Day Brighteners!

In sunny summer I had a great time at Yarningham and purchased two fabulously colourful skeins of hand dyed wool from Yarn Angels. 

I have been squidging and admiring the two beauties all through autumn and ideas for their use began to blossom!

'Neon That 80s Movie' just had to be hooked into an accessory that many fashion conscious trend setters (in the glorious ever changing 80s) sported - fingerless gloves!

Legwarmers were contemplated....but less.... practical?!

As I recall, some of the fingerless gloves were quite lacy so I consulted my stitch directory and settled on Peephole Chevron.

Just look at those zingy colours!

Can you spot my trusty TARDIS stitch  marker another goody from Yarningham by Owl about Yarn

They hooked up quickly and smoothly and the wool was a delight to work with  - many colour changes every row - when you have wool this exciting  its a pleasure to watch it grow and savour every stitch!

The thumb hole was placed off centre so the gloves can be worn low on the wrist

or high on the fingers

These were designed and made especially for a fabulous friend's 50th and have been well received!

With half a ball left I was keen to keep going....and to make the neon shine even longer!

Another amazing friend, celebrating her birthday is more of a 60s and 70s fan.....

Granny squares  - the perfect choice!

The dimensions needed tweaking a little so each square has an extra granny row down each side to make them wider. Once the first mitt was constructed the second was a breeze!

 Every alternate row is a jazzy neon!

I tried to join as I went, but preferred to stitch the squares together...also trying to reduce the number of ends to sew in I kept the neon in use... with a few extra chains, at the back, it could be incorporated into the next but one row chain space!

 The thumb holes are offset again..

Whilst working, I kept the squares and the cut ends on the arm of the settee...I think it took me longer to make both sets of mitts as they brightened the room so much I wanted to keep them a little longer!

 

Given as gifts, these gave me so much too - the colours and texture lifted my mood, the construction and design kept me thinking and the rhythmical stitching induced calm.

Thank you to Yarn Angels for such delightful yarn, Sarah for your fun stitches, Tracey for your initial mitt pattern that set me off...and to my appreciative friends x

Yarnistry stitch markers....Yarningham bought!

As I was on a roll, the ball of Bird of Paradise was immediately put to use...more rainbows in the next post!