Knitting, Christmas, mittens and weddings



Debbie Dean, Festive Wreath (from Pinterest)



A friend is getting married a few weeks after we are and I got the invitation last week.  One of the lovely things about other people’s weddings is seeing all the lovely little details they include to make their day special.  As they are getting married close to Christmas, they’ve asked guests to bring a tree decoration with them for the tree at the venue.  The plan is for the decorations to be keepsakes to remind them of their wedding day each Christmas.  It’s such a wonderful idea; a very touching way of including everyone in the day and their future life together. 

I got this book last Christmas and have been dying to try something from it.  Over the course of the weekend I made three baubles – one got ripped back, the other still looks a bit limp as I’d tried to get too clever with mixing and matching the motifs, then lost interest which got piqued again when I changed needle size (the things that pique one's interest).  This is the one that ended up getting blocked and stuffed.  I plan to have a go at designing my own motif too.  So they’ll be getting a hand knit bauble which may or may not be this one.  Very fun book too ...

Love + Christmas = my favourite time of year

Last night I cast on Kate Davies Peerie Flooers mittens.  I’ve used a crochet provisional cast on before, but this time thought I’d try something new (why not).  It looked a total bobbins for the first couple of rounds but then suddenly came together.  Is that other people’s experience of provisional cast on?  Do you just have to hold your breath and persevere and then suddenly voila, it looks beautiful?  It’s a waste yarn technique from YouTube. 

I had looked in The Principles of Knitting but got myself in a muddle, came over all modern and decided to hop online – very unlike me.  Now I don’t know if it’s possible to have a crush on a book but if it is, then I do.  I’ve had it for a little over a week and have already thumbed my way through several of the techniques.  The writer has a thorough, academic approach to the techniques but a real warmth demonstrating her passion for the subject.  It appeals to my Teutonic knitterly self. 

The only problem I had with my provisional cast on is that one of the stitches... disappeared.  I had 52 stitches on the needles at the end of the casting on, and then I had 51 at the end of the first round and none appeared to have dropped off.  The little rascal.  I did an M1 on the second round which was fine, and will figure it out when I come to pick those stitches up again to fix the lining to the inside of the outside (so to speak) of the cuff of the mitten.  As it will be inside the glove, am less worried.  I’ve got thumb holes and acres of Fair Isle to worry about so it’s down the list really.  Oh yes, and a wedding in tee minus ten days.  Eek.