A Gift for No Reason

I haven't knitted in quite some time.  For some reason, lately I've felt driven to pick up the sticks and some nice yarn and complete something.  (It must have been sparked by my recent work with wool roving for needle felting). 

I found some variegated Kettle-Dyed Malabrigo 100% merino wool in a shade of red and pink that was like butter to handle.  It is my new favorite yarn - not that I've knitted with a wide variety or anything.  Buying yarn without a purpose is my usual M.O. and it often ends up tucked away in a box along with my guilt for not finding a project for it.

This time I found a very do-able pattern in Last Minute Knitted Gifts, a pattern which I will not divulge until the recipient has been gifted.  A hint about my methods:  I used double strands through out with a large diameter needle which made it a quick knit and so, so soft.  This is now my favorite way to knit.

This project was one of the most satisfying to knit as it was not intended as a birthday or Christmas gift - a gift for no other reason but to say I love you.

Nanny #1 - The Original

In an earlier post, I revealed one of many versions of "English Nanny" on which I've been working.  The Nanny in this post is the one that started it all - the original.  

She's constructed of a mustard-colored wool felt overcoat, a cream wool felt for the face, brown wool for the hair, a recycled and felted red sweater for gloves, and recycled and felted random piece of houndstooth wool for the boots.  The Nanny was machine sewn in black thread for accents.  The face was hand-embroidered.

Despite the fact that my 3 year old adopted her before she received her hat and scarf, Nanny 1 turned out just fine in my eyes.  I love her character with the oversized coat, the boots, the bun in the back of her hair.  I think I'd rather have seen her with a rounded butt so that she could sit down and to take away the pucker that happens around the legs.

Overall, with a few changes, I'd happily work on nanny again when I have time.  Until then, I'll just have to live with Nanny 2, the more sophisticated version in needle-felted wool.