In my attempt to tidy the sewing room I knit another hat, a variation of my favorite hat pattern. Earlier versions from this pattern can be seen here, and here.
On this hat the cables go all the way to the top.
The hat was knit from the top down. When enough stitches had been added between the first cables, I added more. You can see where the second and third sets start near the top of the hat.
This is project 13 in my efforts to knit 100 items from my stash! Go me!!
The yarn is a hand dyed wool by Briar Rose Fibers.I gave it away to a very special person. I hope it keeps her head warm this winter.
Knit All The Things
Last week, when the temperatures dropped, our boiler could not keep up and the indoor temperature dropped too. My hands got quite cold as I was knitting M's mittens.As soon as I finished M's project I cast on a pair of fingerless mitts for myself. I am hoping that I'll be able to wear them while working in the sewing room this winter.
These were a really fast knit with only 36 stitches per round. I used two strands of Misty Alpaca sport on size 6 needles.
I like the way the thumb gusset increases branch from a single line on the side of the thumb.
The pattern is, Karin, a free download on Ravelry. This is actually my second pair of mitts from this pattern, the first can be seen here.I mentioned yesterday that I'm challenging myself to use my stash this year. I started a flickr album for my 100 projects so it will be easy for me to see my progress. Already there are 8 finished projects!Next up, basic crew socks for B, stash busting project 9.If you want to join in on Instagram we are using the hashtag #stash100.
Super Soft Alpaca
I have really been enjoying knitting the last couple of weeks. First I was in a frantic flurry knitting Christmas gifts for the kids. Then there was the after Christmas knitting added to that. Then came the envy knitting for the family members who wanted something like I had made for other members in the family.This week was mostly spent working on finishing the lined, felted mittens for M.
The outer mittens were knit with one strand of Misti Alpaca lace weight and one strand of an alpaca yarn for which I no longer had the label. I had the yarn in two colorways, a brown and a grey and had used it for sweaters for the boys more than 10 years ago. Miss P is almost big enough to wear the smaller of the sweaters.
But, oh my, this yarn is SO soft. When I first gave the boys their sweaters, Mr M wore his EVERY DAY of winter break that year.
If these mittens were mine, they'd double as mittens and scarf because I don't think I'd be able to keep them away from my face.
They are THAT soft.
The linings are knit from Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino on size 4 needles. Since they will be inside the felted mittens I was able to use up some odd leftovers of this yarn. The cuffs are both knit with black but after the cuffs I used up whatever small bits of baby cashmerino were left from other projects.It always feels good to use up leftover bits of yarn.Actually, I've been having a conversation on Instagram with a few others about a yarn/fabric stash busting project. It's been ages since I've actually bought any yarn but mostly that's because I have been too focused on quilting projects. This week, in trying to find the outgrown alpaca sweaters, which I actually had stored in the deep freezer in the basement, I dug out most of my yarn stash and now it's in a big pile in the living room. Some of it has been out of sight for so long it's as if it's new to me again. I've taken a quick inventory and will challenge myself to make 100 projects without purchasing any more yarn/fabric. I will allow myself to purchase items needed to complete a project but want to work mainly from my stash. I'm going to count my recent knits in December which makes this pair of mittens Stash Project 7.And here is a start on Stash Project 8, alpaca fingerless mitts for myself.
Slip-n-Slide
Adele and I have finished another pair of socks! These are for ME.My sister gave me the book Sock Knitting Master Class: Innovative Techniques + Patterns from Top Designers
I like that the pattern continues down the heel flap.
They were a pretty quick knit and I learned a new technique to get the little butterfly looking stitches that go down the front and back of the sock.I am eager to knit some of the other socks in this "master class" book. I'm sure I'll learn more fun and interesting knitting techniques as I work my way through the book.
Ladybug Picnic Mittens
You may remember this project from last winter...
I won the pattern and yarn in a mitten group on Ravelry last year. Adele and I knit them for our two make a pair project.With most of our projects our guages have turned out to be the same. With these mittens, one came out tall and thin and the other shorter and wide. Hmmmm.
Not sure what happened there but we decided to go ahead and each make mates for the first that we knit. So, this time two make TWO pair.The pattern is Ladybug Picnic Mittens by Elinor Brown. The yarn is Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport.I love the little braid around the cuff.
After knitting so many mittens in 2011 I have learned a bit more about what I like and don't like in a mitten.I like thumbs with a gusset and long cuffs that are snug to the wrist like these two. But these are probably not as warm as needed in our cold winters. (even if they weren't fingerless)I like fun colorwork designs like the ladybugs, and these two pair. The stranded work mittens are a little warmer with the extra yarn carried on the back.The warmest mittens I have made are these double layer felted mittens.The knitting continues. If I find the perfect balance of thumb and cuff design, fun pattern, and warmth I'll let you know.Here's one last photo of the ladybugs. My little photo assistant said I needed a butterfly hand shot. So here ya go.
Nine-to-Five
Also finished this week was the mate to Adele's Nine to Five sock.Pattern: Nine-to-Five by Nicole HindesYarn: Supersock Select by Cherry Tree Hill @00% Superwash MerinoColor: Moody BluesNeedles: 2.5 mm
The pattern was easy to follow and fits great. I like cable detail that flows down the heel flap.And look, those are grape hyacinths in the background. Spring is springing!!
