Sunday, January 12, 2014

Having Fun With Mitts

Hello!  Are you having a good weekend?  First thank you for the well wishes, I am feeling better, not tip top yet but almost there.  I have no idea what was wrong, just an overall feeling of yuck!  So now I only have a slight feeling of yuck, so things are better.

I am being quite stern with myself in this new year.  I made myself finish the last Elise shawl, and now have marked two more projects off my list.  I have two very lovely friends that deserve a bit of a surprise.  Two different people, with different interests, both in different stages of their lives, and both  deserve a treat.

I think fingerless mitts were in order.  They are easy to knit up and fun to embellish. 


Pair number one were created from my Malabrigo stash, they are soft and yummy and lovely to wear.  I tried a bit of needle felting on them and it just did not look right, this yarn needs a more defined embellishment, nothing with rough edges, something simple, pure and pretty.

  
Just a little something to add a bit of pop.  Something to keep wonderful, thoughtful, hands warm on chilly days.


Mitts number two were an experiment in patience for me.  These little flower petals were cut up from my disaster Lucy bag.  I swear I am having such a good time finding ways to use these little bits of stripy felt.  I have never tried to needle felt something that was already felted onto something that was not felted at all.  I know that was one crazy sentence.  It took a LONG time to get these petals to attach to the knitting.  I believe this is Plymouth Encore yarn, maybe the wool content is too low for this process, maybe there is no wool at all?  I of course would have the answers to this if I had kept the ball bands with the yarn content information.

These are not upside down in the photo above, I made them especially this way to add a bit of whimsical interest.   How could you not be happy to put this bit of fun on your wrists to keep them warm?



 Sorry for the fuzzy photo above, but you get the idea.  Just a little bit of fun to say thank you for someone special, for being a lovely friend.


To continue my sternness with myself  I have now made it impossible to work on anything else until the dreaded African Flower Baby Blanket is complete.  I started this way, way back in the Spring and it has been in time out for months and months.  I actually moved it up to the top of my yarn cupboard so it would stop glaring at me.  I kept my head down every time I entered or exited my craft space so I would not have to see the disapproving glances from it that were directed my way.   The great niece this blanket is for was born in November, I think it is high time I got it finished.

So now I am on a mission, nothing else can be worked on until this baby is done.  I am creating 26 more African flowers, doing every single stage at once to get them done.  Yesterday was round one and two.  Today I am hoping for most of three and four.  Round five, the little green one always throws me a bit, I am not sure why but it does.


Last night I had a dream that I was running amuck in a yarn store grabbing yarn and buying a ton of it without thinking about it.  I had the fear in the back of my head that I was going to have to confess it all, to all of you.  Seriously!  I think all this sternness with projects and not buying yarn is starting to get to me.  I have really no desire to buy yarn right now, well consciously that is.  I just don't like anyone telling me what I can and cannot do, and that includes myself!

Maybe my yarn problem is much deeper than I thought?  By the way, I have made it to day 15 with no new yarn, all of the projects above are stash-busters!  Hooray for me!!!!

Are you also being stern with yourself this January?

45 comments:

Lillie and Moss said...

Hey you, so sorry to hear you were feeling a little off lately, we all have our moments don't we. I do hope you are on your way to feeling better. Love all your little projects you have been working on. Really love the gray mittens....that flower is gorgeous and looks like a lot of hard work..great job! Oh and that precious little baby quilt...the colors couldn't be more perfect!
Take care...xx Shari

moonstruckcreations said...

Glad you are on the mend Meredith.

Love those mitts, pretty and practical, the perfect combination!

Thank you for your kind birthday wishes, I am having a lovely day!

Helenxx

Ana BC said...

Glad to hear you are feeling a litlle better. Your mitts look wonderful with the flowers ♥ And the blanket is so pretty--I think I missed why you don´t like it...or maybe it has just become boring (?) But it will be worth the effort, for it is lovely :-)

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear you have been feeling off colour. I love your grey mittens with the flower embellishment. I feel a little shame as I bought some handmade mitts today, with fleece lining and really I should have made some myself! Good luck with the baby blanket, its looking good x

Jennifer Hays said...

