Second attempts

This was fun (once I got off it about designers with heretic propensities - having remembered that I count myself in their midst)! I changed the colourway a bit and I do like subtle difference between the two greens I used here. 100% seamless and neat. And with the technicalities honed I am more than happy with these cute mitts.

L loves them too!

I used hand-painted wool from Serendipity in South America, an eBay store I discovered eons ago. Highly recommended for a bit of adventure in wool shopping. And they have plenty of wool just perfect for felting projects (how important this distinction is one can fully appreciate only having overheard a conversation between two "felters" at the wool shop recently).

LATER...

I started writing this post earlier this afternoon and the computer crashed on me before I published it. I decided that, my neglect of Stitchville being too great this festive month, I had to make an effort and publish a post today. I started the machine up and... it just restored everything for me! This means I can go off now and make myself a cup of coffee and then check out what's happening in Kendra's world instead of reconstructing what I have written before! Oh, joy! AND I shall have some time to cast on a small project for tonight's New Year's Eve Pyjamas Party we're going to!

Happy New Year.

Unwinding...

Flat mittens? I do not think so!

Yeserday I tested the pattern for "target" mittens, which I found in Fall '06 issue of Interweave Knits, as L needs new mittens. You can imagine my surprise when on first reading of the pattern I realised that I will need to work them flat! I decided to suspend my judgement and put my prejudices aside for a while, and made a start. I followed the instructions to the letter and promptly produced one mitten.

I examined it closely and turned it inside out...

... and, I confess, I cannot bring myself to go through with this. Everything in me goes "Hold on a minute! This is not right. (Let's call the designer, who came up with this lovely idea and horrendous pattern "X", shall we?) What did X think when he/she was designing these mittens? Hasn't he/she heard about the wonder of DPN's? This is nuts! It's like making socks with seams! I do not think so!"

So in this mad world knitwear designers think up mittens with seams, publishers publish their blinking flat patterns and I am supposed to re-work them before I can actually make the mittens! Here goes my idea of low-key holiday knitting - with a BANG!

PS: I have since had another order for a pair of mittens, this time from C. On her return from a trip to the Natural History Museum yesterday she said "Mummy, I forgot to take my mitten out of the bus".

A Husband Who Understands

There are many theories out there about the secret of a happy marriage, some of which are more convincing than others. As far as I can tell from my own experience friendship and sense of humour definitely worked a treat in my relationship with N. We have recently "celebrated" (I use inverted commas here as it was the lowest possible key of celebrating. The fact that we remembered the anniversary was an event in itself! It's not that we don't care, but we have three small children, you see - and that is a serious challenge for one's memory. Where was I?)... our 6th anniversary, and N bought me a present. His choice shows how well he got to know me.

No, it wasn't a ring.

No, it wasn't a necklace.

Yes, it was a piece of knitwear.

Of course, anyone who meets me can figure out pretty much after about 5 minutes of acquaintance that I like knitwear - I am also very picky and extremely rarely see knits in the shops that I would wear (a bow to John Smedley, which is a rare exception, but they make such fine gauge knits that it doesn't really count as competition for a hand-knitter. BTW, did you see their seamless stuff - amazingly fine, and I am not talking "gauge" here). Still, he hit the spot with nano-accuracy. I was presented with the softest drapey wrap around cardi from Humanoid in a very beautiful hue of brown.

I will not let this man go. In fact I should appoint him as my personal style consultant. This is how good he is at spotting clothes AND shoes that I love wearing!

Ladies and gentlemen, let me present a distinctive contemporary garment.

Post-preview

Last time I wrote a post ELDS was looming big, and in just under one week's time it came, went, and left me shattered. It is absolutely unheard of, but - yes - I did have a nap yesterday when Oliver was asleep. The status quo on naps is that I am apparently uncapable of having them. I am too much of a busy body. What with all there is to do? With emotions running high, all apprehension and excitement I came out of it really low key and dazed.

Now, report.

It took me nearly all day on Thursday to put this together. The huge linen gown was the trickiest bit, and - frankly - I only had a very faint idea of where to start with suspending it. I ended up going with the flow, and it worked OK. When I finished, it floted in the air looking ghostly and insubstantial. I thought it might be the attention catcher, but have underestimated the amount of gasps it inspired :)

I think the best move was to take my favourite chair with me - imagine 4 days away from home, thrown amongst the crowds of curious and inquisitive visitors. One needs grounding, and what better grounding than a few moments of knitting here and there whilst perched on one's favourite chair?!

I met some lovely fellow exhibitors: Jelly, who makes beautiful foil pressed cards (look out for her cards in trendy places like Harvey Nics and After Noah). Then there was KJ, the Liquorice lady - who makes gorgeous broches and scarves and pillow cases. You can see their display reflected in the mirror, but I promise pictures soon. Nuria Gambau of Nuria London and here is her genius bag - a true piece of art, in my humble opinion. Michele of Michele Oberdieck. Michele makes amazing silk and wool wrap around coats. One of those is on my "to get" list. Juliette and Tom, who run Milagros, a store in Columbia Road filled with treasures from Mexico. This brings me onto one of my favourite pictures of the weekend...

Esme of Milagros at the preview night.

Nick, Louis, Clara and Oliver (as well as many friends - Lucyann, Elke, Nicky, Miriam, Hilary & Co, Jo, Susie and Eddie - XXX 2 U - it was lovely 2 C U!) visited and I was delighted to see them all. L, C & O had fantastic time in the creche, which was brimming with children having fun with creative activities. Clara had her face painted and was thus transformed into "Princess Number 12" - don't ask me to explain this one!

There was a lot of memorable stuff, amongst the highlights was meeting Kendra of I Dream of the Sea. (Did you see her Gerda Stole yet?) It was great to chat to her and Monkey and be able to put faces to their mysterious incognitos. (Kendra, it was great to meet you. Maybe will see you again at one of those I Knit pub knitting sessions?)

I will be back. Off now to do some work for the pitch for a craft book on gloves for A/W 2007. Make sure the bugs don't bite.

PS: The fingerless cashmere gloves were second most attention-catching piece. See? It was worth it!