Friday 27 January 2017

A Tale of Two Gloves

Are you sitting comfortably? Cast your mind back to the week before Christmas. You know, that week where there are a million and one things to do and not really the time to do them. I wanted to find an extra little present for Ben's girlfriend, Alexandra... beautiful, glamourous and raven haired. She wears mostly black, with chunky jewellery... sort of gothic but not quite, and I suddenly had inspiration that she might like a pair of black mitts with a lace cuff. Just like the ones that I had started weeks, months... ok, possibly years ago but never finished. After rummaging in several drawers and cupboards I eventually found them... one completed mitt and another cuff almost finished... Bingo! I spent a couple of evenings finishing the second mitt, which incuded having to unravel part of it which literally took hours. If you would like some advice... don't try to unpick sections of lace knitting in black yarn in artificial light... ever. Just saying.


Eventually I finished the pair of mitts which I then gave a quick wash. When they were almost dry I left them over the radiator in the hall so they would be dry enough to wrap (this was the day before Christmas eve). I quickly popped upstairs and on my way back down, spied the back end of a black puppy running away at great speed with something black in his mouth. Yes, you've guessed it... Hector had swiped one of the mitts off the radiator! I managed to retrieve it from him before he decided to swallow it (believe me... he would. His brother Herbie, who belongs to my brother ate a whole T shirt, a dish towel, a pair of socks and a metal coil before Christmas that need to be removed surgically. But that's another story). 


Unfortunately the mitt was destroyed beyond repair. To say the air turned blue is a bit of an understatment. I may have shouted just a little bit, possible even said some bad words before I stomped off out. On my return the dog just peered at me tentatively round the kitchen door... he knew he'd done bad! It was too late to start again so I resigned myself to not having an extra present for Alexandra.


Then over the holiday when Ben and Alexandra were staying with us I told her the story of the dog and the mitt and showed her the remaining unscathed mitt. And she loved it! She tried it on and admired her hand and was sad that there was only one. So after making sure she wasn't just being polite and that she really did love it, I offered to make another, which I finished today, just in time for her birthday next week.


And that naughty puppy was watching like a hawk as I sewed the buttons on, waiting for his chance... as if!

Pattern is Veyla by Ysolda

18 comments:

  1. Ooh, the concentration on that face! 'Come to me, come to me, oh, lovely mitt'. Reminds me of the time our Dalmatian sicked up a pair of gloves. And they weren't even ours!

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  2. Oh Dear! Definitely a naughty puppy! My sister's dog ate a lot of clothing as a puppy -- luckily none had to be removed surgically -- your brother's poor puppy! ;-(

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  3. Puppies know exactly which items you would rather not see destroyed :-)

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  4. Oh Gina I can just imagine your feelings as Hector disappeared with that mitten. The completed pair are gorgeous - might I ask what pattern you used? I've been wearing my fingerless mitts all week, all day long!

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  5. Tsk, tsk, tsk, naughty Hector. I guess he thought you'd started a new game with him.

    The mitts are lovely...no wonder Alexandria loves them. Ysolda's designs are great...I once participated in a mystery shawl knit along project that she designed...lots of lacy parts heading off in varying directions, installment by installment. I used a light blue madelinetosh yarn. It would have been impossible in black yarn! xo

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  6. Oh but look at those big brown eyes, surely he wouldn't... The mitts are brilliant, glad there are now two of them! CJ xx

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  7. Oh Hector! How could you? I recall a certain spaniel puppy who ate the back of a very expensive leather brogue shoe - my husband was not amused. I am sure Alexandra will enjoy wearing her very sophisticated mitts - they are gorgeous.

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  8. oh dear poor Hector....and what an appetite Herbie has!!!
    Mitts are wonderful no wonder Alexandra wanted a replacement.

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  9. Lovely mitts and naughty Hector!

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  10. Oh dear, naughty Hector! I'm glad the story had a happy ending. Let's hope he doesn't eat too much more!

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  11. You'd better hide them until next week in case Hector runs off with them again!

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  12. A lovely tale which I read while acting my porridge. I can imagine your anger about the chewed glove. They look very elegant and I'm sure they will be treasured by A.

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  13. That is the problem with puppies!

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  14. I am still laughing - I am so glad the ending was happy.
    When we were first married our beagle pup nicked off with my engagement ring (in its box) just on dusk and just as an important business visitor was arriving!!! There were a few choice words said here also as we searched around the back garden looking for a dark blue box - thank goodness that story had a happy ending also, and the visitor was able to see the funny side later.

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  15. Lovely gloves - I remember you knitting those, I think it was one of our Cinnabar meetings?
    Looking forward to hearing how the job is going xx

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  16. Naughty Hector! Dogs do get up to these things though don't they. The gloves are beautiful and no wonder she wanted a whole pair!

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  17. Now I know why I don't knit... or have a puppy. I want to say...'it could only happen to you'... but say it with affection. x

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  18. Just doing a bit of a catch up and that made my day. From the resurrecting half finished projects to coping with an errant animal. Lol Glad you got it finished in the end

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