Police Box Mittens

As was hinted at in my last post the second of my Doctor Who-inspired mitten patterns has just been released.  They do concern that most iconic of blue boxes - the Doctor's indispensable mode of transport (and some might say colleague,) the TARDIS.

I call them the Police Box Mittens so as not to upset any of the Nice People at the BBC (Hi, Nice People at the BBC!) and so far they (the mittens, not the BBC people) have been very well-received.  I, however, believe that they could go so much further - to the heights and depths of Time and Space, perhaps?  We shall have to wait and see.

If you like them you can get your copy of the pattern here on Ravelry or here in my (surprisingly well-maintained and up-to-date) Etsy shop.*

And now, the details: 

Mittens featuring everyone’s favourite travelling blue box with the broken chameleon circuit. I call her “sexy.”

Instructions are included in the pattern to produce both mittens and fingerless mitts.

Never knit colourwork before? Since these mittens only use one contrast colour these ones would be a great place to start!

Know a Time Lord or Companion with larger hands? These mitts are easily sized up by going up in yarn weight and needle size. Please note that in this case additional yardage may be required.

It was during the making of these mittens that I was suddenly reminded of just how much I truly love producing colourwork things - both mittens and socks.  This can only bode well for all of you - there are others on the way.

And that elusive first book of mine too - oh yes.  I haven't forgotten. 

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* Etsy now offers INSTANT DOWNLOADS on .pdf knitting patterns, which just might be the BEST THING EVER.  My three newest patterns (Lobsters, Bow Ties and Police Boxes) are currently available as such and I'm in the process of converting the entire stock of my Etsy shop into instant downloads as well.  Just something to think about.

The Accidental Enthusiast

It's difficult to keep track of time when it's so wibbly wobbly-like, but as such things are conventionally reckoned I am a relative newcomer to the grand British tradition of Doctor Who. That said, though I jumped right in to the middle of Series 6 of the revived version I wasted no time (hah) and am now fully caught up and anxiously awaiting the Series 7 finale this Saturday. So what does this all mean, anyway?

Well, the ENTIRE idea OF Doctor Who has gotten into my head. I also feel that I must impart that my approach to the entire franchise is from a decidedly Anglophilic place rather than one of geekery - whatever that means anymore.  And we all know what happens when things get stuck in my head, don't we?

They say you never forget your first Doctor and they are so, SO, right. Continuing in the Timey-Wimey tradition, the Eleventh Doctor - portrayed by the brilliant Matt Smith - was my first.  He remained strongly so even as I tagged along following the exploits of the Ninth and the Tenth.  The Ninth wasn't around long enough, and the Tenth was a little too lovestruck for me.* Whereas the ELEVENTH, now..!

It seems to me that this "youngest" of Doctors is - by far - the best of the bunch.**  He's very young and very old, very silly and very wise, very familiar and very alien ALL AT THE SAME TIME, and he is absolutely brilliant. When it comes time for the Eleventh Doctor to regenerate, I will be the soppy mess weeping my eyes out over there in the corner.  And those bow ties...

It was really only a matter of time (again, hah,) before Doctor Who mittens*** happened. Here's the first ones.  Oh look, they've got bow ties on - because bow ties are cool.

Allow me to introduce my newest mittens - the first(!) of my Doctor Who themed patterns - called Bow Tie Mittens are Cool.  You can grab your own copy here on Ravelry and  here in my Etsy Shop.  Care for some details?

Everyone's favourite time traveller just wouldn't be the same without his iconic neckwear.  Capture a little of that timey wimey magic with these mitts festooned with bow ties in classic, masculine colours - the same as those worn by the Doctor himself.

Instructions are included in the pattern to produce both mittens and fingerless mitts.

Never knit colourwork before? Since these mittens only use one contrast colour at a time these ones would be a great place to start!

Know a Time Lord or Companion with larger hands? These mitts are easily sized up by going up in yarn weight and needle size. Please note that in this case additional yardage may be required!

I have been dropping hints all this week on my Twitter about the second(!) of my Doctor Who patterns to be released.  They might have something to do with a certain large blue box...

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* I was fully expecting to be swept away by David Tennant's brooding Scottish glare, and while this DID happen, he just never seemed all that Time Lordy to me.  I just kept seeing a pretty Scottish dude with dark, shiny eyes.

** Yes, I know you like David Tennant better. He is very pretty.

*** Socks forthcoming!

Rock Lobster Mittens

Since I've been working on my knitting book-in-progress I've been effectively forced to keep any and all new projects secret. As such, the SJK patterns haven't been flying as fast or as frequently as they used to, but I am hoping to change that - RIGHT NOW - with the help of some of my little crustacean buddies.

I have always, ALWAYS loved lobsters, and I find them impossibly adorable. And while there's something cruel and tragic about keeping them in tanks in grocery stores I always did love visiting them while doing the weekly shopping. I suspect I've annoyed and/or confused more than one seafood counter assistant in my time by talking to them (the lobsters, not the seafood counter assistants) in the middle of the store. Can you see where I'm going with this yet?

And so, Nice People, I give you a new (and salty) pattern - the Rock Lobster Mittens. I do hope you'll like them!


You can catch your own copy of the Rock Lobster Mittens here on Ravelry and here in my Etsy shop.*

You all remember the B-52's song by the same name, yes? I don't know how I ever would've gotten through high school without their debut record. Perhaps a wee refresher is in order? Followed by all the mitteny details that you're dying to know, of course?

Well, here you are:

Somebody went under a dock
and there they saw a rock
it wasn’t A ROCK
it was a ROCK…LOBSTER

-‘Rock Lobster,’ The B-52s


Get out the beach towels and sunscreen, it’s time for the biggest beach-themed mitten this side of Frankie Avalon. Or grab the melted butter and plenty of paper towels, this could get messy…

Whatever your approach to everyone’s favourite crustacean these mittens - or fingerless mitts - are set to cause some motion in the ocean. Adorable lobsters cavort every which way over both the palm and back of hand. The perfect reminder of Summer and beach-ier times when you need it most.

Instructions are included in the pattern to produce both mittens and fingerless mitts.

Never knit colourwork before? Since these mittens only use one constrast colour these ones would be a great place to start!

Know a larger-claw’d lobster lover? These mitts are easily sized up by going up in yarn weight and needle size. Please note that in this case additional yardage may be required!

AND a note on yarn requirements: 2 balls of Knit Picks palette - one Main Colour (and one Contrast Colour - will give you one complete adult-sized pair of mittens (or fingerless mitts.) I used Finnley Heather as my Main Colour and Salsa Heather as my Contrast Colour in the sample mittens shown. As for what's next? Well I've recently watched Series 1-6 of Doctor Who and am currently enjoying Series 7. If you're into time travel and bow ties as I am you might be in for a couple of very pleasant surprises. Stay tuned.

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*A MAJOR re-stock and update of my Etsy shop is currently in progress/on the way.