#mouse knitting pattern

[littlealienproducts]

KNITTING PATTERN - White Mouse by DotpebblesKnits

[elephantsofstyle]

Cute little mouse I designed for a friend's new baby.

[harpyart]

The big reveal! This little guy has been a ferret all along!

[willow-dino-doodles]

wait i haven't shown off my knit mouse

i have this book and yall it's so frikin adorable. i'm making a rabbit and jumper rn

the bunny and cardigan are crochet

[explorationsofobsession]

Strawberry Mouse - Free Knitting Pattern

I saw a crocheted strawberry mouse…. and next thing you know, I am working on a strawberry knitted mouse pattern. This pattern can also be found here on Ribblr for a nominal fee if you prefer the interactive PDF format they use. You will need:– 4mm double pointed knitting needles– DK yarn in red, green, yellow (and a scrap of black)– Darning needle and scissors– Eyes (or use black yarn and sew…

[unfinishedsweaters]

sweater neckline is going just great

last few days for March pattern sale (20% off when you buy 4 patterns together with very subtle, hard-to-guess coupon code “MARCH”)

aiming for new designs up every Thursday to see if I can actually manage this (in theory, a better schedule might mean better results, which might mean I could make time for more complex design ideas, and could finally finish more sweaters and other garments)

[poetnamedesha]

Scarf

Photo by Sebastian Arie Voortman on Pexels.com He wore a scarf Wrapped around his neck that nestled into his chest One end rests on his back Black, silver and grey Like a fox that’s seen many winter’s Knitted, fashioned and made with organic cotton It was thick yet airy The pattern spoke to a life full of beauty and yarn There were rectangles that skipped through the connected…

[gremlin-girly]

Double Crochet

Bob Reynolds x gn!reader

Not beta'd and I don't give permission for my work to be reposted, copied, translated or put through an AI machine.

Tags/warnings: just fluff, cuddling, mentions of a first kiss

Summary: After bumping into you at the store, you teach Bob how to crochet.

word count: 1.3k

Dividers by @/cafekitsune

Bob Reynolds Masterlist | Main Masterlist | Pick Your Fic

Double knit. Chenille. Alpine.

Wool. Wool. Wool.

Too many choices, too many projects, too little time. You're stood staring at the wall of Wool trying to remember what you actually went to the store for. Was it wool? Probably not. You already had too much in your room at the tower that you were surprised you didn't have wool coming out of your ears. What started as an innocent hobby had become your hoard - a dragon's next of fluffy comfort you had yet to spin into something worthwhile.

How many granny squares did you need for a jumper? What about that pattern you started two months ago?

You grimace to yourself. No. You didn't need more.

...but then again.

Your fingers brush the baby-soft chenille thoughtfully. Something could be made from this. Easily. It's a beige - easily manipulated into an animal of some kind. Probably. Or there's an electric blue that could be a potential... thing.

"Hey, Y/N."

You almost launch the ball of wool you're holding at Bob out of fright. He had a nasty habit of appearing out of thin air, and you weren't sure if it was a by-product of the shadowy Void or his quiet mouse-like nature.

Mouse.

"Hey, Bob." You try to sound cheery but your brain is busy trying to remember if you have any patterns for mice plushies. "Wasn't expecting to bump into you here."

"I just wanted some snacks." He jingles his crisps in his hands and eyes the wool your cradling curiously. "You knit?"

"Oh, uh, no I crochet." You wiggle the wool between your hands. "I was meant to come in here for something else and got distracted."

"You crochet? That's so cool!" Bob's face lights up with the sweetest, infectious smile that has you melting to the floor like ice cream on a hot day. "What do you make? Could... Could you... show... me?"

His voice tapers with his usual shy, self-consciousness and you can't find it in your heart to tell him no.

"I don't have any pictures of my recent stuff." You half admit, not wanting to give away the fact you haven't picked up a hook in months. "But when we get back to the tower I can show you?"

"Sure!"

Having Bob look upon your creations felt strangely intimate. He handled each one like it was made of glass, cooing and gushing over your plushies and patterns on granny squares.

"They're so cute. How do you do it?" He looks impressed and intrigued behind his smile; it's genuine interest in your hobby and it makes you giddy.

