Plugging along
Feb 21st, 2007 by jennie
Thanks for all your hopes of health. I slept a lot last night (I’m almost embarassed to admit how much) and feel much better today. And — wonder of wonders — I went outside to take pictures and found that it is warmer outside than it is in my house. It’s deliciously, don’t-need-a-coat warm here today. Hurrah!
I’ve been plugging along on my mitten, but I’m not sure I like it. The colors are… not my taste. When I started the mitten, a nagging voice in the back of my head told me to trade out the shades of orange for shades of yellow. I thought the whole thing would look better — more delicate. But my winter coat is orange and I was hesitant to stray from the given colors in my first multi-color project (note to self — always trust your instinct). When I first started the patterning, I had my doubts. But I kept saying “well, let’s just see what it looks like with the next color.” This justification has propelled me almost halfway up the mitten. I’m still not sure if I like it. What do you think?:
The problem? The pattern called for a darker shade of blue for the background color. But my Palette sampler came with two skeins of “Pool” and no skein of “Blue”. So I had to use “Pool.” I think the lighter color, in combination with the bright oranges and reds, is what’s getting to me. The colors go together, but the whole thing has taken on a Native American feel. Know what I mean? Should I rip back (shudder) and substitute yellows for the oranges, or should I plough on ahead and finish the mitten, see if I like it, and if worst comes to worst, I can make the second and gift it next Christmas?
On an unrelated note, my part of Virginia has been overwhelmed with an infestation of these small lady-bug-like bugs. They are everywhere and when it got cold out, everywhere started to include in my house. The cats are obsessed with them. This morning, Phoebe was chasing ladybugs on the outside of my window. I’ve mentioned before that she likes to climb, and even posed a picture ages ago of her in her favorite climbing spot — the upper sash of the window. Today, I got pictures of her climbing.
Help!
i think the mitten looks great! it looks a bit more 70s than native american to me, but either way, i love those colors together. i say keep going, and if you don’t love it when you’re done, you have a christmas gift done way early.
and your kitty…that is way too cute.
What fabulous pictures!! I recognize that face all too well - the “damn, that sure didn’t go as I expected…. MOM!!!!!”
I see what you mean about the mitten - it does have sort of a Southwestern flavor to it. If you don’t like it - rip and redo!
Before you said it, I thought it had a bit of a Native American motif feel. I think it looks very nice, but really: if you’re not entirely satisfied now, you’re not going to be more satisfied later. I LOVE the blues and browns, though, and wonder if it would be pretty reworked to use just those three colors?
Ladybug infestations are the WORST. I had them in college, my Ex had them in his first apartment. You learn to hate ladybugs, despite their supposed harmlessness. Your kitty’s face in that last shot is to die for!!
PLEASE submit that last picture to Cute Overload! As for the mittens, you’d probably be happier in the end if you ripped, but if it was me I know I’d just keep going and then give them away because I hate frogging things. They’re gorgeous anyway (but I can see what you mean about the yellow).
I think she’s saying “Ooops, I did it again!” Phoebe is a beautiful cat!
I think you should finish them. And I do mean both of them. I’m not really sure a darker shade of blue would keep it from the current “native american” feel.
And…Phoebe is Badorable.
j
I too think that you should finish the mittens.
The kitty is too cute, she looks just like one of mine. I think they probably have the same kind of personality too lol. Looks exactly like something Mickey would do!
Oh, that made me laugh out loud! What a priceless photo!!
I love the mitten. I mean LOVE! I think the “pool” is fantastic with the other colors.
That last picture of Phoebe…. AWESOME!
Those kitty pictures are priceless! Think of how much fun it would be to be able to climb like that!
I think you should follow your heart with the mittens. Color is such a personal thing, and if you don’t like it, you should change it. That said, I like the way the colors look! If you decide to finish and give them as a gift to someone, I’m sure they would be loved by the recipient.
Color is a very personal thing.
and it is about if YOU like it.
you are making it, and you are wearing it.
so.
if your coat is orange, then keep that , maybe dump the blue altogether and substitute browns for an autumnal tone.
just an idea.
they do look great though!
Personally, I’ve always liked the orange-blue combo of the pattern as written. I’d stick with them. Your second pair would be better anyway if you want to switch, and the yarn is certainly cheap enough!
Oh, these cat photos! I love the climbing sequence, and that last shot is so good. She’s a beauty. (I may be biased toward black cats, though.)