You’re absolutely right! The post title is a bit deceptive. This is an Outfit of the Day post, but the outfit is not mine. I am with a friend, in the garden, though. Okay, she’s a bit smaller than most of my friends, but you can see we share an interest in gardening (Her interest was, admittedly, more of the “When will these strawberries be ripe enough to nibble?” variety). How did we meet, you ask? Oh, through knitting. . . .We’ve both been in and out of the same yarn shops. . .
I’d introduce you, but while I knew her as Sadie Souris (while I was knitting her, from this pattern by Cinthia), she’s in the process of a name change at the moment, after going home with my eldest granddaughter on the weekend. I named the four bears and the one other mouse I made for my five younger grandchildren (and sent them to their new homes with a little note about their likes and dislikes, favourite books, food, hobbies, etc.). The oldest, however, told me she’d love the opportunity to choose the name herself. Heck, we don’t even know New Mouse’s pronouns yet!
No doubt, though, that this mouse is very cute, right? I’m not sure what it is about her — probably the outfit? — that makes me think Skater Mouse! But I’ll have to wait and see what her Human Companion thinks. (Although That Girl has a few things to learn — she actually thought the tail was just knit onto the overalls! No way — the overalls are knit with a wee buttonhole, just large enough to slip a tail through. As with the holes in the beanie, just the right size to tug a mousey ear to the outside. . .
So there you go, Outfit of the Day as modelled by a new friend, in my garden.
Besides introducing Sadie Souris or Skater Mouse or Whomever They Are, I’m also using this post to test out my new email subscription service. If you’re signed up to receive my latest posts, this one should arrive in your email box within an hour after I post it. I’d love to know if you got it — just the briefest wave in the comments would be great.
I’d also love some feedback about the size of the photos. Depending whether you view on your desktop or your phone, you might prefer larger or smaller. I’ve tended to post a larger size for better visibility, but the options are a bit different in WordPress, and I thought it might be good to check in with you.
One more Message from the Administrator (that’s just me, wearing a different hat;-): because the emails have arrived irregularly up until now, you might have missed Tuesday’s post about my efforts to sketch my bread-making. . . and because posts have recently been transferred here from my (now defunct) reading blog, you might also have missed the post about my April reading.
Now, to close: I do solemnly swear that I will not deceive you again (not soon, anyway) with a Bait-and-Switch post title. I even promise that I will share a few OOTDs with you in the next few days. I doubt you’ll find any of them as cute as a Mouse’s. . .
Frances, your post just arrived at 16.06 (London time)! Didn’t receive the bread-making or reading posts but there’s always teething troubles and will now go and read them. I envy the grandchildren their mice – adorable. Love the new layout, you must be thrilled that all your hard work has paid off.
Author
Thanks for the feedback, Lesley! That bread-making post went out to many readers, and I have no idea why it missed some, but I’ve switched to a different service provider now, and I think it should go smoothly, forward. And yes, I’m really tickled to have this shiny new, better-working blog for us to meet at.
Waving!! Got it (11:o4 am ET). Love the size of the photos…seen on desktop computer, not phone. OOTD is beyond cute.
Author
Smiling and waving back. Thank you!
Adorable, absolutely adorable both the mouse and accompanying story!
No problems with email either. I heard the telltale “ping” a few minutes ago and opened my phone to discover this delightful post. Photos seem just the right size for me.
Author
I like that little ping, and glad to know that yours was chiming for the email that brought you here! And so pleased that you liked the post.
Blog received and very much enjoyed! I also love your knitting. Looking forward to OOTDs.
P.s the photos are just fine
Author
Thanks, Mary! I will make sure to post those OOTDs (always a bit shy, but . . . 😉
Arrived in my email inbox at 11:04 a.m. today…Eastern Standard Time, in the Great State of Maine USA!
A. in London….in Maine for the moment
Author
That’s pretty amazing considering I clicked “Publish” at something like 7:57a.m. over on the West Coast, three time zones away from you!
Hello Frances,
Waving from Calgary. Your post arrived this morning (June 3rd)a at 9:08 my time. I love your new format and pictures are a good size. The previous posts also all arrived with no glitches here.
Thank you for your posts, I quite enjoy them !
Elizabeth
Author
Thanks for the wave and for letting me know about the mail delivery, format, photos, etc. Encouragement is much appreciated!
Another waver checking in. LOVE the mouse! Site looks great. I enjoy your posts very much and thank you.
Author
Thanks for taking the time, Rosalyn, and for the positive words.
Received this at 11:05 ET. The photos look fine to me (reading on iPad). I love the mice!
Author
These mice are popular, aren’t they? 😉
Thanks for the feedback.
The little fellows are so cute. I’m glad that you explained about the notifications. I did not get one for the bread/sketch blog but I received the notification about the OOTD just now. So everything must be working. Fingers crossed.
Author
I’m glad to hear that, Joanne. Fingers crossed indeed. (In Italian, that’s “incrociamo le dita” — what’s the Spanish version, I’m sure you know!)