"Um, well you can find patterns and tutorials online." You say, digging your toes into your rug and twisting your ankle shyly. You were a hair's breadth away from blushing and twirling your hair like a cartoon bunny.

"Could you teach me?" His blue eyes are irritatingly round sweet and you find yourself struggling to say no. You don't even want to think about the kicked-puppy look he would shoot you with if you turned him down.

Thus, you were resigned to nod your head and gulp out a: "Sure."

Bob is surprisingly quick to learn the basics. You sit close to him and run through basic stitches, demonstrating them and praising him when it finally clicks for him. It was worth every moment spent to see his tongue poke out in concentration when he follows your instructions and his face light up with joy when he successfully completed a stitch. Over the course of two days, you're practically joined at the hip, chatting and crocheting side by side but when a new mission demands a few days of your time you offer Bob free reign of your wool stash.

You help him pick out some patterns from your archive to help him practice and keep him busy while you're away and urge him to keep you updated on his progress and to ask any questions he might have. Not that any come - Bob almost ignores all of your texts and you can't help but feel a little affronted; like you'd done something wrong somehow.

Downtime during your mission is spent crocheting your plushie mouse. You'd decided when you started teaching Bob to crochet you would make it for him as a gift, doubly so now that you thought you'd upset him somehow.

The final touches were done minutes before the quinjet touched down on the roof and you were already speeding off and ignoring Bucky's summons for a debrief so you could find Bob, give him your gift and apologise for upsetting him somehow.

Entering through the doors and turning your first corner, you slam right into Bob, making your search rather short.

"Bob!"

"Y/N!"

You both go quiet, smiling sheepishly, and you see he's got his arms behind his back. You hold up your mouse plushie, feeling your cheeks grow warm and you can't quite meet his eyes.

"I made this for you. I'm sorry if I upset you recently, what ever I did I-"

"You didn't upset me!" He cuts you off, pulling a plushie of his own from behind his back. It's a little wonky, the eyes don't match up and there's a few holes from missed stitches but...

It's the cutest damn bunny you've ever seen.

"I was just focused on making you this... abomination." He chuckles slightly, holding the bunny in his hands like it's a cursed object and your heart has a pitter patter to rival an excited heavy metal drummer.

"I love him!" You squeal, making Bob look up.

"Really?"

"Yes!" You hold out your mouse to swap him for the bunny and Bob takes it with a grin, running his fingers over the soft wool.

"I'm going to call him Fred." You announce, holding the bunny comically high over your head like he was Simba.

"Fred?" Bob's nose scrunches in disbelief despite his smiling. "What should I call mine?"

"You can rename yours, if you want... I've been calling him Bob Junior for a while." You smile sheepishly as Bob blinks at you.

"Junior? After me?"

"Duh after you." You roll your eyes playfully but you chest feels tighter than before. "I was making him for you and it just kinda stuck."

Bob's cheeks are bright red now, and he brings the gift you made closer to his chest. "No that's... No, I like it too."

Later that night (after Bucky finally caught you and dragged you back for a debrief) whilst watching a movie in your room, you and Bob placed your double-crochet creations next to eachother on the bedside table.

"They look perfect together." You say cosying up under your comforter. Bob nods but says nothing so you continue unperturbed. "They look like they're holding hands too!"

You're pulled back suddenly into a firm chest and let out a small squeak. Bob immediately apologises when you look up and looks like he's about to combust on the spot.

"Sorry! I - erm..." He gives you a sheepish look. "They look like they're cuddling and I thought that we..."

He swallows thickly and his eyes flit around your room nervously. That pitter patter in your heart returns and you smile, sidling up closer to him instead. Bob stiffens then relaxes, letting his arm drape around you - even if he is still shaking like a chihuahua.

"If you wanted life to imitate art, you should have just said so." You tease softly, laying your head on the space inbetween his neck and shoulder.

That night marks the beginning of many more in his arms, sometimes crocheting, sometimes watching a movie, always chatting. What you and Bob have builds slowly, and whilst you ruin your first kiss by covering the eyes of your plushies, he doesn't seem to care. Your love took practice and even though it may be a little misshapen like Fred, it was still beautiful.

End

A/N: if you haven't seen this post, @buckyys-babydoll and I are trying to boost engagement across fics in the writing community. If you liked this fic, please reblog - you dont have to leave a comment. You can leave a reaction image, gif or emoji(s)!

