot pyjamas with orange Holland hoodie mmmm! lovely hahaha!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Finished!

I finished these guys ages and ages ago, just didn't have any interesting buttons :( , until now, hehehehehe!  I know they might not go and they might  not be  to everyone's taste but I love them and I think that's all that matters. What do you think??

 Pattern: Snapdragon Mittens by Ysolda
Yarn Used:  James C Brent aran with wool.
Buttons: The Natural Dye Studio


Is one of the kittens drunk? Look it's lopsided, hahaha!


Button close up:


Very preeety! squee!

Sunday, August 02, 2009

Embroidered Fingerless Mittens

I was recently involved in a Flower Swap on Ravelry and I decided to make these as part of the swap. Embroidered Flower Mittens, the pattern is taken from this very talented lady My Name Is Bea.

I love them so much, loved making them, loved sewing the flowers on, that I think I deserve a pair. Enjoy!