Third, no Fourth Time is the Charm

I'm not at all sure why this was so difficult to start.  First I tried with a size 5 needle and knit from the fingertips to past the increases and it was too small.  Then I tried with a size 7 needle and knit from the same several inches (had the first red section almost done) and it was too big.  You would think that if I did the same again with a size 6 needle it would be "just right" but you would be wrong because it was still too big.  What to do?  I did consider giving up and knitting a different mitten or with different yarn.  It didn't seem like this one could work.  But I persevered.  I knit the increase section (all but the last two or three rows of the blue) using a size 6 needle and then switched to a size 5 for the hand part.  It seems to be working.  I have to say that stranded knitting using worsted weight yarn on a size 5 needle is not the most pleasurable thing I've ever done.  And the gauge is still funky because the yellow stripe for the thumb opening was supposed to be way back near the beginning of the blue section before where it ended up being.  But, in knitting if not in tatting, the pattern is just a suggestion . . . .

Miss M went to a Sweet Sixteen party last night and all the young people carved pumpkins.  Two of them got together and came up with this creepy looking thing.  I like it!

This was Miss M's creation and I like it too.  She got there late and so had less time to put into hers and there were more people there to distract her.  I'm kind of surprised she even finished carving it.

And I still have passiflora blooming in the garden.  The first is p. citrina.  I sent D one of them - did it live?  Did it bloom?  And the lovely pink one is p. Kewensis named after the Kew Gardens in London.  It's one of the first ones I ever had and still one of my favorites.