A Whirled Yarn

My Favorite Things...

[Prologue: Okay, I know, I've already slightly failed on my Project 365 resolution.  But since this is MY blog, and I make the rules... I am now... MAKING A RULE.  As long as I take a picture everyday, I do not have to post it everyday.  For example, say I and one of my sons spent the whole weekend with the stomach flu, then I can save all those pictures until Monday.  Then on Monday, I can sit,... pale, wan and huddled in an afghan while my preschooler and still sick son fight over sofa space...and post my pictures as pledged.  Just a hypothetical example ...but expressions of sympathy will be accepted.]

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Snowflakes on ponies...

Whiskers on kittens...

Hot, steaming kettles...

And lots and lots of mittens...

My apologies to Julie Andrews.

Good thing Project 365 doesn't refer to knitting..

Look!  I've finally designed a pattern that doesn't suck!  It may actually be good enough to, gasp!, share with others!  (You may be able to glean my astonishment and excitement level by how many freakin' exclamation points I am using!!!)

These are based on the awesome fingerless mitts worn by Cate Blanchett (my favorite) in Notes on a Scandal (my favorite) an incredible movie also starring Judi Dench (my favorite) and the omnipresent Bill Nighy (my...well you get the point).

There are so many awesome handknits in that film I had to buy the DVD in order to copy (excuse me, reinterpret) each and everyone. 

So far... I have made this mitt.

Please note how the palm is smooth so the wearer is not annoyed by the bumpy purled ridges.  Clever, eh?  I stole it right off the movie.

So, soon as I finish the other hand I will post the pattern right here on my blog...so stay tuned.

Don't stay too closely tuned however, as the written pattern needs a little work...

All that glitters...

It is ridiculous, and I'm sure just another of my major character flaws, but I am always sad when something I created goes to a new owner.  I mean this is a major problem for someone who makes an attempt at a pathetic living by selling handspun, knitted garments and mixed media pieces.  Anyway, my new plan (could this count as another resolution, whew 2008 is off to quite an overachieving start!) is to spin close to double the amount of yarn I wish to sell.  That way a little bit of my skein babies can stay with me and clutter my house forever.  And maybe, if they are lucky, someday,... in my free time,... they can become lovely, useful things like this hat ...and clutter my mudroom forever...

This skein was happy, bouncy corriedale wool spun with clumps of stung sequins, gold strung beads and lots of sparkly Angelina.  The yarn in it's natural state...

This is my hat by the way, not hers, which is why it looks rather large. I have a freakishly long and narrow head with enough hair for 6 people.  I would show you...but you might be permanently damaged.  So I must rely on trapping one of the natives into bonded servitude in order to get pictures...

One more picture...please...

Apparently we are done here...