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Taglist - add yourself here

@looking1016 @jeremyrennermakesmesmile @almostglitterybear @blackhawkfanatic @peaches1958 @purplefluffycows @ryubyy @steviebbboi @leeemabean @brianochka

[mrs-johnson]

“The Sound of Your Voice”

Count Alexei Vronsky x Female Reader

Warnings: nothing but fluff

Summary: Where you are reading to your son in a quiet moment, and Vronsky finds himself absolutely enchanted by both of you.

The nursery was quiet, save for the gentle rustling of pages and the soft murmur of your voice. You sat in the rocking chair by the window, the glow of the late afternoon sun spilling across your lap. Your little boy lay nestled against your chest, wrapped snugly in a knitted blanket, one hand fisted in the fabric of your gown.

You read slowly, the words flowing like a lullaby.

“—and the little mouse said, ‘But I have no tail!’ And the lion, mighty and proud, looked down and said, ‘Then take mine, and wear it with courage.’”

You paused to turn the page, brushing a lock of hair from your son’s forehead. He blinked up at you, eyes drooping with sleep, his lips working slowly as if trying to echo the rhythm of your voice.

Vronsky stood just outside the door, one hand on the frame, watching silently.

He hadn’t meant to interrupt—he’d only come upstairs to check on you both, expecting the usual quiet of nap time. But the moment he’d heard your voice—soft, low, gentle—he stopped. And now he watched, transfixed.

There was something about you in that moment that stole the air from his lungs. The way your lips curved around each word, the way you rocked ever so slightly, your hand stroking your son’s back. You were his heart in motion.

He stepped inside at last, boots soft against the polished floor.

You looked up and smiled, a welcome that always made him feel like the most important man in the world.

“He’s almost asleep,” you whispered, shifting slightly to make room.

Vronsky lowered himself to the arm of the rocking chair, one hand finding yours, the other brushing your son’s downy hair. “Do you want me to take him?” he asked softly.

You shook your head, smiling. “Just let me finish the story.”

So he stayed.

You kept reading, your voice a warm breeze in the golden room. Vronsky listened to every word, but it wasn’t the story that moved him—it was the way your voice changed for each character, the way your fingers traced invisible patterns on the baby’s back, the way his son relaxed completely in your arms.

“—and they lived, the lion and the mouse, not in fear or hunger, but in kindness, for the smallest love can tame the mightiest heart.”

The final words floated into the hush.

The baby was asleep now, his chest rising and falling against yours.

Vronsky leaned down and pressed a kiss to your temple, his voice rough with emotion. “You’re everything, you know that?”

You looked up at him, slightly surprised. “What do you mean?”

He just smiled and touched his forehead to yours.

“This… you, our son… it’s more than I ever thought I’d have. And I never knew I wanted it until I saw you reading to him.”

Your throat tightened as you looked at him. “We’re your story now, Alexei.”

He nodded, his hand resting gently over yours, as the last light of day faded into the soft peace of evening.

[littlealienproducts]

knitting pattern white mouse by DotpebblesKnits

[figdays]

Squeaky Mouse in a Basket toy knitting patterns // fluffandfuzz

[rannadylin]

Time for another summer knitting update, I think!

I finished the Froth Fingerless Mitts! These are now my go-to desk mitts (I like a fiber layer between my wrists and the edge of the desk, and to keep my hand on the mouse from getting sweaty in the summer, so there are always desk mitts). I learned the Tubular Bind-off for these and it came out nice and stable at the top, so that edge stays in place over my fingers really well (I hate fingerless mitts that are too short or roll back at the cast-off up there, leaving my poor knuckles undefended XD). It's also used at the bottom/dark purple edge - you start with a provisional cast-on for the brioche then knit the purple ribbing downward from there, I suppose to give a stretchier edge. I did that bind-off a little too tight on the right mitt though - fits fine once on but it's a little under-stretchy when putting it on. Still, I'm really happy with how these turned out.

Got some better pictures (thanks Mom!) of my Seashells Legwarmers, test-knitted for @yllene! Felt odd modeling them with a summer dress, but they will be very cute and comfy in the winter. :-D And then I played around with the pattern a little and made a matching hat!

