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A flip on EZ's 36 stitch mittens

For these flip-top convertible mittens I followed the basic recipe for 36 stitch mittens in Knitting Without Tears. They were a quick and easy knit. I knit the fingers as you would for a basic glove, ending at about the first knuckle. Then I picked up 18 stitches about 2 stitches below the pinky and cast on 18 stitches and followed the rest of the pattern for the top of the mittens.

I did the embroidery she suggested and thought it was funny because in the book she says something to the effect of "This embroidery will trick even the most experienced knitter into thinking you have learned some new fancy stitch." (I wish I had the book on me for the full quote.) Well, the first time I wore them to Stitch n Bitch, one of the other knitters asked "Wow, how did you do that? a slip stitch?" So smart that EZ is.

So, they look great and are very functional. I decided not I also really like how she has you decrease for the wrist and then increase back up for the hand. I'm not as fond of the thumb placement because it stretches across my hand too much, perhaps for my next pair I'll place the waste yarn so that the thumb comes out of the side of the glove.





Other Details
Knit with Mission Falls 1824 wool in Amethyst (cc) and Damson (mc) at five stitches per inch. I used about 1.5 balls of the main color (I have small hands).

Thanks to everyone who provided me with feedback on my last post about my Malabrigo Saddle Shoulder Sweater. I reknit the top and am now just working on the finishing. I'm very happy with how it is turning out and hope to be finished soon.

Amy

Update your links!

I am still using wordpress, but have my own domain now.

Fresh Ground Knits DOT com

Exciting-isn't it?

Yes, it is! It's as exciting as handknit socks. (At least I think so.)


Heather and I at SAFF.

I've moved

my new blog is www.freshgroundknits.wordpress.com

the platform is much easier to use and you can import all your blogger entries. (fyi)

candycane handspun part 2

For some reason Picasa didn't blog my last few photos. I'm still trying to figure it all out.
Anyhow, it's hard to get a photo of yourself spinning and plying, but here's my yarn, now plied and on my spindle. You can see some of the fiber in the background--isn't it just yummy looking?

Here's a close-up of the plied yarn.














Then I wound it up on my niddy-noddy to make a skein














And here is the almost finished product! I still have to set the twist in the plied yarn. Basically that just means wash it and let it dry, but I think I'll save that for tomorrow.

 

candycane handspun

I spent a portion of this evening spinning some of the candycane Merino handspun that I purchased at Mind's Eye Yarns during their ninth anniversary sale. I initially bought it to make a felted purse or some other felted accessory, but I really like the way the yarn looks spun and plied--I think I might make something non-felted out of it. I spun about 2 oz and got a little over 3o yards, it doesn't really seem like much! I'll see, I have 6 more oz to do. I think I'm going to be sore. I actually had to turn the a/c temp down to 78 because my hands kept getting sweaty. Spinning is hard work.

I forgot to take pictures of the fiber before I spun it, but here it is on my spindle.














Then I wound it around my hand using the http://www.mielkesfarm.com/andean.htm> Andean plying method. Basically you wrap the yarn around your fingers...













Then when your fingers get full you slip it around your wrist.















Once you get all the yarn off your spindle and onto your wrist you're ready to ply.

Looks messy, huh? Don't worry, it works out.

socks of 2006

detail of the embossed leaves socks from Interweave Knits winter 2005.

The detail on the heel is nice and I love the way the leaves make the stockinette bottom have a wavy edge.









Aren't they so cute? They are the perfect length. The pattern was easy to follow and memorize so they knit up superquick.


I knit them with the Merino/Tencel blend wool from Mind's Eye Yarn in Cambridge. She has an etsy store if you're interested!










These are a pair of knee socks. I used a basic toe-up pattern and then added increases for the calf. The stripes don't line up but I don't mind.