Unexpected outcome
I had a lovely treat a few weeks ago. My darling hubby brought me a brand new coat. Aren't husbands just lovely when they do things like that?
I'd been coveting one I saw on the Seasalt website, a pretty patterned mac that caught my eye. But it was a little pricey and I was loathe to commit that much money on something I hadn't even seen in the flesh. So I decided to pop to my local John Lewis and see if they had one in the Seasalt outlet there.
They didn't as it happened, but they did have another very delightful velvet coat there which I loved at once. (Despite completely overlooking it online.) It was gorgeous in colour, a sort of chalky aubergine shade and looked wonderful on. All thoughts of patterned macs flew out of the window as I decided that if Santa was kind and brought me some Christmas pennies this year, I would spend them on this wonderful coat.
It was at this point where Mr P surprised me with his 'we can get it now if you like' comment. Generous, unexpected and wonderful. Not only that, but I ended up with something completely unlike my plan, but still completely wonderful.
Once I was home with my fabulous purchase, I had a sudden inspiration for a pair of mitts. I made these colourful mittens back at the beginning of the year and not only did I have plenty of yarn left over, I also had a vague recollection of picking up some extra colours, just because... well, just because.
I quickly checked through my stash and yes, sure enough a pretty pink and a precious purple were sitting right there, looking just perfect to go with my new coat. I had my idea all ready and so set to work. A little swatching, lots of colouring little squares on a computer screen until things looked right and then the needles were in motion.
I was so, so excited about these little mitts, I thought they were going to be the most perfectly perfect things I had ever created. I was going to wear them every day, get admiring glances everywhere I went, write up the pattern and sell a million copies. Or something like that.
But I have to confess, despite numerous adjustments and re-knits, these darlings are still in the tweaking stage. They are too long and baggy around the fingers and I'm not happy with the thumbs. I love them still but, I sadly admit, they just aren't right yet.
Undaunted, I plan a re-knit. I've made some more adjustments and I think this draft could the one. We'll see how that pans out when I get around to it.
But, newsflash! Just today, I had a major brainwave! Why do these have to be mitts? They could be gorgeous, wonderful, cozy wristies. It's not what I planned, but it could be wonderful.
You see, I do love fingerless mitts these days. I wear them until it gets too cold, like now, and I have to tuck in my thumb and fingers all up inside while I walk along. So, my thinking is, why have a thumb hole? I can wear them further up my arms when it's a bit warmer or when indoors and then pull them down more over my hand and fingers to stay warm outside.
This time it's the idea of the century, I know it!
Goodbye for now Mulberry mitts, we may see you again soon.
What about you? Do you prefer to wear wristies or fingerless mitts?
S x