Dedos crusos.
Dedos cruzados?
Got the email. Wishing I was nine or ten again. I’d be nagging my grandmother to make me a mouse. That tail. That beanie. Precious. Maybe I’ll turn my hand to knitting one of my own. They must be quicker to knit that a sweater? That way I’ll be finished before my seventieth birthday. Ha. xo
Author
I know what you mean — even though I’ve knit six already, I’m thinking I need a mouse and a bear for myself. . . They’re so much quicker than a sweater to knit! And the pattern is so beautifully clear and so well organized. There’s some fiddliness, of course, given that they’re small and, you know, with limbs and ears and tails. . . And knitting in the round on small needles is much easier if you learn the Magic Loop method with a long circular needle (so many good videos to pick this up from). You could easily be cuddling your own little critter before your next birthday, never mind waiting all that time ’til your 70th! 😉
So cute! It was a great idea to knitt all those little friends !
E-mail:
This works!
The last post was not in e-mail
Dottoressa
Author
Dottoressa: Thanks again for more feedback — that last post (Wisdom on the Fly) not being sent out was the last straw for me, and so I’ve changed service providers. Knocking on wood, but I think we’re good now!
👋
Author
👋🏻 🙏🏻 😊
Yes, thanks, reached Wales at 16.04. Lovely knitting as always.
Author
Thanks so much for the feedback, Eleri!
Arrived in Melbourne, Aus at 1.04 am, but just enjoying you now at 9.24 am with my coffee! I have never had the patience to knit toys, but I do admire i topi piccoli that you have created, and the stories that go with them.
The new format works for me on my tablet, thank you.
Ciao bella,
Jules
I must have missed it somehow along the way…..so would you be able to post a link to where I can find the Mouse and Bear patterns?
Many Thanks
Author
Hi Lauren, I’ve posted it two or three times already — and it’s also in this post. in the second paragraph, at the end of the first line. Have fun with it! It’s a great pattern.
Hellooo from the Southern California coast! Yay! Got the email at 8:03am this morning! 👍🏼
Love the clarity and vividness of the photos. Are the colors brighter? More pixels? Anyway, they are clear on my phone.
How I envy your knitting skills and those gifts you are able to share with your grandchildren. Wonderful from grandma to grandchild. ❤️
Did not find other two posts…
Hoping your day is going well…
Author
Hello Charlene!
Thanks for the encouraging feedback. Happy weekend!
Hi, got your lovely blog on the 3rd. Photographs are just right – so easy to see and that tail is delightful.
Christine
Author
Thanks, Christine . . . Isn’t that little tail sweet? 😉
Arrived in South Africa , the others sadly did not arrive.
The changes are great, keep up the good work , keeping us entertained and well
read .
Author
Good to know, Caryn, and thanks for the encouragement. (and Wow, my blogposts travel a long way!)
I think what is so appealing is the nose.
Re the photos – all looks fine to me. But I am troubled with fitting mine when I do posts so perhaps I need to spend some time fiddling.
Author
Such a funny little nose, with just enough attitude, I think. I hope it will invite confidences and that Little Mouse will keep them safe. And console as necessary.
and btw, your photos always look fine to me.
Good on you for fixing the email problem. It didn’t affect me but I’m happy for those that find their way here that way. The mouse is adorable. Such a cute outfit and the attention to detail – gaps for tails and ears – adds to the delight. The mouse looks so happy in your garden. I hope the dear little mouse enjoys No. 1 granddaughter’s garden.
Author
Thanks Maria, I think Mouse will be quite happy in her new home.
As usual I’m a little late reading my email (received yesterday at 10:05 Chicago time), but delighted to see it in my mail! Your well dressed mouse looks adorable and I’m looking forward to reading each post in my mail. Thank you!!
Author
Thanks for letting me know, Diane. I’m often late to posts myself, and it’s interesting to see how and when different readers get here.
So adorable! I love the rainbow sweater:0.
That little mouse is so cute! I could not resist following your example and made my first bear who went to his new home a few days ago. Dressed only in a striped sweater, which is fine for the season. But I should love to make some pants for him to wear in winter. Do you think Sadie Souris’ pants also fit the Tsutsu Bear?
Author
In fact, I tried those pants on Tsutsu while I had a model of both mouse and bear around. They work very well (and, of course, no need to bother working a hole for the tail 😉
I gave a few bears with only a sweater as well, especially once I realized how likely some little people were to remove the hat, which is sure to get lost at some point. . . I think I might have fun knitting a few garments for future Christmas and birthday gifts.
Got it! I did miss Tuesday’s post though, so thanks for linking back to that one.
The photo sizes are good. The last one is too big to see the whole thing at once on my laptop, but perfect for looking at the details in Miss (or Mr) Mousie’s outfit. So adorably cute, by the way!
Author
Thanks for this useful feedback, Elaine! (and I’m glad you liked our Mouse’s outfit — it was fun to make!)