The Story Behind My Latest Squirrel: Pixie Wine Booties

I should probably confess… For someone who declared “no new starts, works in progress only,” I’ve been thoroughly outwitted by a parade of squirrels. Not one of them was a WIP. They hopped in, whispered sweet nothings, and before I knew it, there were fresh cast-ons and cheeky finishes scattered across the crafting room. I’ve made peace with it. Sometimes creativity doesn’t follow the rules—it follows the squirrels.

 And here is the story of the latest squirrel. It started, as these things often do, with a scroll through Facebook. There they were—the cutest little booties—and something about them whispered fairies and sprites and moonlit mischief. I fell in love instantly. No grandbabies small enough to need booties, and no signs of any arriving soon, but that didn’t matter. I want to make them. Need to, really.

So began the hunt. I scoured the internet and eventually tracked down the pattern on Ravelry. 

Link to Elvish Baby Booties on Ravelry.

They’re made on DPNs—which I haven’t used in a while—but they’re just so cute. I bought the pattern without hesitation.

Then came the yarn quest. The recommended yarn wasn’t available here in New Zealand, though I did find it in England… for an eye-watering price. Add shipping and—EEK! —no thank you. Keep shopping, Loulee.

Next, I stumbled across a yarn called Nighttime Pond. The name conjured dreamy images of moonlight glimmering on still water, soft ripples catching silver light as reeds swayed gently at the edges. Pale lilies floated like lanterns, their petals glowing faintly in the hush of night. Somewhere nearby, frogs sang their quiet evening chorus—low, rhythmic croaks that echoed across the pond like lullabies for wandering sprites. The online photo was tiny but promising, and the name alone was enough to enchant me. I ordered it immediately, already picturing booties stitched with moonlight and pond-side mischief.

When it arrived, I opened the package with hopeful anticipation… and sighed. No moonlit shimmer. No fairy sparkles. I saw dark murky, cold, and stagnant waters. Not at all what I’d imagined. 

So off I went again—browsing, circling, revisiting the same yarns until even the squirrels were dizzy.

I gave it a rest for a day or two.

And then—there it was. The perfect yarn. It leapt off the screen, shouting buy me, buy me! I was fairly certain my local yarn store stocked it, so early this morning I made the pilgrimage. And yes—there it was, looking just as beautiful in real life. I pulled it from the shelf and gave it the smallest of squeezes, and my muse spoke to me.

The yarn’s online description was simple: maroon, pinky, purple. But when I saw it in person, it whispered something far more enticing. This wasn’t just a colour—it was a mood, a story, a sip of something secret. It felt like velvet petals pressed between the pages of long forgotten folk lore. It looked like crushed berries; I could almost taste them. I imagined a sprite’s boots stitched from twilight fruit, or the blush of plum wine poured into thimble-sized goblets at a midsummer gathering. 

There were hints of bramble and blush, of orchard shadows and thistle bloom. It felt warm and mischievous, like laughter shared under a canopy of stars. I gave it another squeeze—soft, squeeshy, and quietly magical. And just like that I named it Pixie Wine.

So once the chores are done, I’ll be settling down with a cup of raspberry tea, rereading the pattern, and having a practice with some yarn scraps before casting on the first of a pair of Pixie Wine booties. 

P.S. 

As for Nighttime Pond—while it didn’t quite live up to its moonlit promise this time, it won’t be cast aside or forgotten. It’s nestled into the stash, where all good yarns wait for their turn to shine. One day, it might become a scarf for a stargazer, or a cosy pair of mittens.  It’s not unloved—it’s simply waiting. And when the right project comes along, I’ll know. The pond will ripple again.

Oh and I decided that I'm going to change WIP from Works in Progress to Wistfully Ignored Projects. Or should that be willfully?  LOL