theraineysisters knitting and so much more

I went to the Knitters Guild meeting tonight.  The guest speaker was Inger Fredholm, Swedish knitting designer.  She has an exhibit starting this weekend at the Swedish American Institute in Minneapolis.  I signed up for her European Lace class on Friday afternoon.  She is a lovely woman and appears to be very talented.  I am really looking forward to the class and the reception/exhibit opening that follows.  Her book is called “Knitting with a Smile.”  She had them for sale at the meeting, but I’ll get 20% off on Friday so I decided to wait.  More on her, the book and the class later.

As you may remember, the mitten exchange was also this evening.  MANY of the knitters (most of the knitters) expressed the same level of frustration that I felt in trying to make their mittens.  One woman did not finish her mittens, did not come to the meeting and sent the unfinished mittens with a note saying she would never come back (?).  We figured she became part of the Knitter Protection Program for people too embarrassed by their knitting problems to be seen knitting in public again :(.

I received a gorgeous pair of mittens in the yarn I submitted — Rowan Tapestry.  The knitter (and I am sorry that I do not know her name) also expressed frustration with the yarn I gave her — she said it was thin and rather too soft.  It is DK weight I think and is very soft.  It is a fairly new yarn and I had never knit with it before so I didn’t really know how it would knit up.  She lightly felted them and I LOVE them!  They were my favorite mittens of the night and I am very happy with them.

So, now, as promised, here are pictures of “the infamous mittens.”  I’m sure you will just say to yourself, “Oh.”  There is nothing special or un-special about them.  They are plain old, seen ’em before, whatever !? mittens.

A close up of the “embellishment:”

The mittens aren’t that special but I fell in love with pompoms!  I made these little cuties with the following new tool:

They are beautiful AND easy, just like it says on the package.  I may go crazy for pom poms or pom pons or pompoms (your choice).  My husband could not see the attraction, but I told him they are so out that they’re in.   

So, there you go – I am now off the hook and feelin’ fine, never to do a mitten exchange again.  If you ever hear me say even in jest that I want to participate in a mitten exchange, please call the Knitter Protection Program without delay!! ;) 

 

I finished both mittens last night and did an embellishment that I think took the mitts to the next level (of Dante’s Inferno?!?).  They are done, and now I can move on to other knitting.  I plan on working on Oregon this afternoon, as it has been neglected terribly the last few weeks.  I am so close to the armhole steek that it is a shame not to press onward.  I will post some pics soon.  We have not had any long posts or pictures in a while!

 to Sterling today :).