The Left Mitt

It seems like there is always a left mitt. 

It gets left because you're busy.  It gets left when you're in a hurry.  It gets left in the wrong place.  It gets left for something newer or "better".

Today I finished my left mitt.  An actual left mitt... the right had been done for nearly two weeks.  I knit a pair of Sherwood Mitts by Ashley Knowlton (along with the Easy Lace Scarf) for Newfangleddad's mom as a Christmas gift.

Each mitt only took a day to knit.  If they were any quicker to work up they would knit themselves.  And yet, that second mitt sat.  And sat.  And sat.  It is easy in knitting (much like life) to set something aside when the shine has worn off, when mistakes have been made or when it isn't as perfect as we might have envisioned in our mind.  I don't like having a mitt left.  Knitting (and life) can be messy, contain imperfections and reflect the sometimes daunting amounts of personal work invested.  It can also be beautiful, intricate and (again) reflect the sometimes danting amounts of personal work invested.

I don't plan to leave any mitts - left or right.

Manic Mommy Moment

Last week we went to see Santa Claus.  Getting two small people ready to brave the cold, ride the "el" and spend a day on-the-go is a big chore.  In the very early stages of this preparation I went insane.  I realized that Jelly Bean is bald.  A bald baby.  A bald baby in a holiday photo.

She needed a hat.

Immediately.

So, much to Newfangleddad's consternation I began to knit.  A hat.  The hat has eyelets and a ribbon.  We didn't have ribbon but that didn't stop me...  I used gift wrap curling ribbon.  I am a terrible mother.

It was too small.

I stretched it.

This was definitely a single use hat.  I squeezed it over her giant 'noggin for the photo.

Here's the deal.  My DLP is the baby whisperer in our house.  He is the king of the kids.  Sure, I contribute.  I go to work every day to pay the mortgage and the car payment and the groceries... but sometimes the need to contribute to the children overwhelms me.  Hence the hat hysteria.

I decided that Jelly Bean deserves a hat.  A real hat.  A hat made for her, not made to soothe a manic mommy moment.

This hat is a real hat.  This hat is a hoot.  Literally.

Materials:
Berrocco Vintage Chunky in Oats and Dried Plum
Size US 10.5 needles
Two buttons
Darning needle

Happy Hands at Homemade for the Holidays

Christmas is coming, had you heard?  I thought you might have failed to notice the holiday WalMart commercials incessantly screaming Jingle Bells.  Let me point out the obvious for you: You're supposed to go out and buy a bunch of shiny, brightly-colored, plastic "Made in China" crap that you can't afford and the recipient doesn't need.

I am not a grinch.

Well I am, but...

We are taking a staunchly non-consumer approach to this holiday.  We will be focused on activities we can do together as a family:

• Visiting Santa at Macy's (bring on the screaming toddler!)
• Christkindlmarket
• Baking cookies (this is all Newfangleddad, I don't bake)
• Community holiday events
• Homemade gifts

Let me clarify the homemade gifts because everyone lives in fear of the "happy hands at home" gift.  You open it.  You see it.  You vomit just a little in your mouth.  You aren't completely sure what it is.  Everyone is looking at you.  You smile uneasily and exclaim appreciation.  Later, you quietly bury it in the backyard... just to be safe.

That is NOT what we are doing.  Our gift recipients will be receiving matted, framed works of art by the Gummy Bear.  They are awesome.  Not to mention, grandparents are contractually obligated to love such gifts.

I am also knitting for Grandma Kathy.  She will be getting the Easy Lace Scarf designed by Marci Blank from the book Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders and a pair of Sherwood Mitts designed by Ashley Knowlton.  Both are knit in Classic Elite Skye Tweed.
She lives in Ohio, so I will never know if they end up buried in the backyard... just to be safe.