Maritime Mittens

Looks cozy huh? Cozy fire, cozy mittens. 

Well, since my sewing mojo up and decided to take a hike over the Christmas break, I decided that I would ignore its little tantrum and venture into a new and different project. Take that sewing mojo and say hello to my new friend knitting mojo! That being said,  my sewing mojo had better return to it's regular scheduled programming around here as soon as I finish the second pair! 

(Or before... what's another unfinished project added to my knitting basket? They can all just play nice in there. I also vow, here and now, to never say or write the word "mojo" again! ugh.. )

  I have seen these mittens at many gift shops and always wanted a pair due to their obvious coziness. So while on the hunt for a project to get me going again, I found this pattern for thrummed mittens and thought that I would give them a try. I am so glad that I did! They were fairly easy and so warm, perfect for the weather we have been having lately. 

It is my understanding that these mittens have been made in Newfoundland for many, many years and that a thrum is the yarn waste from weaving looms that is knitted into an item to give it extra warmth.

Pattern:  Briggs & Little Family Thrummed Mittens

Fabric used: Briggs & Little Heritage 2-ply wool

                     Briggs & Little Country Roving

Instructions: The pattern was straight forward even for me. While I have made mittens before, I have never made thrummed mittens and looked online for a good tutorial. It was helpful to see it done in action and I would suggest that anyone making these for the first time so the same. 

Changes I made: I didn't make any changes to the pattern per se. Unless you count the possible mistakes I may have made.... But hey... they look and feel like real mittens so I must have done something right. 

Repeat worthy? Most certainly! I'm already  on my second pair.

Mittens: self-made Coat: New York& Company (thrifted) Scarf: Fratelli Talli (thrifted) Hat: Cabela's Cords: Joe Fresh Smile: courtesy of Handsome

So do you want to know the inside scoop on why I smiled so big for this picture and not for the others? Well, I had my hands down by my sides and husband told me to put them up..."just do something else with them because they look like great big oven mitts when they are dangling at your sides!" 

Cue my fit of laughter.

New Year... New Sewing Space!

Happy New Year!!

 I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. 

Things may have been a wee bit quiet here on the blog but not at all in "real " life! Holiday fun with the family has taken priority as well as my Grandpa being in the hospital for a month have made for a busy season.
So,due to this business I haven't been sewing much lately but that isn't the only reason.... I had a sewing flop. You know the kind of project that you have very high hopes for and then realize about a third of the way through that it's just not going to work out the way you want but you trudge along, much like this run-on sentence, hoping that it will by some miracle become the beautiful creation you dreamed of....

Well, it has put me in a sewing funk. Instead of completely giving up, I decided that I needed a new sewing space and set about to make it happen. 

(Here is a sneak peek of the above mentioned "flop"...)

As you can see, I moved to the laundry room. Not the most ideal situation with a family of five to do laundry for but it has motivated me to keep up on the laundry so I don't have to look at it ...or smell it! 

I hung up a very large magnetic dry erase board which I have found to be very useful! I use it to hang display pattern instructions or pattern pieces as I use them and make notes for myself. I always like to have my favorite pocket pattern pieces within reach...you know how I love my pockets!

Although...I must say that the bound button holes turned out lovely. I worked hard on them and learned a great deal in the process. So all is not lost! I may not give up on this coat quite yet.....

I made the cutest little button magnets for the magnetic board by gluing magnets to large odd buttons. In the picture on the right you can see a special gift from my mom. She had saved my first attempts at sewing and just this year framed them for me. I was four years old when I sewed these buttons. This was one of those gifts that made me cry like a child when I opened it...
The laundry room area has a beautiful ocean view and warm morning sunshine. I have some finishing touches to make on it but it is well on it's way to being a great space!