Knitting on Impulse

Camera Mittens

I test drove these yesterday, playing with light and shadow while the kids played in the deep snow in the garden.

I chose to work out the design in top down fashion, wanting to ensure that I didn't run out of the two skeins of Noro Kureyon I'd been saving (as it turns out, I needn't have worried.)

I generally need only a free index finger on each hand to manipulate dials and lenses; the gloved thumb is sufficient as a stabilizer.  The problem with other convertible designs I've found is that the various holes and flaps invariably wind up leaving significant gaps for cold and precipitation when used as normal mittens.  I wanted something that would keep me warm and dry on a long hike in cold and snowy conditions, and allow me to rapidly use my camera while exposing a minimum of bare flesh.

The index slit is constructed like a pocket, providing full coverage when not in use.

I'm pleased enough with these to write up the pattern, though I may combine that effort with my New Year's knitting resolution.

ETA: The pattern is now available here: Download Camera Mittens .  The link is also in the right hand sidebar under Free Patterns.

I've had a brainwave to combine three different goals for the coming year:

1. gift knitting throughout the year rather than at the last minute
2. returning to the Patterns in Nature series
3. taking the plunge into pattern writing

Fortuitously (for a year long resolution), there are 12 members of my immediate and extended family who I am inclined to knit for, approximately evenly divided between adults and children, male and female.  Each month, I will select a photo taken that month, analyze the colours and patterns and translate it into a colourwork mitten pattern, to be published (hopefully) by mid month.  Family can choose not to read the mitten posts if they wish, but no one will know until the big day which pair is theirs, so there will be an element of surprise regardless.

I'm thinking of offering the patterns for sale at a smallish fee, but including some sort of interesting "extra" related to the original photo.  Still mulling over the details for that one.  Thoughts?

Wishing you all a safe, happy, and love-filled New Year!

Christmas Recap

Is it Boxing Day already?  I haven't quite recovered from Christmas Eve night, in which we (alright, I) doggedly insisted on perpetuating our cherished tradition of sleeping together as a family under the tree.  More accurately, on the theoretically queen-sized mattress of the fold-out couch in front of the tree.  (We used to snuggle on an ancient lumpy futon on the floor, augmented by every spare duvet and blanket in the linen closet, but those things left us in the great purge of '06).  It turned out that what the children have gained in physical bulk over the last year has not been ameliorated by a tendency to sedate sleep habits.  Rob gave up and fled to the bedroom after 15 minutes, citing crippling back pain, while I remained as a centre-line buffer to keep the flailing knees and elbows from infuriating one another.  (Still, I imagine that years from now, when we arise supple and well-rested on Christmas morn, it will be with an accompanying sense of wistfulness.)

It was a perfect Christmas.  We pulled off the magic of Santa once again (though I fear those days are drawing to a close) and there were gratifying exclamations of wonder over the bulging stockings and the cookie plate, empty save for a scattering of crumbs.

Strong coffee and chocolate kickstarted the morning, followed by buttery delicacies, and a slow but steady infusion of fine wine subdued aching backs in a happy haze.  I didn't take many pictures, prefering to absorb each wide-eyed exclamation of delight with full attention.  We kept things simple - books, craft kits, props for creative play, special PJ's.  Thankfully, our children have not yet absorbed the mainstream cultural expectation of flashy big ticket electronics - I fervently hope they are able to find like-minded peers as they grow up.

Today will be a little busier - we normally leave the Magnificent Meal for Boxing Day, and tomorrow we join Rob's family for "second Christmas", so there is packing and wrapping and preparing to be done.

I am also buzzing with nascent resolutions and Very Good Ideas, several of which involve knitting.... more on that another day!

Christmas Eve

The day dawned with the promise of sun burning away the mists:

In order that presents could be wrapped with the appropriate degree of secrecy, family members took it in turns to enjoy the snow:

DH took DD up the mountain for her first ski day of the year.... and reported back that she has now surpassed me in ability.  Sigh.

There was mulled wine, and much baking.  The Christmas croissants, to be kept fresh in the freezer overnight and gently warmed tomorrow morning:

 

The opening of the Christmas jammies:

Eggnog and gingerbread for Santa:

Peace, blessings and much love to all of you!

Finished

The last of the Christmas shopping was completed today - and really, quite painlessly.  The "commute" to the shops:

Past hordes of happy folk:

So much better than the city mall parking wars!

