Allow me to begin by saying "thanks!" for all the lovely birthday wishes. It's a good feeling to know that there are nice people out there who care enough to write...so, thanks!
Now look at this mitten:
I'm about 2" in to the 3 1/2" inches of ribbing prescribed by the pattern. Somehow, it is going
impossibly slow. I'm almost out of the woods, though, and that's about the only thing that's keeping me from giving up on the whole thing. I have bad news for you, mitten: unless you happen to have the good fortune of being finished within the next little while (which, luckily for you, is a distinct possibility.) Yes, you will be abandoned and the production of your mate might not occur for some time. No, it's not your fault. Things are
happening around here mitten. Big knitterly things.
Wonderfully big and social knitterly things! This is because in the next little while I'll be making the trip north to join
Heather and
Adriana, at which point I will cast on for my first sweater, the ever-popular
Central Park Hoodie.
Now, this is an Event in and of itself -- those of you who know me (or at least know my knitting habits) are probably aware that my introduction to sweater-knitting is long overdue. So overdue, in fact, that last June
Heather actually shoved a bag of wool at me in a valiant attempt to get me going. Strangely enough, it didn't take then, but now...O! now...
Now I'm lining up sweaters that I want to make. I want the
Wanderlust Hoodie (scroll down) sans bobbles and
Hooded Pullover from the Fall 2008 issue of Vogue Knitting. I have even been thinking of finally attempting
Sweet Mary Jane with that laceweight that I bought so long ago (
years ago, now!) for that very purpose.
It's as if a whole new corner of the knitting world has just opened before me (which I suppose it has, really, and it's one of the biggest "corners" out there, too.) I can't wait to dive in.
Anyway, I'd like to try to change that, at least a little. I'd love to see other knitters making and enjoying these quick and easy socks!
Argh, no, I can't, despite the hated(!) circular needles. I actually want to keep going. I can't believe how much I'm enjoying knitting this sweater -- it makes me wonder why I never got around to making one sooner.
and the back:
As for the specifics, it's approximately 8" long, 5" tall and 3.5" deep. It's been hand knit from 100% wool, fulled, pieced, cut, entirely hand sewn, pleated, embroidered and finished off with a large pearly vintage button. Each of the two handles is 15" from end to end. This time, the side panels have been pleated to give the bag more shape. It really is quite a fancy little handbag with plenty of room for all your essentials (and maybe even your essentials and your pocket novel, if you get creative. Being able to carry books along is important to me.)
Bertha Bag 2.0 is progressing nicely! It's been knit, fulled, fulled again, fulled some more, cut, pieced, sewn and now embroidered upon, all by me. If all goes well (and I don't get distracted,) tonight she's getting a button and handles. Then it's off to my Etsy shop with her!
Total serendipity, that. I only had a rough idea of what I was going to end up with when I made that one. Now, I have a little more experience with the making and construction of the bags, but it's still a pretty random process.
I cast on today for my first sweater EVER, the Central Park Hoodie. There's not too much to see just yet, but that's enough evidence for me that I'm actually knitting a sweater. I am in love with this pattern and have been for quite some time. Here's hoping that it goes well!
Yes, the Folky Latvian Mittens are up for sale in my Etsy shop.
Instant Latvian mittens? Always a good thing!
Dear Mitten,
Well, last night I decided that it would be more fun to waste my Dr. Bronner's soap and scald my hands than to knit another row of boring, BORING Swatch. Here he is after his first bath:
He shrunk a bit, which is to be expected in the fulling process. I'm still debating on whether to give him another bath or to start turning him into something else now.
Ohhh, Mitten. You just might not get abandoned after all.
I'm about 2" in to the 3 1/2" inches of ribbing prescribed by the pattern. Somehow, it is going impossibly slow. I'm almost out of the woods, though, and that's about the only thing that's keeping me from giving up on the whole thing. I have bad news for you, mitten: unless you happen to have the good fortune of being finished within the next little while (which, luckily for you, is a distinct possibility.) Yes, you will be abandoned and the production of your mate might not occur for some time. No, it's not your fault. Things are happening around here mitten. Big knitterly things. 