Both sets of mitts are really lovely and they look warm and cozy. I love the way you did the gray ones differently, it was a very cute idea. The blanket is gorgeous, I have yet to try that African flower pattern but I really love the way you're doing each part in the same colors, it looks so cohesive and it's very soft and feminine.

Anonymous said...

Swell I love all your stash projects especially the baby blanket.
I have the breaking strain of a Mars Bar and ordered some new yarn from Black Sheep Wools .it was too yummy to ignore.
I am trying to be VERY stern with myself about a break from alcohol though s it was a very celebratory Christmas and New Year.
Love Linda

Stitchy Mc Floss said...

Love the projects you are working on. :)

Hmmm the dream about the yarn shop cracks me up. I think you need to go "visit" the yarn, not buy, just "visit" the yarn. It will make you feel better.

Leave your money at home or in the car and you won't buy anything but you will still get your yarn fix.

Hugs to you sweet friend.

Jo said...

I am shouting for you over here to help you finish the blanket. You will be really pleased if you stay 'stern'!! and then we can all see it. What motivation. Jo x

linda said...

Those mittens are beautiful, you are so kind hearted Meredith your friends are going to be so touched by your gifts. Well done on getting back to the African blanket, I know I should do the same with my poor cast to one side for about the hundredth time blanket and I will...I will, glad you are feeling a bit better. xxx

Andrea Ostapovitch said...

I really love the second, grey pair! I should try making a set, although, more often than not, fingerless mittens will not cut it around here.
Dreams are funny. Who knows what they mean. But one thing is for certain, they can leave residual feelings and leave you wondering what is really going on in your head.
Hope you feel like yourself soon.
Andrea

Teresa Kasner said...

I am very proud of you to finish WIPs like that! I am also determined to finish the boy blanket for Caleb before I get started on anything.. or ever work more on my Japanese flower shawl that is a major guilt-maker. Enjoy your Sunday afternoon! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Anonymous said...

I'm happy to hear you are feeling only a bit yucky now! I love the yarns you used for both pair of mitts, and those little felt flowers on the grey pair are adorable! I also love the colors you chose for that baby blanket. I haven't tried to make the African flower square, or is it octagon? Well, I've not tried it yet... keep hearing how hard it is! If you get a chance pop over to my new blog and read my post for today... quite similar in sentiments... I guess great minds do think alike! :D
Hugs my sweet blogging sister,
I'm off to do some work on my own crocheted blanket!

Anonymous said...

I'm happy to hear you are feeling only a bit yucky now! I love the yarns you used for both pair of mitts, and those little felt flowers on the grey pair are adorable! I also love the colors you chose for that baby blanket. I haven't tried to make the African flower square, or is it octagon? Well, I've not tried it yet... keep hearing how hard it is! If you get a chance pop over to my new blog and read my post for today... quite similar in sentiments... I guess great minds do think alike! :D
Hugs my sweet blogging sister,
I'm off to do some work on my own crocheted blanket!

Clare said...

Glad to hear you are feeling a bit better, wow those mits are gorgeous, i love the grey ones soooooo much. The blanket is really pretty too.
One of my resolution this year is to finish a Springtime throw I started making it several years a go, wishing you a good week.
Clare x

Kris said...

Glad you are feeling better Meredith! Almost tip top!! Love the fingerless gloves. Must make some!! And I love the baby blanket too! I have a couple of things I started a long time ago, and need to finish too. Manana!!
Watching football today, and crocheting. Nice Sunday for sure!!
XO Kris

Anonymous said...

Those mitts are wonderful! They would definitely make me cheery indeed! :) Hoping you feel better quick!

Unknown said...

I am so glad that you are feeling better, at least enough to want to do something. Your friends are going to be so happy with the shawls! The first time you showed the fingerless mitts I thought not for me. How could I wear them here? But now that I see them again I can see the real advantage of them. I was taking pictures outside toda and thought of those mittens. I thought...how nice to be able to ue my fingers and still pull the mitts up over the fingers if I needed to. Of course the thumb might be trapped in the mitts, but the fingers would have a chance to warm up!
I hope you have a great week!

