Tuesday, March 11, 2008

The mittens, they are multiplying!

Note: Mentally insert Jaws music here.

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Doh! Yeah, he bit (and paw thwacked) the mittens (wish I'd gotten a better picture with more teeth showing) : ) I had to retreat for a bit to preserve the puncture free state of my fingers...

He was probably getting me back for this:

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Don't they look like furry feline Marge Simpson impersonators?

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Thrummed Mittens (Interweave Knits, Winter 2006)
Shaefer Yarn Company Lola, 100% Merino Wool Superwash (280 yards / 114 g per skein), what I'm calling "rooster colors," 0.46 skeins
merino wool roving for thrums (~ 1 ounce)
US 3 & 5 dpns

I knit these pretty much as directed except I started the thumb a bit earlier (I didn't figure out I liked this better until the second one, so I did surgery to remove the first thumb and reattach it - fun stuff). I like the wild combination of yarn and thrums. The only thing I wish I'd done differently was to make the thrums more robust. From the written description of thrum making in the pattern, I thought I was making my thrums on the large side... little did I know. Unfortunately, they don't do a great job of blocking the wind as they are, so I may try to use a crochet hook to add more fiber to my thrums at some point.

However, if we have any really cold days in the immediate future, I will be reaching for these gorgeous things in lieu of the ones I made:

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Can you believe my luck! Rosina made me the cushiest, warmest, most all around wonderful thrummed mittens for Pay It Forward. She saw them in my queue and started before she knew I was making some, and I'm so glad she did!

Just take a look at these (Moana helped me unwrap them):

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Now, those are real thrums! (compare to my stringy, anemic ones above) ...and they are so buttery soft (being BFL, and all). The yarn (Berroco Ultra Alpaca) is super soft, too!

But what's this?

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She also made me a bag ! The wool fabric is recycled from a skirt. It is definitely perfect for "toting around a small project" (as she suggested in her note to me). Check it out:

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I love the lining, and it matches the mittens so well:

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I am so impressed with everything! (I hope my downstream PIF folks aren't disappointed with my meager offerings - don't worry guys, I didn't forget - they're in the mail!)

Since I'm already exceeding all rational limits for photos, I'll save my Entrelac Wrap reveal and some other stuff for a future post (hopefully soon).

Now for a few more gratuitous cat/mitten shots courtesy of Bug (cue the Jaws soundtrack again, if you wish - those mittens are sneaky!):

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Yep, Bug thinks they're pretty darn comfy, too : )

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29 comments:

Virtuous said...

There you are!!!!!

LOL @ you choking the cat! No wonder he went after YOUR paws! ;op

LUV the mitts, but especially the R&W ones!! Some PIF gift!! Very nice!!

Have a great weekend!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful mittens! and, I love the Marge Simpson cat photos. Too funny!

Anonymous said...

Very cool mitts, although I think your models stole the show! Loved it!

soknitpicky said...

2 sets of great mitts! Your PIF pal was so thoughtful!

Unknown said...

I just love that shot of Bug with the four mittens all around.

All the mittens look great. I wonder if you could fluff up your thrumbs more to make them poofier?

Anonymous said...

Those mittens are so pretty! I'm going to have to make some now.

Anonymous said...

Love it! The photos are great. Both sets of mittens are gorgeous.

Amy said...

The mittens are just great! And those kitties sure are photo-tolerant. (Or maybe just fond of their napping spot? :)

The A.D.D. Knitter said...

The mittens are amazing...and I believe I warned you about the Revenge of the Felines!;)

The Dollars said...
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The Dollars said...

I love both sets of mittens! They're adorable! And I learned what thrums are. For some reason I thought you were going to have to weave all those bad boys in and I kept wondering why you were doing that to yourself!

That's a really cute bag too! I love the lining.

Leslie said...

Oh you made me laugh with the Marge Simpson reference - thanks!

Those mittens DO look warm, however. Something to consider, I guess.

LizKnits said...

Love those mittens ... both pairs! They do look super soft and warm, not to mention stylish as a cat wig. ;]

Mamaskylark said...

Hiya Nell! I love seeing your work and your ever present love of cats. I know, I know, wayyyyyy back when, I didn't truely appreciate your feline fetish but seeing your blog allows me to see them through your eyes. You crack me up! Then and always. Love you! Oh and by the way, the knitting is great too! Vicci

wildtomato said...

Lovely cat wigs! I fully expect to see these photos on Knitted Furmiliation. :)

Carol said...

Great looking mitties! And your kitties are sooooo much more tolerant than mine....

Meredith said...

I love the mittens as hair/hats--so funny! I am thinking I'll need to make those mittens for a gift next winter.

Knittymuggins said...

Wow, what beautiful PIF gifties! You are one lucky lady ;)

I love those thrummed mittens of yours too! I've looked at that pattern numerous times, but as I've never made anything like that before, I've always been intimidated to try them. Hmmmmm. Maybe I'll have to give them another look after how cute yours turned out!

As always, the kitty photos are fantastic!

knittymuggins

Lara said...

Love the Marge Simpson pic! Very funny.

Those mitts looks so comfortable and warm! It is so cold here right now I am thinking I need a pair!

Ronni said...

Gorgeous mittens, all 4 of them. And I love the cat photos (especially the Marge ones - too too funny). At this rate you'll have me getting a cat. Which would be bad since I'm allergic.

Anonymous said...

OMG, I'm cracking up! i don't even know where to start. The mittens are fabulous- the pics are to die for!

f. pea said...

awesome mittens!!

Oiyi said...

You lucky girl! Two pairs of thrummed mitts!!

Jane said...

Great photos. Love the "marge" photos. The mittens are awesome and so are your kitties!

Beth said...

Today was a day when I really needed to see brilliant and joyful pictures of your little felines. You gave me a few smiles, a few laughs, and lots of inspiration. I've never seen anything like those mittens OR the Marge Simpson cat impersonators. LOL!!

LisaB said...

Hey those are super neat mittens! I'm going to have to go back and pull out my IK for a second look...

Alison said...

Your photos shoots always kill me. I love both pairs of mittens, and I love yours as inside-out Marge wigs on the kitties. Too funny. (And the cats! So patient AND photogenic!)

Anonymous said...

Wow - those ARE some fat thrums! I like yours too, I've always liked red and pink together. And your cats - my goodness - I can't believe they put up with all that!

YarnSnob said...

ive been gone 5 weeks and so much FO!! Your cat pics always brings tears to my eyes thru laughing , so funny. Lovely lovely mitts