More Glittens

Pattern: Minnesota Mittens from Folk Mittens

Yarn: Berocco Foliage

Needle: US 4

Start: December 25, 2008

Finish: January 5, 2009

One of the first times Alex and I hung out we met in Santa Fe after work and took a walk around the Plaza. It was just before Christmas; it had just snowed and Santa Fe was all decorated with lights, so it was really beautiful. Anyway, he knew that I knitted, although at that point he hadn't seen anything I had made yet. That evening he asked me what I was making and, of course, I had my current project in my purse so I pulled it out to show him. I was making my glittens. He like them and immediately said he could use a pair for fly fishing. Thats when I had my first inkling that he might be a keeper. And so, I made him a pair.

They were quite a bit easier to make than the first pair I made, mostly because I used a size 4 needle instead of size 2, and because I knew what I was doing this time around. The 'pattern' in the book is really more of a guide as to how to make these, not really a pattern. I would not recommend it for someone who hasn't made mittens before and isn't familiar with how mittens are constructed. Anyway, it was much smoother sailing this time around. He requested that there be a way to poke his thumb out so he could use it without taking the mittens off (which makes complete sense - I'm not sure why I didn't think of that.), so I made a hole in the thumb by binding off 6 stitches and then casting 5 on the next row (just like a button hole). They turned out great, fit perfect, and he loved them.

Winner.

Some angora goats (the curly-haired ones) and other good-looking goats at a farm I visited a few weeks ago for work. They were so darn cute!

Pattern: toast

Yarn: Malabrigo Silky Merino

Needle: US 7

Start: December 16, 2008

Finish: December 21, 2008

This yarn is amazing. I got it for Christmas last year (Thanks, Jamie!) and it has just been chillin while I wondered what it should be. Every now and then I would take it out and pet it because it is incredibly soft and fuzzy and squishy. I saw the pattern for toast online and thought that the two would be a perfect match. And it was. The pattern, of course, is incredibly simple - just a tube, but I love simplicity, especially when paired with gorgeous yarn. I didn't make thumb holes because I wanted to be able to just push them up my arm if I wanted to. And I do actually wear these... I have a lot of shirts with 3/4-length sleeves and when I wear them I sometimes get a bit chilly. But now I have something to keep my arms warm!

The armwarmers only used one skein of the yarn and I had two, so I made a matching cowl with the other skein of yarn:

Glittens

Pattern: Minnesota Mittens from Folk Mittens

Yarn: Noro Silk Garden

Needles: US 2

Start: November 11, 2008

Finish: December 11, 2008

I really have not been doing much knitting lately. About a month ago I cut my little finger on my right hand, right on the back of my nuckle. I cut it with a piece of glass and it was a pretty bad cut. I use my little finger to 'grip' the needle, and although it has healed, it hurts when I knit. These mittens are knit with worsted weight wool on size 2 needles, so they are REALLY tight, which made it even worse.

But, I think it was worth it. These mittens are awesome. They are super warm since they are knit so tightly, I love the colors, and they are really nice for riding my bike to the bus stop at 6 in the morning!

They are definatly a winner and I'm even thinking of making another pair for a Christmas gift... except there's less than 2 weeks until Christmas!!!

Christmas gifts

In the recent weeks, I have been knitting away at Christmas gifts for friends. These are some finished products. They are all original patterns using leftovers from the Shalom Cardigan! I am so sick of this army green, but I still have more than one more entire skein left (over 200 yards) so it looks like I'll probably be staring at it some more in the coming weeks. I have changed gears a bit after this and started a lace shawl project, also an original pattern. It is using some leftover wool in a gorgeous dark cerulean blue. Don't be too impressed; the lace pattern I am using is pretty simple. If it turns out it should be really nice, though. Pictures to come soon!

Green Cable Hat

Just your typical cable hat.

