GALLERIES
ARCHIVES
sunburst banner
Pat's Knitting and Quilting

January 28, 2012
Handspun Magnificent Mittens 4-3

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.

Handspun Magnificent Mittens

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)

Mixed BFL

I opted to divide the handpainted fiber into separate colors and then spun a regular 3 ply worsted weight yarn.

Handspun Mixed BFL

Richard Merino Fleece Hand Combed Merino
Handspun Merino
I then decided to wash, comb and spin some beautiful pure merino fleece from "Richard" the sheep (bought from Karen Storay - also sells on ebay as zkarenartisit) to make soft warm liners. 48 grams of hand combed fiber made 228 yards of 2 ply yarn - absolutely the most "alive" yarn I ever ever made - it feels like it has elastic in it - so stretchy! I made everyone in my family and all my knitting friends feel it because it was so unlike any yarn I've ever experienced.

Mitten Liners

here are the finished liners for the warmest soft hand hugging mittens EVER!

Pattern: Magnificent Mittens 4-3 by Anna Zilboorg
Yarn:FatCatKnits Handspun Mixed BFL (58 grams Natural/ 114 grams handpainted) and handcombed/handspun natural "Richard" Merino (24 grams)
Needles: US #4 for outside mitten and US#5 for liner
Size: 54 stitches around for Medium Adult mittens
I chose to make an extra repeat on the main mitten before the thumb (mitten worked top down) for extra finger wiggle space. Knit lining over 40 stitches.

Handspun Magnificent Mittens

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.

Permalink

January 12, 2012
More Mittens

Definitely on a mitten roll!
This pair is unbelievably soft and warm and with that beautiful alpaca fuzz halo and the sheen of silk, the yarn couldn't be any prettier!

Silver Heathered Alpaca Silk Mittens

Silver Heathered Alpaca Silk Fiber

From this beautiful Fat Cat Knits Silver Heathered Alpaca/ Tussah Silk blend...

Silver Heathered Alpaca Silk Yarn

I spun some 2 ply worsted weight yarn - 110 fluffy silky yards each color.

Silver Heathered Alpaca Silk Mittens

Pattern: #19 from Knitting Marvelous Mittens Ethnic Designs from Russia by Charlene Schurch
Yarn: Handspun 70% Silver Heathered Alpaca/ 30% Tussah Silk hand-dyed by Fat Cat Knits - Summer 2010 Mixed Blessing Club fiber. 2 ply worsted weight - 110 yards each colorway.
Needles: 2 mittens on 1 40" circular US 5 needle
Size: 48 stitches around - Adult Medium - Followed chart for child's small but used bigger yarn/needles.
Modifications:
in addition to size mod, also started one row lower than beginning of chart for a more finished starting edge. Reversed the edge stripe coloring to outline the diamonds and changed the cuff pattern to a 2 stitch wide stripe.

Silver Heathered Alpaca Silk Mittens

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.

Permalink

January 4, 2012
Handspun Striped Mittens

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 :)

Handspun Striped Mittens

Started with 2 beautiful braids of Fat Cat Knits Handpainted Falkland Wool

Falkland Fiber

Spun each bump into regular 3 ply yarn- each skein is 62 grams (2.1 ounces)/132 yards

Handspun Falkland

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!)

Handspun Striped Mittens

Pattern: "Striped Mittens" from Favorite Mittens by Robin Hansen
Yarn: 84 grams (2.9 ounces) 3 ply Handspun Fat Cat Knits Falkland Wool in "Early American" (October 2011 Mixed Blessing Fiber Club)
Needles: US 3 for cuff and US4 for remainder of mitten
Size: Medium - cast on 52 stitches using Maine Method

Handspun Striped Mittens

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.

Permalink

December 27, 2011
Handspun Tapestry Socks

I have been in Family Land for awhile, but am back with some pretty handspun socks.

handspun polworth silk 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!

polworth silk fiber

I spun a regular 3 ply light fingering weight yarn and ended up with 640 yards/104 grams - wowza :)

handspun polworth silk

There are more fiber/bobbin/yarn pictures on Ravelry - I went overboard!

close up polworth silk 3 ply

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!
Yarn: 52 grams of handspun 3 ply light fingering weight 85% Polworth/15% Silk fiber from All Spun Up.
Needles: 2 socks on one 40" 2.25 mm circular needle.
Size: cuff 66 stitches - rest of sock 62 stitches

hanspun tapestry socks

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.

Permalink

December 6, 2011
Hmmmm

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)

wips

I bought a new toy with money earned from selling my yarn stash on ebay :)

Hansen

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.

Permalink

November 29, 2011
Mawata/ Silk Hanky Mittens

They turned out much prettier than I expected!

Silk Hankie Mittens

Silk Hankies

Mawata up close

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.

Mawata Mittens

Pattern: Troubadour Mittens from Morehouse Farm- I love this simple nicely shaped pattern - have made these before
Yarn: 1.3 ounces/38 grams Mawata dyed by Blue Moon in "Debra Anna" colorway
Needles: 3.75mm (US 5) 40" circular - both mitts together magic loop
Size: Adult Medium - the body of these mitts are 7.5" circumference - total length 11.5"

Mawata Mittens

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.

Permalink

November 21, 2011
Handspun Seaman's Cap for Dave

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.

Spirit Trails Mixed BFL

Spun it into thickish singles and decided on a regular 3 ply for warmth and muted colors.

Spirit Trails Mixed BFL Bobbins

3.2 ounces/111 yards of aran weight yarn and a little bit of chain plied leftovers (which become important!)

Spirit Trails Handspun

Spirit Trails Handspun

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.

cashmere

47 grams/ 150 yards of 2 ply fingering weight cashmere

Handspun Cashmere

Hmmm - it fits me too!

Handspun Seaman's Cap

Pattern: Seaman's Cap by Brenda Zuk - Ravelry Link
Yarn: 3.2 ounces of Handspun Spirit Trails Mixed BFL regular 3 ply (aran weight) and 1.4 ounces Handspun Ashland Bay Cashmere held doubled.
Size: 90 stitches
Needles: cast on with US7 - knit entire cap with US6
Notes: Knit ribbing for 3 1/2" then added 2 1/4" band of ribbed cashmere followed by 2 more rows of ribbed BFL - then continued in stockinette for 2 1/2" before starting decreases.

I LOVE the idea of knitting in a band of cashmere (held this yarn doubled) for softness and extra warmth!

Peek Inside

Here's where that tiny bit of chain plied yarn came in handy - thank goodness!!

Top of Hat

and on the very serious intended recipient who really likes his new hat!

Hat on Dave Hat on Dave

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.

Permalink

 


© 2006-2012 Pat's Knitting and Quilting