A Different Kind Of Tiny Tim Story

Among the many wonderful presents I received for Christmas, this is the one that has captivated me most...

It's a ukulele and I've named her Miliani (a Hawaiian girl's name which means "Gentle Caress"). 

I had thought ukes were for eccentric people - eccentric people I didn't know personally who tip-toed through the tulips, like Tiny Tim.  But then my sister started playing one, and then a friend produced a documentary about the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (you can see a summary of that documentary HERE), and then I noticed that Amy Singer of Knitty fame was obsessed with ukes (and wrote THIS GREAT BLOG POST about them).

Perhaps ukes are for eccentric people, but hey, I've been called worse things, and I really wanted to be part of this club that seemed to be having so much fun. For a glimpse of just how happy-making ukes can be, click HERE to see the uke version of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

I asked my sister for uke-buying advice and she said "Don't buy one - I'll give you one me for Christmas".  She handed me a Kala Soprano on Christmas Eve and we spent the rest of our holiday talking about all things ukulele and surfing the Internet looking for instruction and inspiration. The most inspirational was Jake Shimabukuru, my new idol. You can see him playing While My Guitar Gently Weeps HERE.

But what does this have to do with knitting?  Well, I plan to make a felted case for Miliani based on THIS PATTERN from Knitty. (Yes Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus, and there IS a pattern for a felted ukulele case out there in this wonderful universe!)

I hope your holiday was similarly relaxing and inspirational and happy.

Comments

[sallyg]

Yeah!! My husband gave me a concert size uke, wondering if I can make a larger felted case for mine. Struggling with the fingering, but happy to be learning something new. Thank goodness for the internet. Keep us posted about this adventure!

[Sandy Bruel]

Cheryl Coyne's (i think you may know her) sister, my friend, Renee, used to be Jake's high school teacher in Hawaii and just recently she came to see him play in my neck of the woods, at the Calvin Theater in Northampton, MA. The world really is that small. I hope you enjoy your uke!

[Lisa]

And impressed! Very cool gift.

[Gina Murphy]

Oh Ellen, I am SO envious!