Norway Mittens
A first attempt at multiple-color patterns (is there a name for this?), and it turned out to be pretty easy, but some of the looped white yarn on the inside are annoying when it catches on your fingers/jewelery. Overall I'm impressed. These are inspired by the patterns in Folk Mittens: Techniques and Patterns for Handknitted Mittens by Marcia Lewandowski.

Chevron Hat
I really like chevron patterns. So I decided to make a hat with one. This stitch pattern came from the clutch that I finished earlier this fall. I made it into a hat with only minor flaws (knitting this stitch in the round was a little challenging for me).

Moonlight Mittens
These are knit from the pattern I wrote. In knitting them I realized how terrible the pattern is. It is dire need of some revisions, but I don't know that I am up for it. eek.

Thing
This thing turns out to be a trivet, I think. It was an experiment that didn't necessarily turn out the best since some of the "wool" yarn I had did not felt. But, it is still pretty cute I think, and will serve its purpose.

Mystery Solved and Decisions Made

Pattern: Mystery Socks by Kirsten Kapur

Yarn: Koigu KPPPM

Needle: US 2

Start: October 7, 2008

Finish: November 11, 2008

I made these socks not knowing what they would look like in the end; they were 'mystery socks'. A designer (Kirsten at Through the Loops) posted a part of the pattern once a week for the month of October. It was a fun project and I tried to keep up with the weekly 'clues', but of course, I got distracted. I always do. They turned out nice - a little fancy for my taste, but it was a fun to watch the pattern appear as I knit along. They will find a good home, I'm sure.

And since I know you all were really worried about my brown dilemma, here's what I came up with (and thanks for the suggestions!): start one project with fun bright colors and start one project in brown.

So, I am making some of those fingerless mitts with the flop-over mitten thing in Noro (like these):

still havethe flop-over part to do

And I am making a vest with one of the browns. I am making up a pattern as I go, so we'll see how it turns out. It will be a zip-up vest; I am aiming for something like this . This is what I've got so far:

Moonlight Mittens

So I made these mittens last year by improvising a pattern. I wrote down what i did, and today Joelle asked me for the pattern. After a few hours worth of tweaking, I completed my very first original pattern! Exciting! If you don't remember these, I talked about them here and here.

Moonlight Mittens!

Pattern by Molly Wick

Yarn: Natuasha Handknits Creative Focus Worsted, 1 skein
Needles: size 6 double pointed needles

Ribbing:
CO 36 st on no. 6 dpns. Join for knitting in the round
*(K1, P1) Repeat until ribbing measures 7 cm.

Mitten Increases:

Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Increase 1. Place marker. Knit to last st. Place marker before last stitch. Inc 1. The increase stitches between the two stitch markers will become the thumb for the mitten.
Rows 3: Inc 1. Knit cable chart* to last st. Inc 1.
Row 4-15: Inc 1. Knit as shown in cable chart. Inc 1.
Row 16: Put first 14 st on st holder. K37 (to st marker). Put remaining 13 st on st holder. The stitches on the stitch holder will form the thumb.

Mitten Body: 36 st on needles.
Row 17 and up: Knit cable repeat (in chart) until mitten measures 22cm from bottom of cuff. (cable on every fifth row)

Mitten Decreases:
Start these when mitten measures 22cm. Start with 36 st.
Row 1: k2tog, k15, ssk, k2tog, k15, ssk. This should finish round.
Row 2: k2tog, k13, ssk, k2tog, k13, ssk
Row 3: k2tog, k11, ssk, k2tog, k11, ssk
Row 4: k2tog, k9, ssk, k2tog, k9, ssk
Row 5: k2tog, k7, ssk, k2tog, k7, ssk
Row 6: k2tog, k5, ssk, k2tog, k5, ssk
Row 7: Put remaining st on two dpns, the front on one dpn and the back on another. Use third needle to knit into first two st on each needle, and bind off the two sides together to close the end.

