Pat's Knitting and Quilting
January 28, 2012 Knitting Anna Zilboorg mittens is such a joy filled experience! For this pair I limited myself to the colors in November's Fat Cat Knits Mixed Blessing club fiber - quite a challenge since these are not my "normal" colors - but I LOVE these mittens! Nothing beats the wonderful gauntlet cuffs for keeping the cold off wrists/arms and warm wooly handspun merino liners were the icing on the cake.
Started with beautiful fiber from FatCatKnits - she included one braid of natural mixed BFL and one braid of handpainted mixed BFL (I added an extra of the handpainted which is not pictured here)
I opted to divide the handpainted fiber into separate colors and then spun a regular 3 ply worsted weight yarn.
here are the finished liners for the warmest soft hand hugging mittens EVER! Pattern: Magnificent Mittens 4-3 by Anna Zilboorg
Now on to something other than mittens! This comment system does not give me access to your email, so I am unable to respond. If you have a question and would like an answer, there is an email link on my upper right sidebar - Please email me . I ALWAYS answer emails so if you don't get an answer, check your spam box.
January 12, 2012 Definitely on a mitten roll!
From this beautiful Fat Cat Knits Silver Heathered Alpaca/ Tussah Silk blend...
I spun some 2 ply worsted weight yarn - 110 fluffy silky yards each color.
Pattern: #19 from Knitting Marvelous Mittens Ethnic Designs from Russia by Charlene Schurch
Not simple taking self portrait of mittens while wearing them! This comment system does not give me access to your email, so I am unable to respond. If you have a question and would like an answer, there is an email link on my upper right sidebar - Please email me . I ALWAYS answer emails so if you don't get an answer, check your spam box.
January 4, 2012 Off to a good start for the NaKniMitMo KAL (a great place for mitten inspiration this month!) I started these in November, but they've been sitting around without thumbs or tips for almost 2 months. I decided I had to finish this pair and one other partially done pair before starting and new mittens! LOVE them :)
Started with 2 beautiful braids of Fat Cat Knits Handpainted Falkland Wool
Spun each bump into regular 3 ply yarn- each skein is 62 grams (2.1 ounces)/132 yards
and knit these simple striped mittens - Alternating 2 colors and always carrying the same color on top/bottom creates ridges that look like one color has been knit above the other - looks kind of like corduroy. (I kept the orange dominant and stranded a little more tightly than usual which gave these great dimension!)
Pattern: "Striped Mittens" from Favorite Mittens by Robin Hansen
Next pair should be done shortly - I'm several inches past the thumb gusset - then on to some brand new mittens! This comment system does not give me access to your email, so I am unable to respond. If you have a question and would like an answer, there is an email link on my upper right sidebar - Please email me . I ALWAYS answer emails so if you don't get an answer, check your spam box.
December 27, 2011 I have been in Family Land for awhile, but am back with some pretty handspun socks.
This beautiful fiber was hand-dyed by Kristin from All Spun Up for the November 2011 Ravelry SAL. It is named "Tapestry" and is 85% Polworth/ 15% Silk - such decadent socks!
I spun a regular 3 ply light fingering weight yarn and ended up with 640 yards/104 grams - wowza :)
There are more fiber/bobbin/yarn pictures on Ravelry - I went overboard!
Pattern: made up by me - I wanted them to have a feminine touch since the yarn was quite dark, so I dug out my Knitting on the Edge and decided on Arbor Lace (page 81) followed by repeating rows 9 and 10 for 2" - purled one round and from there just made regular stockinette socks. I doubled the yarn for the heel flap and heel turn to make it heavy duty and hopefully eliminate future heel holes. I planned to do the same for the toes but forgot - ooops - not redoing them now!
I used exactly 52 grams for these socks - leaving 52 more grams for another project - probably some colorwork mittens. This comment system does not give me access to your email, so I am unable to respond. If you have a question and would like an answer, there is an email link on my upper right sidebar - Please email me . I ALWAYS answer emails so if you don't get an answer, check your spam box.
December 6, 2011 My limit is usually 3 - I think I've been deprived for too long - time to get it back under control. (there are also 2 quilts underway)
I bought a new toy with money earned from selling my yarn stash on ebay :)
I'd say those handspun socks will be done next - only toes to go... This comment system does not give me access to your email, so I am unable to respond. If you have a question and would like an answer, there is an email link on my upper right sidebar - Please email me . I ALWAYS answer emails so if you don't get an answer, check your spam box.
November 29, 2011 They turned out much prettier than I expected!
I looked up every online source I could fine - some of which included: The Yarn Harlot where the idea took hold of me, Knitty Tutorial, Various You Tube Videos, The Painted Tiger, SpinalCat, and of course a Ravelry Group - Hanky Mania - then came up with my own way of doing it using a conglomeration of the best of all these sources. I realize how much I love learning something new! The main thing I found to be helpful for ease of knitting and maintaining a consistent fiber size was to draft as I went along. I just pulled out the hanky to about 1 yard in length and drafted the fiber as needed while knitting. Very quickly I could "feel" the right size for a worsted weight yarn.
Pattern: Troubadour Mittens from Morehouse Farm- I love this simple nicely shaped pattern - have made these before
A great experience - and fun to know that I can actually do it! They are so so soft - I know I want this silky fabric around my neck, so I bought some gorgeous hand dyed deep purple hankies from AllSpunUp to knit into a cowl or scarf. This comment system does not give me access to your email, so I am unable to respond. If you have a question and would like an answer, there is an email link on my upper right sidebar - Please email me . I ALWAYS answer emails so if you don't get an answer, check your spam box.
November 21, 2011 Well - looks like it's Seaman's Caps for everyone :) I took the hat order from Dave - needed to be warm - cover ears, but not itchy on ears and forehead, enough head space so he doesn't need to stretch it down. I gave him fiber options and he picked this deep rich Spirit Trails Mixed BFL.
Spun it into thickish singles and decided on a regular 3 ply for warmth and muted colors.
3.2 ounces/111 yards of aran weight yarn and a little bit of chain plied leftovers (which become important!)
The only problem is that even with the softness of BFL, I knew it would be slightly itchy on his ears forehead, so decided to add a band of handspun cashmere inside.
47 grams/ 150 yards of 2 ply fingering weight cashmere
Hmmm - it fits me too!
Pattern: Seaman's Cap by Brenda Zuk - Ravelry Link
Here's where that tiny bit of chain plied yarn came in handy - thank goodness!!
and on the very serious intended recipient who really likes his new hat!
Today I'm washing some pure Merino fleece - so naturally beautiful! This comment system does not give me access to your email, so I am unable to respond. If you have a question and would like an answer, there is an email link on my upper right sidebar - Please email me . I ALWAYS answer emails so if you don't get an answer, check your spam box.
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