CJ said...

What wonderful mittens, I'd like to try making some of these I think, I always love the way they look. Your dream made me laugh, how lovely to dream about being in a yarn shop! I think I need to visit my favourite yarn shop soon, and invest in a little stash. I love the african baby blanket, it's great. And I'm really admiring your project finishing - it's that fantastic New Year energy I think, I'm feeling it here too. I hope you have a good week and that those little flowers get finished. Also that you're feeling 100% very soon. CJ xx

ColourMeCrochet said...

I'm glad your feeling a bit better Meredith, No fun when your feeling off kilter. Your mittens are lovely, you have made so much stuff for people, they will be so proud to wear them.
Loving your African Flower blanket, the colours are gorgeous. I'm making one as well and have just learnt to Join As You Go so it's making it so much easier. I'm not being stricter this year, but maybe a tad more organised and I really want to,only make stuff that I already have yarn for. I really need to start using it up.
Hugs to you
Xxx

Anonymous said...

I AM being stern with myself starting tomorrow, but it's not about yarn. It's about exercising. I really need to get consistent again.

The mitts are lovely. And the baby blanket --- way adorable!

Mylittlepieceofengland said...

Glad you're feeling bit better. I love the flowers on your mitts, what a lovely friend you are. The blanket is beautiful, looking forward to seeing it finished :) xx

Mrs. C said...

Love the mitts and OOoooohhhh the African Flowers!!! I love African flowers! I actually like crocheting them also! The colors are so pretty! The blanket is going to be stunning! :)

Betsy said...

Meredith your mitts are very lovely and I'm sure the recipients will be so happy to get them. They look so bright and happy.
You're making great progress on your blanket too. I'm trying not to buy any yarn either. I was in both Michael's and JoAnn's last week and almost all of the yarn was on sale. I looked and touched but in the end I walked out without buying anything. Yeah me!
I'm so glad you're feeling a bit better. The Ickes are no fun when there is crafting to do.
Blessings,
Betsy

Gracie Saylor said...

How can you be stern with someone who is so amazingly wonderful, productive, and generous, Meredith? I am cheering you on to be gentle and encouraging to yourself and to feel in tip top shape as well :) Love and xxx

Linda said...

You are being stern with yourself to use up your stash, well done you. Those mitts are lovely and I am sure the recipients will be touched and delighted to receive them. The blanket is looking great so far and good luck with finishing it for your great niece.
Your yarny dream gave me a chuckle x

linda-dawn-designs.blogspot.co.uk

gaia said...

All your projects are lovely! My Little Man requested I knitted him mittens like yours when he saw them :) I have a yarn problem too. Everywhere n my house is full of yarn and works in progress.My husband hates it, I hate myself when ı have so many skiens and am unable to tidy them...I am seriously considering opening a yarn shop in a year or two because I haave more yarn than I can knit or crochet :)Or maybe I will quit yarny business totally. Only person who enjoys yarny business is My Little Man; he is so happy to play with my colourful skiens...Hugs,Gaia.

Hannapat said...

Both these pairs are so pretty and love the detail of the flowers, they make such a difference. I am with you on trying to work on my blanket only where I can as I am dying to start another three projects and the need and urge to buy wool can be so overwhelming even when we know we are not likely to start the project for a while yet if at all. I hope you make some progress with that gorgeous African flower blankets. Enjoy your week lovely Meredith xoxo

mynestofyarnandbuttons said...

Hi Meredith, Congrats on lots of beautiful uses of your stash! Lots of creativity happening in your home. Using up the stash is a really good feeling....I'm trying too. About WIP, I have too many to even discuss!! Happy you are feeling better.....I'm still hanging in there.
Take care my friend, xoRobin

Tanna said...

So glad you are feeling better. I love those mitts, especially the one with the multi-colored flower! Your friends will be most happy!