Mitten Thumb:
Pick up 26 st on dpns from st holder.
Row 1: k12, inc, inc, k12. 28st.
Row 2: k2tog, k11, inc, inc, k11, ssk.
Row 3: k2tog, k24 ssk.
Row 4: k2tog, k8, sssk (slip 3 & knit), k3tog, k8, ssk.
Row 5: k2tog, k6, ssk, k2tog, k6, ssk.
Row 6: k2tog, k4, ssk, k2tog, k4, ssk.
Row 7: Cut working end and thread it through remaining st. Knot on inside of thumb.

Weave in all ends. Block if desired (suggested) and enjoy!

*To cable: place first 2 "x" stitches (from cable chart) on cable needle and place these behind or in front of knitting, according to chart. Knit next two stitches. Knit two stitches off of cable needle, and continue in pattern. The cable pattern calls for three cables across the back of the mitten, so you repeat the cable three times. The middle cable has a “worm” form, from alternating where the held cable stitches are placed ( in front or in back of work) while knitting other two stitches.

Cable Charts

If you'd like to make these mittens and what a better copy of the pattern & cable chart, just let me know and I can send it to you.

The last of the fingerless mitts.

This is the last of the fingerless mitts, I swear. I'm sick of them. But I had to finish the pair that I started. I'm giving these to my friend Sarah for her birthday.
p.s. I didn't think this pattern was simple. The pattern didn't tell you (RS) every time (it would have been helpful) and wasn't really consistent with it's directions. boo. I think these two turned out different sizes, because I screwed the first one up. But I was sick of them so I didn't have the energy to go back and figure out how to make them exactly the same.

I used this wool yarn that I got for cheap a long time ago and I didn't do a swatch so I don't know the gauge, but these turned out a LOT bigger and thicker than the ones Jill made for me....

one more time

I made some more, with a scalloped edge cuff, with some gorgeous gray yarn I had. Its wool, so they're a bit itchy, but I like these better than the last ones. More photos on flickr.

Tid Bits

I made a couple little Valentine's gifts this year... these mitts for Molly. I've always thought that fingerless mittens were rather silly, and I guess I still do (especially in Minneapolis), but for some reason I really thought these were cute, and I had the yarn (Rowan Felted Tweed) in my stash, so I whipped them up and sent them out. I think they were well received.

And then another cowl, this one for my Mumsie. I am always hearing about how cold her room is at school, so I figured this was definately the answer. It was another stash-busting project, made with ancient Lion Brand Wool-Ease (and by ancient, I mean a couple years). The verdict: cute & warm. Fashionable and functional - always my ultimate goal.

My KAL II sweater is coming along... I'm about 5 inches into the pattern on the body. Its going super quick! I hear Molly is already onto the sleeves! How is yours coming, Jamie?

A little of this, a little of that

The mittens are done!

The mittens are pretty cute, after having ripped out the top of one of them three times. The cable isn't perfectly centered because I didn't account for it being tighter, but I still think they are cute. I think I will give them to my friend Nicole who lives in Indiana, because they wouldn't do a whole lot for the type of cold here.

This is a picture I took on my way to school the first day. It's the mighty Mississippi! I have to walk/bike over it every day to get to school. It was about -15 so the water was lots warmer and you can see all kinds of steam coming up. It was a gorgeous day if it weren't so cold!

And then I must show you all my handywork in the kitchen. I made biscotti this weekend, and of course burned the chocolate so only a fourth of them got coated, but they are delicious nonetheless.

Last weekend I made spring rolls and this delicious sauce that my friend gave me the recipe for. They were delicious! Here's the recipe, I'd highly suggest using it sometime. It's more of a summer type of meal, but perfect for the spring, which hopefully will be on its way in no time?

Spring Rolls

Ingredients:
red cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts, spinach, lettuce, cucumbers, and fresh cilantro & basil (and whatever else you might fancy), vinegar, sugar, lime juice, rice paper, rice

Cook some rice or rice noodles first. Chop up some cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts, spinach or lettuce, and cucumbers (chop up according to how many you want to make).
Cover the cabbage with a little vinegar and sugar. Squeeze some lime juice over the carrots, lettuce and cucumbers. Dip the rice paper in warm water for a minute or two to soften it up. Then lay it flat and put a little of each ingredient in the middle, fold the sides in, and wrap the roll like a burrito. Make a bunch of them.