I love how the crown turned out. :-D The hat came out a little slouchier than I wanted (I mean, I wanted a slouchy hat, but I think I could've done half a repeat less of the chart - and I almost did start the crown at that point, but thought it might end up too short and went on with half a repeat more just in case) so I attempted to block it in beret shape, with questionable success. XD Still pretty happy with it! It will make a nice set with the legwarmers.

I also finished test knitting @yllene's lovely Kerstin Socks!

The indoor picture is better at capturing the actual yarn colors but they sure look pretty in the sun, too. This was such a fun project to use up some of my (abundant) sock yarn scraps! The colors I picked worked out better together than I expected so I'm going to attribute that to the pattern's very helpful and detailed instructions for choosing colors that would work. I need to do some more stash diving and pick out another set of leftovers to make these again!

In further brioche knitting news, I made another Liguria:

I then discovered that the designer has published a PLETHORA of brioche hat patterns so that's a rabbit hole I will be diving deep into for a while to come... :-D Currently working on a Briochen!

And in "why do I even start a pattern that ends with seaming?" news, I finally finished [seaming] the Chorus of Cats hat (which I started in September and finished knitting back in the fall sometime; it's been sitting in my workbasket with just the first few rows seamed up ever since then because, unfortunately, I hate seaming XD)

Bonus picture of the seam that took me months to finish! And of the lovely concentric circles in the crown (at least I did manage to seam it to match up the lines :-D).

This was my first attempt at mosaic knitting, which I'd now rank a little above intarsia in my hierarchy of colorwork techniques. That hierarchy, in terms of "how much does it make me want to do JUST ONE MORE ROW i.e. how much knitting candy is this technique" down to "how much does seeing this technique in a pattern make me hesitate to try it" goes as follows:

Double knitting (my go-to when I need to design something in two colors! It's fun, it's stretchy, it's warm/durable, it's easy to chart, etc...)

Brioche (yep, still obsessed! but double knitting remains my fiber BFF)

Stranded/Fair Isle (don't take it's ranking in the middle to mean I'm indifferent to stranded knitting. I adore it and simply adore the previous two even more! I will race to knit anything in these categories. Even a three-colors-in-one-row design, I've done that a time or two!)

Mosaic (I'd do it again, but no racing here)

Duplicate Stitch (so tedious, and its effectiveness varies, but sometimes it's just the most efficient way to get a small section of color onto a single color background, or to add a third color to something like stranded knitting...)

Intarsia (Did it once or twice and now it's the one colorwork technique I do kind of avoid. I could knit intarsia if I had to, but I'd grumble.)

Hm, I guess I need to also rank the slip stitch technique from the Kerstin Socks colorwork...that's similar to mosaic knitting, maybe it actually counts as mosaic, but I liked the stitch pattern in the socks better than the mosaic knitting in the cats hat so we can add it between stranded and mosaic if it merits its own entry. Am I forgetting other colorwork techniques? ARE there knitting colorwork techniques out there I haven't learned yet? If so, please do tell, I love colorwork!

[girlfriendsofthegalaxy]

tuesday again 3/25/2025

~*migraine*~ so this is effectively half a tuesdaypost

listening

getting to a point at work where i can enter paperwork with mild distractions (listening to my own fucking music) and letting spotify feed me whatever video game adjacent it wants. this one does exactly what it says on the tin.

-

reading

could not finish this week’s frankly bonkers immediately post 9/11 lesbian thriller in time for this write up and do not want to worsen my migraine. so here we will chat about a book that made me…not homesick? for massachusetts and the boston area but did make me want to replay fallout 4, which was a very strange sensation.

audiobook corner proper, the 2005 Books on Tape version of Ponzi’s Scheme by Mitchell Zuckoff, narrated? performed? read? by David Birney. some very silly notes about the audiobook: not edited even a little bit from the CD version, so about every forty-eight minutes a different guy from the audiobook narrator will come on and inform you what disk you’re finishing and what disk you’re going to start next.

the narrator’s New England accent also comes out hard on place names which is considerately funnier than his decision to apply an Italian accent to direct Ponzi quotes in the first two chapters.

a book that was very successful at its goal of getting YOU the reader to understand why he was so successful: he had public opinion and all but one newspaper on his side. several investigations by nearly every level of law enforcement found it wasn’t technically illegal just uncool, but how are you doing this at the scale you need??? trade secret thanks bye! sows the field well in advance with a tale of a staggering act of generosity in his youth and how much of a wife guy he was. the ENTIRE book it has you sort of teetering on whether he drank his own kool aid. like he truly almost got away with it. and it beautifully recounts his own defenses in legal court and the court of public opinion. it waits until the FINAL TEN MINUTES and a deathbed confession for the reveal that yeah of COURSE he knew he was scamming the whole time. IDIOT. and i now more fully understand why so many people got so fully fleeced. extremely effective book!

