Oscook the Gronster*

Many little pods went to market but there was one that had to stay home.

I generally don't spend long thinking out the combinations of wools (colour and texture) for these pods - I like to grab things that appeal in the moment and just see how they turn out. Occasionally they don't, as in the case of this ugly duckling.

I guess it's easy to blame the feathers-esque novelty yarn (that's what the blue protruding stuff is). Always a risky move, but I have liked it in felting before. There were a few others in this batch incorporating other kinds of novelty yarn, and which I thought turned out pretty cool.


But this one. Oy. I was simply grossed out by it at first. Then I realised, in describing it to someone, that it looks like the love child of Oscar the Grouch and the Cookie Monster. Over the last week I have gradually becoming quite attached to it. I don't think I would sell it now if you offered me a thousand dollars. Mind you I'm still pretty sure no one would or should buy it!

The photographer gets desperate: will a pretty ribbon help?

Oscook's base yarns are a variegated Lincraft cosy wool (green, brown, blue and white) held with another strand of green or blue at different points. The blue novelty stuff isn't great, but I think the real problem is the colour combining. It's all very murky with the exception of the bright blue feathers, so that stuff stands out in the wrong way. Even without the feathers, I don't think I would like it much. When I use up the rest of that particular variegated colourway I might try to throw in something more bright, colourwise (not feather-wise).

*Clever name? I can't take credit, it was Jen.