There has actually been knitting most evenings, though since I already finished the gift knitting for this year, it has been for me and I feel inexplicably sheepish about blogging personal knitting so close to Christmas.  Nevertheless, I needed to unclench my jaw and get the peace and patience thing back, and so I pulled out the simplest languishing WIP, frogged the yoke in leisurely fashion and began again.  I really had no notion of getting very far on it, no deadlines or sense of necessity. Oddly enough, while I was neglecting the fretting and the checking, it snuck into almost-doneness.

 

The Very Snowy Day

Nothing fancy for the first day of the school holidays - just our own backyard:

Life is good.

Tantalizing

Every so often, during the long dim Grey, the morning sun will find its way to a little patch of mountain.  It's a tease, a momentary glimpse of how glorious all this new snow would look if it actually were a sunny day.  Which it isn't, of course, but a little reminder goes a long way. 

I haven't managed much in the way of "just for us" Christmas crafting this year, but I stole an hour from the haste and hustle yesterday to make two of these:

Strata rules don't permit a natural tree in our condo, and while I don't miss cleaning up the mess, I do miss the sweet scent.  This is a rectangle of thrifted, felted sweater, machine sewed to form a little pouch, filled with rice and a few drops of essential oil of pine, and sewn shut.  A little decorative stitching hides the ungainly machine seams (helpful gifting hint: I would not say no to a decent serger.  In addition to the loom and the spinning wheel.  Just sayin'.)  Ten seconds in the microwave helps get the scent circulating.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like....

Christmas.  Today was our last kid-free interval before the big day, so Rob and I seized the opportunity to finish up the shopping.  Enormous fluffy flakes were falling thick and fast, and I thought I'd give you a wee tour of our own Storybook Village.

We start at the north end, at the offices of the Whistler Arts Council:

Nearby stands a wonderfully sculptural play structure where the kids have spent many happy hours (also the site of much pleading, cajoling and threats come time to go home....):

Proceeding south, we walk past the Olympic information centre (on the left - I'll show you better pictures on a sunny day when there is more to see outdoors) towards Millenium Place.

Pausing on the little bridge to gaze east:

And continuing on to the gazebo:

One day soon, I'll do an evening photo tour - the trees in the Village are simply filled with tiny lights, and the effect at night is completely magical.

 

Glancing east again, we see the lower fraction of Blackcomb Mountain.  At that very moment, high above us, a four year old boy was careening down the intermediate runs (my baby!  on the blue runs!  (Cruiser and Grub Stake for Caro)), singing "Deck the Halls" at the top of his lungs for a confidence booster.

The Ted Nebbling bridge:

   

We're not even halfway through the tour at this point, but we were tired, hungry, and heavily laden with shopping bags by now, so I stowed the camera and we made a beeline for some blessed sustenance in the form of fish and chips.

And Guinness.  Of course.

Today's FO

The size and workmanship of this little artifact bely its life-and-death importance. 

Two hours to go before the Big School Concert, and one very sensitive little girl with serious performance anxiety decides she MUST have a red bow to go in her hair.  A red ribbon bow.  There is no ribbon in our house (but every single stash of textile-like substance in my possession has been hastily ransacked and strewn about with frantic abandon.)  Fine silk yarn? No good.  Fat quarters of spectacularly expensive Christmas quilting fabric which I have been hoarding for decades but would gladly sacrifice in an instant to avoid The Meltdown?  No good.  Red pearls?  No good. A different colour of rib... NO NO, a thousand times NO!  (How could I have even mentioned such an abomination?)  At last, she spies a sheet of cheap red felt.  If I cut it into a strip, and hot glue it to a barrette, it might be adequate.

Success.  Hugs and kisses - I am the BEST mother in the world.  (And if any of you tell her that the Not Matching hair elastic underneath is slightly visible, you are not my friend any more, and definitely not invited to my birthday party.)

Would I be a bad mother if I had several stiff drinks before the concert?

Dashing Through the Day

Not quite laughing all the way... but getting it all done, barely, just in the nick of time.

WARNING - FAMILY DO NOT CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK (This includes you, Sheila):

I finished these on the weekend, and they came out so cute, I just had to show the rest of you.

There was also more customizing and packing-up of orders, a modicum of cuddling, a play date, a largish amount of fretting and list making, some making of stuff on the newly annotated lists, and of course, some baking and eating.

And some consoling of the darling husband as regards the insufficiently sufflated souffle:

Which was renamed goat cheese pudding, and was perfectly delicious.

Friday