-

watching

fallow

-

playing

not much! getting braver with genshin phone controls but they still suck shit compared to mouse & keyboard.

-

making

rounding cape horn to frisco bay (heel to gusset and instep) on this porthos sock. i already knew i hated top down socks (i love to toe up and then blithely knit until im out of yarn instead of playing yarn chicken) but im learning a new thing about myself, and that is i do not care for this pattern maker’s method of heels and gussets. i hate heel flaps and picking up stitches bc i feel like it never looks as neat or tidy as it could be. in other knitting woes, i ordered a ton of sock yarn for christmas presents THREE WEEKS AGO and it still has not shipped bc yarnspirations’ warehouse has suffered some sort of catastrophic admin breakdown. luckily these are for my brother’s summer birthday so i have some time but like. c’mon.

inside out bc that’s how knitting socks works

[explorationsofobsession]

Sugar Mice - Free Knitting Pattern

Okay, so the knitting of mice has taken over my life a little…. but I did think that this tiny sugar mouse would be a cute addition to the Valentines knit collection. There is also a knitting tutorial for the Strawberry Mouse on my Youtube Channel. This mouse varies by being fewer rows, but the construction is the same if you wish to follow along. You will need:– 3.5mm double pointed knitting…

[bevanne46]

How to Build a Fabric Stash without Breaking the Bank

Fabric can be expensive but it doesn’t have to be.  If you are not stuck on Name Brands or Specialty Fabric Store Exclusives here are some ways to build your fabric stash without costing an arm and a leg. I have made many beautiful quilts using various fabrics from various supplies. And I believe that the quality is not just in the fabric you use but also in your stitch work and seams sizes. If your seams are less than a ¼” they will not hold (personally I prefer to use a ½” seam allowance). If you are not securing your thread ends, your stitch work is going to come undone. So be sure to watch these things too.

Look for fabric at your local Thrift Store (Goodwill, Value Village, etc.)

I have found some wonderful fabrics in various sizes, notions, storage items and more at my local Thrift Stores. I have even found unfinished quilt tops that I have brought home and added a backing to then quilted. Remember that almost any size fabric remnant can be added to other remnants to make some wonderful scrappy quilts so save your own remnants after making a quilt, you may be able to use it later in another quilt.

Look for local Fabric Sales held by Quilting Guilds in Your Area.

We have 2 near me every summer.One charges $2 per pound for any fabric. The second one charges $2 per yard for any fabric. Both also sell batting, notions, books, machines, tools, and more.

Look for fabric on Facebook Marketplace, Nextdoor and other sites.

I sell extra fabric on Marketplace and Nextdoor. I have also found several ladies near me selling fabric that I have purchased. And some I have purchased with shipping to me.

Look for older 100% Cotton Sheets at your local Thrift Stores.

Back in the 1800’s and early 1900’s, Quilts were not show pieces. They were real functional blankets that were made from any and all fabrics they could get, usually used clothing. I think there is no reason why we cannot still do that instead of buying expensive fabrics. I have often used clothing, sheets, curtains, and other linens to make some wonderful, usable quilts. And there are some wonderful patterns you can use for quilts in bedsheets from the 1980’s and 1990’s. Note: I always wash anything from a Thrift Store before I use it.

Watch for Fabric Sales and Coupons for Joanns, Hobby Lobby and other Fabric & Craft Stores.

I know some quilters believe that the fabric from Joanns & Hobby Lobby is poor quality but I have not found any bad fabric from these stores.  We do not have a “Quilting” store close to me and because I’m handicapped, I will not drive an hour or more just to buy expensive fabric.  If I did that, I wouldn’t be able to afford to quilt.  I will also buy fabric from Walmart but I am more careful with my selection there as most fabric at Walmart is good but I have had one or two pieces that I felt were poorer quality.

