Think Pink - A Better Way of Life

Have you heard this saying before? “Think Pink, it’s a better way of life.” Here at our farmhouse, Julia is constantly reminding me of this. She heard it on the Eloise Christmastime Movie many years ago which has been replayed numerous times each Christmas season. It has become Julia’s mantra. I do love a girl with a color opinion, I must say! Diana Vreeland, the fashion icon, made an even more famous statement about pink. She said “Pink is the navy blue of India.” I love that, don’t you?

Color is a big thing here at our house – the walls, the fabrics, the knitwear designs, the paintings…. I like lots of colors, you all know that. For years, I got away with making and buying Julia's clothes in my own color aesthetic. Milk it I did….. I figured it wouldn’t last and I was right. Around about the age of seven, Julia began taking a real interest in the color pink. The interest grew and grew. Back then, if it wasn’t pink, she wouldn’t wear it. I expected pink to morph into a love of purple. Well, I am still waiting…. No purple love in her life yet. Julia will still only wear clothes that are pink – especially sweaters and tops. Pants, I can get away with neutral shades of denim, black, brown and an occasional purple. But “Pink Rules” around our house, as I am constantly reminded.

I’m trying to take the pink thing in stride. I’m not much of a pink girl. I wear lots of dark colors mostly because they don’t show the dirt and I’m a pretty lazy dresser and shopper. I hate to shop. Both The Farmer and I are wearing clothes that we’ve had for probably 15 years. Just the other day, he sadly said, “I guess I’ve got to throw this shirt away.” I looked at it – the collar was frayed, there were rips caused by some kind of farming implement from the shoulder to the chest. I agreed and sadly it hit the trash can, not even good enough to give to the Salvation Army. Julia mentioned that we should save it for next year’s scarecrow. “Yes Honey, what a great idea,” I responded. But then I decided it was best to toss the shirt because by next summer there surely would be another “scarecrow worthy” shirt. Besides, by then, I would never remember where I had put the tattered thing.

Back to the pink thing. I’ve been busy knitting every night in anticipation of the holidays and the incoming cold weather. In my vague memory, I remembered that the mitten situation for Julia wasn’t very good. Last year she wore two different pairs of pinkish handmade mittens and by the end of the year there was only one of each pair left. Better get busy Mom, I said to myself. And besides, the school has sent home warning notes about sending in your child with proper warm hats and mittens.

Here is what I came up with.

I decided to make Julia a new Winter Wonderland Hat and Mitten Set. I couldn’t use the same exact color as last year’s set – that would give me no reason to write about it nor show you all a new color combination possibility. I pulled out a different shade of pinkish yarn from my Julia stash. Actually it isn’t very pink at all but a lovely autumn inspired faded rose called Berry Berry. “What do you think Julia? Will you wear this?” She answered “Yes Mommy, it looks pink to me.” Ah, success.


For the past two nights I have been knitting madly away using 2 skeins of my Julia Yarn in NHJ 0124 Berry Berry and one skein of my Best Foot Forward Sock Yarn in Color NBF 7329 Fruit Salad. I eeked out the mittens with just a few inches left of one skein. There was a bit more leftover from the hat which I could have used if the mitten yarn ran out.


This set is made using 1 strand of a worsted weight yarn and two strands of standard sock yarn. I chose to wind all the yarns into one ball to make it easier to knit from. First I wound the Julia with 1 strand of the sock yarn. Then I wound this new ball into another ball adding a second strand of sock yarn. After winding both balls of Julia with two strands of sock yarn, I still have more sock yarn. Boy, does sock yarn go a long way!

For my crochet flowers, I used an odd ball of Julia Lady’s Mantle NHJ 3961. The French knots are made of Julia Pretty Pink NHJ 8141. This morning it turned cold and the Winter Wonderland Set was put into warming service. I’m hoping they last a few months because I’ve got other projects to knit. If need be though, I know I can make a pair of mittens in a night and a hat the second night. The crocheted and embroidered flower trim took another hour and a half or so. I so love a big gauged project!

If you’re looking for a quick knit for a Christmas gift and you have some worsted weight wool and odds and ends of sock yarn sitting in your stash, hop on over to my Shop Page to purchase and download my Winter Wonderland Pattern.

Has anyone else heard any more fun quotes about pink? Do you have any pink girls living at your house? It seems our cat Mr. Hannah seems to like pink too!