Friday, December 07, 2007

a tale of two mittens

PeeWee has a pair of little white mitts. They're a little thin, a little small, and they don't have thumbs. They're okay in a pinch, but the poor thing has a mother who knits, for crying out loud. (Yes, that's my Cheesehead version of Larissa's infamous and darling Meathead on her noggin. It's her favorite hat because it has a mousie, doncha know. We took her dollies for a walk on Tuesday.)

Yesterday, spurred on by the A.D.D Knitter's words ("...the power of the mitten. It will do you right every time.") I decided to whip out a pair of mittens from a bit of leftover handspun merino from Hello Yarn. Such ickle-bitty things! At 3-1/2 stitches per inch, I knew they would be done before I could say bobshrunkle. The first one was finished before lunch. PeeWee was delighted. She pulled it on and wore it the rest of the day. The thumb was a little wonky, but it looked pretty cute and I was very pleased with myself (handspun! handknit!).

After dinner, I settled in to knit the second mitten. PeeWee wouldn't give up the first one for comparison, but no worries! I had noted the stitch and row counts and I was ready to roll. I was also very excited about the idea of ripping back the ribbing on the matching hat I had knit from this handspun and turning it into a wee tam for my darlin'. I think you can all guess where this is heading. Yes. I'll just show you. Sigh.


I know my tension always tightens when I get comfortable with a pattern. I know it. Why do I blow off gauge like this? (Why do my children blow off their homework until it smacks them in the face? Where do they get that from? It must be their father, because I certainly don't live in a near-constant state of denial...)

I have enough yarn for a third mitten. If I start now, I could possibly get it done by lunch if I ditch the laundry. Hmmm. Yeah, because I might strain my back if I lift those heavy wet clothes out of the washer.

***Later in the day...***

PeeWee doesn't care in the slightest whether the mittens are rather homely rustic and mismatched. I reknit the bottom of the hat, and she danced around the living room with the mittens on, asking periodically, "You netting my hat? You made my mettens?" It's so gratifying. When I got the hat done, she put it on and then had to go out to play in the fizzly rain/snow that's coming down today. I don't think I'll bother with another mitten.

11 comments:

Valerie said...

OMG, how precious!!!! that was an adorable story. LOL Pee Wee's looking good!!! LUcky lil girl!

Jean said...

At their most basic, mittens really only have two requirements: a) go on the hands and b) keep said hands comfortable. You accomplished that PLUS the recipient loves them too much to give either one back. It's a victory! Little Pee Wee is very lucky to have a mom who makes her handspun, handknit mittens. Oh yeah, they're really cute, too.

KnittyLynn said...

Go you!
Handspun handknit goodness put together with love. They are perfect!

You should print out this blog entry and put a copy into her baby book. :) She'll appreciate it.

Anonymous said...

Vally have you been reading the BFG lately with one of your kiddos? Love the mits and hat they are almost as adorable as the owner.

peaknits said...

The mittens and hat(s) are positively darling on that little sprite!

Faith said...

Bobshrunkle? I don't know who's cuter, you or that lil' peanut of yours!

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

I think I have yet to knit a pair of mittens that match perfectly! Glad that the power of the mitten has worked its magic on you!;)

Alison said...

He he, I'm a tight knitter who's tension loosens up as I knit and get comfortable... we have the opposite problem...

And ditto what jean said!

Happy knitting-
ali

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

Hi Shoeless, a special skein of Opal is coming your way! Just email me at hmccoyATgmailDOTcom, congrats!

kacy faulconer said...

Why are you so good an knitting and I am so bad at it?

Valerie said...

Kacy, why do you have a clean computer desk and I don't? Wait, we've been through this already...