Watch for Fabric Sales and Coupons for your Local Quilt Shop.

Quilt shops will also have occasional sales and/or coupons so if you prefer to shop at these locations take notice of when they have sales. Also ask if they ever give discounts to seniors or military.

Use New or Older Clothing.

I have made a lot of beautiful Memorial Quilts from a loved one’s clothing and T-Shirt quilts. I will use jeans, work shirts, uniforms, flannel, cotton, polyester and even some knits.  These can be a little trickier to work with because they are often stretchy fabrics but they will add a wonderful texture and visual variance to your quilts.  I recently found a pair of cotton pants with Mickey Mouse on them. I fell in love with them because they were so colorful, and I love bold colors. I found several other cotton fabrics that matched the colors in the Mickey pants and made a bold colorful quilt!

Rethink Your Backing Fabric

No one ever said your quilt backing had to be all New Cotton. You can use Fleece, Flannel or Bed Sheets as well. On many occasions I have found some wonderful fleece blankets on clearance and used these for my quilt backing.  Joanns right now has a great clearance sale on Flannel fabric. The best part about using some of these is that you can get then in a wider width so you may be able to make your backing in all one piece instead of 2 or more like when using regular cotton (unless you want your backing to be in various colors/patterns).  You can also use new or older cotton bed sheets for a quilt backing. Again, you can make your quilt backing in one solid piece with a sheet!

Check the Clearance Section for Your Favorite On-Line Stores

I have several on-lines stores that I love to shop from (e-Quilter, Missouri Star, etc.) but sometimes they can be expensive so I always check the clearance section of these stores. There are times I will find some beautiful fabrics on clearance so will purchase it then look for matching piece everywhere else so I can get the best deals. Also check for on-line sales from Joanns, Hobby Lobby and other on-lines stores that sell fabric and/or sheets.

Check Out Your Local Garage, Moving and Estate Sales

I have found some of the best deals at moving and estate sales because often the seller is willing to bargain with you. I once found an estate sale where a family was selling off all their mother’s quilting and sewing items because she had passed away and none of then sewed. There was more fabric and notions than I would have used in a year so I found lots of thread and items I purchased at a great price.

Note on Batting

I know that many quilters believe that the only batting you should use is expensive cotton batting. I disagree.  There are many forms of batting. Cotton/Poly blends, Polyester, and Fleece. I love cotton batting but cotton will break down quicker than polyester and I want my quilts to last a lifetime so for most of my quilts I actually use Polyester more often than not. I have taken the backing off many older quilts to do repair work and the cotton batting inside was all balled up and a real mess.

Now when I am doing the Quilt-as-you-Go method I use a Fleece batting. The fleece can be cut into smaller pieces, fabric added to the top and then sewn back together to make wonderful quilts. And the batting doesn’t get stuck in my machine.

Shop Around for your batting to find the best deals. Sometimes Joanns has a sale on batting but the best price I have found so far has been Walmart on-line.  I can buy a 96” x 9 yard Bolt of Poly Batting for just $30 on Walmart on-line. This bolt will make 4+ quilts depending on the size of the quilt and I will have lots of left overs for smaller projects like pillows, etc.  For me the best part is that because it’s 96” wide, I don’t have to piece together my batting before I can sandwich my quilt!

[tanaudel]

My debut short story collection KINDLING is now a multi-award-finalist! It's been shortlisted for the World Fantasy, Locus and Aurealis Awards, and if we can't put that in a yellow circle, what can we?

The whole collection is available from Small Beer Press and good bookstores, but three stories are available online (see below), and here are also some notes I wrote about each of the stories in case we needed to fill extra pages, which we didn’t!

“The Heart of Owl Abbas” (available on Reactor)

This story began as an online writing challenge among a group of Brisbane writers. The aim was to start by writing one sentence on the first day of January, two on the second, and so forth. This is perhaps why it is such a word-soaked story, knitted out of sounds and echoes. When editing it, I had to message C. S. E. Cooney frantically across timezones questions like, “What is a word that means “numinous” but doesn’t have any Ns or Ms in it?”

It is more than a little influenced by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Nightingale”, and by every story about hearts. And perhaps less obviously, although integrally, by The Divine Comedy’s “Songs of Love”.

As with almost every other story here, Angela Slatter’s feedback, editing, teaching and (vigorous) encouragement was invaluable. All infelicities are mine.