I still have that little African Flower project I stared months ago... Oh, my.

I'm laughing at your dream... Yes, I think you have a yarn problem... and it's shared by a good number of us. LOL!

Have a great week, Mere! blessings ~ tanna

Elizabeth said...

Hope you are feeling much better this morning! Love the mitts!

Unknown said...

Feeling a bit better is such a good thing! So glad to hear it. Your mitts are so cute! And yes the reason the Plymouth encore didn't felt is that it is only 25% wool. But looks great on your mitts. Take good care of yourself!

Unknown said...

Sorry to hear you have been feeling poorly. I love the mittens you have made both pairs are adorable and so will the baby blanket once you have completed it so cute. Its always tempting to buy new wool i bought 3 the other day but that was to continue with my crochet blanket i am making for my oldest son but that is ok i told myself :-) Happy new year to you and family, and happy crocheting, dee x

Lynne said...

I have a couple of blanket projects that need finishing, but it's hard to get going once it's been sitting for so long. I find that if I stay off the internet, I'm not as tempted to see things I want to make or buy. Then I can concentrate on what's here. But where's the fun in that?
Just crochet, knit, and quilt faster I guess.
Love the mitts!
Have a great week.
Lynne

RURAL said...

Those mitts are so perfect for outdoor camera users...I'm going to have to make a pair, they are too darling. Come to think of it, I could use some inside too....he likes it cooler then I do.

Jen

Unknown said...

Beautiful mittens! Lucky are the friends who will be wearing those! And the flower blanket is going to be such a keepsake, go go go! I pep talk you now because later this week I'm facing the return of my hexie blanket, I must get it done! Chrissie x

Stins said...

What a pretty mitts! I haven't made any yet, it's not cold at all strangely enough.... Good luck with your blanket, think of the end result, that will be beautiful;-)!
Love from Mirjam.

Terriea Kwong said...

Pretty mittens and they do keep hands warm and easy to do with fingers free. You're good at all knitting.

kristieinbc said...

Glad to hear you are feeling better! I love the mitts - I would never have had the patience to do the embellishments. Your blanket that has been in time out reminds me I have a shawl that's been in time out since last February. I have it carefully buried under a pile of yarn and other projects so I can't see it.

kristieinbc said...

Glad to hear you are feeling better! I love the mitts - I would never have had the patience to do the embellishments. Your blanket that has been in time out reminds me I have a shawl that's been in time out since last February. I have it carefully buried under a pile of yarn and other projects so I can't see it.

Astri said...

I always wonder if the yarn is a problem or a blessing. It can be therapeutic and that's good, right? I figure if I weren't buying yarn I would probably be making cupcakes so I think yarn is good. Maybe that's why there are so many making crocheted cupcakes?

The mitts with the felting are so cute, M! And that blanket will feel so good when it is finished. It's lovely!

I hope you continue to feel better. I think it must be the time of year. It's going on here too...but that might be the withdrawal from all the holiday treats. :-) Have a good week now!

Olga Poltava said...

Hi Meredith, the mitts are very lovely. I love the flowers on the second pair.
I have a couple of dreaded projects too, I really need to focus on finishing them.
Have a nice week,
Olga

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Hope that you are feeling much better by now. I love the mitts, especially that second pair. So lovely! And the baby blanket is going to be so gorgeous when you finish it. I made one African flower sometime last year, and tha was the end of that. I was thrown off by more than one row. :) Thanks so much for visiting my guest post on The Moksi Homes. Best wishes, Tammy

Gillian Roe said...

Glad to hear you're feeling better now. The mitts are really lovely. I think you are being very disciplined, organised and thrifty and am very impressed. I started the new year this way then got distracted by new projects... As you do. x

Rose Red said...

I must confess, I have a VERY LARGE stash. And my knitting and crochet time will be even more limited soon, so I am going to try to be good this year and not buy any yarn. So far so good!

Hazels Crochet said...

Your african flowers look beautiful! Your mittens look great and well done for you making it to Day 15 with no new yarn, I can't say the same! I've bought new yarn already!!