Twisted Seedling:Fingerless Mitts.

I've been wanting to tell you about these fingerless mitts for a few days now but wanted to wait untill I had the pattern hook up done. Hook up is now done and I can finally, finally share my glee.

I designed a pair of fingerless mitts and I love them. They're made from Sirdar Click Chunky and are doing a great job at keeping my hands warm. I used 4.5mmDPNs and they were finished the day I started them.

Although I originally designed them because I find other gloves/mitt patterns are large on me (even the smallest size) according to my sister-in-law they fit her great and her hands are quite a bit larger than mine.
It's probably not a great pattern, written or otherwise but it's my first and I love it (like a small child LOL). I've a free PDF available here, if you do make them I'd so love to see a picture if you wouldn't mind sharing.

Violet Green Socks

I finished another pair of socks yesterday, I used the yarn I dyed for the February DAL details can be found here.

They fit wonderfully, Violet Green's sock calculator pattern works like a charm and so fast to knit. I used 4ply sock yarn with 2.5mm DPNs made to fit a UK size 3 shoe. I'll have to ask Kevin if he can make me a sock blocker in that size.

Then of course because I had nothing to mindlessly knit whilst watching the TV I just had to cast on another pair of socks (can we say 'new obsession'?). This time I used the new yarn I dyed, the Limed Carnation (pink & green) and the same pattern.I hope to eventually have enough hand knit socks to last a fortnight :-) They're just so much nicer/better than shop bought.

Pah!

Well (cough), remeber that resolution I was pratteling on about the other day? Yes, yes the one where I don't cast on anything new unless I finish 2 WIPs.

Well, err, I kind of broke it already. Okay, I didn't break it as much as I threw it on the ground and stomped all over it.

On Saturday (3rd January) I cast on for the Back To School U neck Vest by Stefanie Japel from Fitted Knits, I justified this by telling myself that I had just finished two jumpers and a pair of fingerless gloves.I'm using King Cole Fashion Aran in colour 162 Heather, that I got from Abakhan in Manchester and I'm using my Harmony options size 4.5mm and 3.75mm.

But then yesterday I decided I'd do a DAL (dye-a-long) that I found on Ravelry, the theme January Blues. I got out my one last undyed hank of BFL/Nylon sock yarn and set to dying.
I used 1 sachet of Grape kool Aid, 1 sachet of Black Cherry Kool Aid and half a bottle of Dr. Oetker blue food colouring. Rather than dip dying I decided I'd be clever and actually hand paint the yarn this time (yay, go me.) I finished it off in the microwave instead of the slow cooker to ensure the colours didn't bleed into each other.

Then I was so excited about how well it turned out I wanted to see how it knitted up, so I cast on a pair of socks, I'm using Violet Green's sock calculator pattern and size 2.5mmDPNsSo I haven't really broken my resolution as badly as it seems (or at least that's what I'm telling myself) and hopefully I'll have a lovely vest and pair of socks by next week.

Delicato Mitts

Okay, I've only finished one so far and I'm already in love with both the pattern and the finished one.

They certainly live up to their name, very delicate and light on my hand and such a wonderful fit. Also with them being 100% lambswool, they are nice and warm as well.

The 2.5mmDPNs I used are perfect, the yarn and colour is perfect, the fact I only did 6 instead of 7 repeats of the lace panel pattern is perfect. Did I mention I loved these mitts (mitt)?
I know I'm definitely going to have to keep these away from the girls or I'll never see them again, let alone get a chance to wear them and show them off.
I've now finished both and am definitely in love with them LOL. Any ideas on how to block out the ladders on the palms?

Mitts For Meeeee.

I bought this absolutely georgeous yarn from Ebay, it's a 2ply hand dyed laceweight and 100% lambswool. This stuff is so soft and the colours are so gentle, I was stuck for a while on what it wanted to be.

Then I came across a pattern called Delicato Mitts and I thought the name and style of mitt really went with my soft pastel laceweight.So, out of shear boredom I cast on for them late last night and so far am loving them. I'm using 2.5mm DPNs instead of the recommended 2.75mm, not only to accomodate the fact I'm using a lace yarn but also because my hands are quite small.

Super Droop Jellyfish tam.

My eldest daughter asked for one of those hats that droop, but she wanted it quite large. Hmm, the jellyfish tam v2.0 (the super droop) must be what she's after says I.

Boy I couldn't have been more wrong, the thing was huge. You could fit two whole heads in this thing. Would have been great on a Rastafarian with crap loads of dreds, but looked, well, ridiculous on my daughter.

So I ripped it back to the point where the v2.0 pattern deviates from the original pattern and carried on from there.

Much better and bonus, she likes it. I'll believe her when I actually see her wearing it hehe.

I used Wendy Fusion in Bouquet Garni and size 4.5mm and 10mm DPNs, think I'll definitly be using the Fusion again as I really like how soft and quite it is to knit up, also has a nice drape.

DPNs + Lace weight = Arrrgghhhh!

Well I cast on for the mystery shawl late last night as Renee posted it early. I think it may have been a bad idea casting on as soon as I finished dad's washcloth as I didn't realise just how late it was and how tired I was.

Half a dozen times I cast on, I just couldn't seem to get past the first 2 rows as I was all fingers and thumbs. I've never used DPN's and lace weight. In fact the only lace weight I've ever used is for the Celtic Knot Shawl and I've not even started the first knot on that yet. So a lace circular shawl was proving very difficult indeed.

I was loosing all hope of ever getting it by 2am, so decided to call it a night. So glad I did as this morning I was able to cast on and actually finish clue 1.

We were given a choice of 4 different lace charts, I plumbed for chart 'D' as it seemed the easiest and after last night I was all about making life easy :-) i can't wait for next week's clue now, this KAL is going to be so much fun.

Socks

I really must stop casting things on!

I've now cast on for a pair of socks, Marella by Jeanette Trotman. I got the pattern from issue 3 of Let's Knit magazine. Have found out they are also called Stripy Lace Socks from the Easy Knitted Socks book.

All's going well the pattern is very easy, the only problem I've got is with the DPNs. They just keep getting in the way of each other, it could be because this is my first pair of socks and I'm being cack handed but I think for the next socks I'll have to buy some circular needles and do them that way.

The DPNs are pretty though, they actually came with that issue of the magazine.