Colour!

Pattern by Lisa McFetridge can be found here:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/naniboujou-lodge-hat

Fishy Wishies?

Complete nonsense. But fun nonsense, don't you think? :)

Bear-y Mittens

I'm still fascinated by wool embroidery. There's so little info available that I've been blazing my own trail, and that has been frustrating by times. And sometimes, really fun. Here are the newest mittens:

I embroidered the right hand mitten first, and I think it's clear that I learned a lot. The left hand mitten is already much better. Especially the lettering, don't you think?

So, if you're planning on trying this yourself, here's the scoop (according to me)...... Unlike appliqué, start with the foreground first. Start in the middle and work OUT. Don't work in from both sides. The dryer sheet stitching guide is too apt to slip and slide, and you'll find you don't have as much space as you need. I think that's what happened to the 'C' in 'MUCH'.

Oh, and these aren't twined or double knit. They're just regular worsted weight stocking stitch mittens, with a cardboard blocker inserted to keep the embroidery needle from poking in the palm of the mitten, and to give the mitten stability.

Most importantly.....don't take it all too seriously. It's just for fun.....and warmth.

More embroidered mittens

Just realized I'm on a sorta once-a-month schedule with these posts. Not really intentional. I've been working on lots of projects. These embroidered mittens are next up for the blog. I thought I'd try some crewel-type motifs. Not that I even know what I'm doing. Just sorta stumblin' around in the dark.

Blank canvases everywhere

Wool embroidery on wool mittens (twined stitch). I embroidered the one on the right first. The left mitten shows a lot of improvement, I think. These will fit child/teenaged hands. Very, very warm.

Adventures in wool embroidery

The first ones are double knit with worsted weight wool. 

The second pair was knit in twined knitting with worsted weight wool. 

Twined knitting makes a nice, dense surface for embroidery.

Very warm mittens! Just in time for spring!! :)

Chipman's Block Mittens

These will fit a child. I'm sending them off to Afghanistan. 

Afghans for Afghans will see they get delivered to children in need.... 

this time, probably in a displaced person's camp.

I must say, as a Canadian,

it irks me that they insist on branding the group as "American".

I did write to the lady in charge, because there are lots of Canadians taking part, too.

In the end, I decided the important thing was that children who are cold, are getting warm woollies. 

If anyone knows of any other worthy charities, I'd love to hear about them.