“Skull and Hyssop”

“Skull and Hyssop” was a tonal exercise. I wanted to write a story that, while nominally steampunk-ish, felt blue instead of sepia. It was also one of the first stories which I consciously edited by splinting it to the patterns of a fairy-tale after it was written. “Seven Ravens” remains one of my favourite fairy tales, and this is not the only project it’s influenced.

And, finally, Kelly Link’s structural feedback at a writing workshop in Brisbane pulled it all together, and gave Alban his career direction.

“Ella and the Flame”

This is one of the oldest stories in this collection, and one of the earliest to start playing with the themes that show up in several later tales — the melding of beauty and danger, desire and anger, and the making of something you (if possibly not others) want out of only the materials at hand.

“Not to Be Taken”

I wrote this for an anthology on the theme of “Poison”. I’d already played with the central image of old glass bottles in one of the stories in Flyaway, but I wanted to do more with it here, and build it out into the visuals of a world. It was also influenced by the idea of people who act deliberately when becoming who they wish to be.

“A Hedge of Yellow Roses”

This is, of course, a “Sleeping Beauty” tale, but written in answer to the question of what happens when a prince is needed to lift a curse, but the time of princes has gone. And also, what exactly a curse is, and what faithfulness entails. There are birds, of course. There are always birds.

“The Tangled Streets”

I was pleasantly lost one afternoon in Darlinghurst, on a windy, glittery day. But my image of Sydney had long been indelibly shaped by Ruth Park’s timeslip novel Playing Beatie Bow. The story also picks up on some beloved themes of people stumbling into their abilities, and working out how to use them without guidance. And maps, of course.

“The Present Only Toucheth Thee” (available on Strange Horizons)

This began with a central image (it was in an odd dream) of someone repeating several lives in quick succession in one place and almost remembering them. I tried writing a long noir/murder story, approaching it from various directions, but in the end this time-lapse overview caught almost all the scenes I wanted. The title is from Robert Burns’ poem, “To a Mouse”:

Still, thou art blest, compar’d wi’ me!

The present only toucheth thee:

But Och! I backward cast my e’e,

          On prospects drear!

An’ forward tho’ I canna see,

          I guess an’ fear!

“On Pepper Creek”

One of the stories told in Flyaway, “The Megarrity”, deals with a creature imported over by uncertain means, surrounded by companions of doubtful morals, turned feral — not only out of place but displacing. I wanted to spend a bit more time on the early arrival of a similar beast. The boggart, however, turned out much less self-confident than the Megarrity.

“Annie Coal”

Every time I try to write a story about someone not being a princess, it becomes about the opposite. But I fell in love with Annie, short and gruff, and the sea-framed, green world that unrolled around her. There’s an homage, here, to Diana Wynne Jones generally, but particularly The Power of Three and Cart and Cwidder.

“Undine Love” (available on Reactor)

This began as a frog prince retelling — promises and faithlessness and food. The first attempt was consciously and ridiculously archaic. Then I decided to pull it into the present — I think that version was set at a beach house on a grey day. Then I shifted it again to the Lockyer Valley in Queensland, to which my parents had relocated. After the slow unrolling of views in the west, where they lived before, this rapidly folding and changing landscape was endlessly enchanting. So the bed and breakfast appeared, and Tori trying to be a responsible adult, and the Damson family, who mean well. Cousins of theirs — fencers — appear in Flyaway. As do bagpipes. Anna Tambour was very supportive of this story, and her “The Valley of the Sugars of Salt” had a huge influence on how I thought to write the landscapes I knew.

“Kindling”

I wrote “Kindling” for an anthology with the theme (and title) “Light Touch Paper, Stand Clear”. It became about the loss of maps, and the threading of enchantment into a world. But the world itself — its ghosts and springs — grew out of the taste of its own words, and would re-emerge, stylistically at least, in the architectures of “The Heart of Owl Abbas”.

“The Splendour Falls”

Again, one of the very oldest in the collection, although it would slightly influence the world of Flyaway, and of Honeyeater. It grew out of the streets of Brisbane, and the way at a certain time of year, and in a certain light, it is like living for a moment in the stained-glass canopy of a Tiffany lampshade. And, of course, the lingering enchantment of a Tennyson poem.