Peanut Sauce:
Ingredients:
Sriracha sauce, soy sauce, tomatoes, peanut butter, peanuts, sprig of basil
Here's the recipe, straight out of the email my friend sent me.
"sauce, yes yes threw stuff together but it wasn't half bad you know? there's this stuff that you can get almost anywhere, and by almost anywhere, i can imagine that it's found in the asian section of most conventional grocers, don't know about the coops (wtf about north country by the by? i'm ever so pissed), but you can always try united noodle in seward or some place will have it on nicollet south of like
24th or so. it's a ubiquitous vietnamese red spicy garlicky delicious magic sauce (called Sriracha) that shouldn't be terribly difficult to find. then add some soy sauce, or better yet, some gomaicho (sp? it's the toasted sesame seeds with sea salt and sometimes, if you are sassy enough, wakame flakes) which you can use to salt in a less conventional manner. then, make sure you have enough tomatoes, at least 2 and enough peanut butter, at least 2 table spoons, but i don't know why i bother giving you these measurements because this is really where the subjectivity runs wild. just make sure that the balance is slightly harmonious and fits to the number of people you are going to have. i don't recommend skippy peanut butter or any of that processed stuff, but i am in the land of groundnuts right now. you may want to opt for crunchy to add some texture and if you already have smooth and don't just want some paste or what have you, then maybe try crushing peanuts and tossing them in. ooh, don't forget little sprigs of basil!!"

Maybe you have to know the guy, but his recipe cracks me up every time I read it. The sriracha is this stuff, but if you can't find it, you could also make your own, using chili paste or chili peppers and tomatoes, a little water, and some chopped fresh garlic. Happy knitting, or cooking, or "schroomin", or whatever you two are up to!

My days are numbered

Four more days until school starts, and my knitting binge will have to come to an end. Until then, I am cramming in as much as I can. I started these mittens that I am designing myself tonight that are really cute.
Plus, I'm using up the last 2 skeins of sweater yarn. If I have some leftover after the mittens, which I feel like I might, I am going to make one of those headbands that I made for my friend Julia.
Also I re-did the bottom of the sweater and finally blocked it, so hopefully after this you won't hear much about that anymore. It's cute, but not exactly how I envisioned it. I think the yarn was chunkier than I imagined. Oh well.
And, I also churned out yet another hat last night.

I wasn't sure who it was for, and when I got done, I really liked it and couldn't think of anyone else that would wear a bright yellow hat, so I decided to keep it. I'm really proud of coming up with these patterns myself. I know I keep it pretty basic, but it's so much more enjoyable to me to knit something I'm coming up with rather than just follow patterns. I think that is why I have already gotten sick of the little green (blue) clutch It looks really good, and I've probably spent more time admiring the pattern than actually knitting it.

But when I get around to it, I think it'll be very cute. So, that's a real workload when my deadline is next Tuesday when school starts. We'll see how far I get. If I'm housebound by this 0 degree weather all weekend, I probably won't do too bad...

Mom Mittens

Pattern: Norwegian Mittens by Elizabeth Zimmerman

Source: Knitters Almanac

Yarn: Knit Picks Telemark

Needles: US 4
Start: 11/30/07
Finish: 12/23/07

Happy New Year! This is the last of the Christmas knits... mittens for my mom. This was really my first stranded knitting project and I think they turned out quite lovely! I did make a simple fair isle hat about a year ago, but this was a tad more advanced. I did have a few problems in the beginning, but once I got a rhythm down and figured things out, it was smooth sailing. It is a bit more puckery than I would like, but most of that smoothed out with blocking. I like Elizabeth Zimmerman's patterns because the basics are there, but you still have to do some figuring out for yourself. I will definately be making another pair of these for myself.