this morning i decided that i wanted to make some mittens. years ago i used to knit a LOT of mittens, and i knew i had a stash of sport weight yarn upstairs, so up i went. looking through the yarn i realized that my taste in colors has changed over the years, and i couldn't find anything for what i had in mind, but i do have a very colorful niece and i think she will love some colorful mittens!
i'm using a combination of designs from swedish and latvian mitten books. i have made many of the patterns in these books and can recommend them both, if they're still in print that is! it's so fun to choose colors and patterns, and from the latvian book i've done a scalloped edge. it's not hard. if you can knit and purl, you can do these mittens. with double-knitting or fairisle knitting i think the most important thing to be aware of is not to carry your yarn at the back too tightly. otherwise you just follow a graph, which is very simple. some of the designs are very complicated, but others, like the ones on these mittens, are simple to remember. if you have been wanting to try something like this, it's REALLY not hard. you can do it!
also, i'm using size 2 double pointed needles. i used to do these on size 0 (!), which really does make a nicer mitten, but the 2's are fine.
hope you're enjoying your sunday!
Those are lovely! I really love how colorwork projects look, but every time I try some I end up with a big tangle of yarn and frustrated. I've come to accept that it's just not my thing. Give me a lovely complicated lace pattern any day though!
ReplyDeleteClio
www.knittershandbook.net
hi cleio! i know, you have to be very careful to keep the yarns from tangling! now, i have never done lace-that looks too hard to me! thanks for your comment!!
Deletehow clever you are ! i do like a spot of fairisle but am not as skilled at it as you are.
ReplyDeletenew to your blog, can i ask, do you actually live in that pretty yellow house ? it looks wonderful.
off to have a poke round the rest of your blog posts.
hi susan! yes, i do live in the yellow house, but i must tell you i am quite expert at photographing it in it's best light :) ! it's a tiny house, but enough for the two of us. thanks for looking at my blog and happy new year!!!
Deletehello again, i am having such a lovely time reading through your old posts and i keep on wanting to comment! is there any point in this and would it be annoying for you ? not really sure of the etiquette on this. i absolutely love your house which by the way is so different, on the outside at least,from my own. i live in a 3 storied victorian terraced house in the north of england and we have nothing like the yellow house here. i do many of the same things you do, ie. the crochet, patchwork, knitting, embroidery collecting and reading. i like to garden but at the moment have no pets.
ReplyDeletei do love the way american english differs from english english. eg " hump day " humping means something quite different here ! tehe ! though you can have the hump which means to be fed up with life...... but hump day sounds a lot of fun !
hi susan-yes, please please please leave comments if you are so inclined! it's so exciting to get comments! i'm so glad you are enjoying my blog. it's nice to know that you are out there! your home sounds quite lovely. i've been to england a couple of times-our last visit we were in newcastle and berwick, which was pronounced so differently than how we pronounce it and was interesting since i live in a town called south berwick. i really love england... we say "hump day" for wednesdays as you are "over the hump" and on the way to the weekend. hope you are enjoying your new year's day and thanks!
Deletewow ! you really do read and reply, that is so nice of you. i am surprised and pleased that you have been to the north of england, most people don't get so far. I actually live in lancashire not too far from manchester and my home, whilst i do love it is always in need of some work and not at all fancy. at the moment it's the bathroom that is in need, we have a lot of very difficult to remove victorian wallpaper ( i think they used to varnish it !) on display....sigh. anyway i have lived here a very long time so have got used to all its quirks.
ReplyDeletethanks for explaining hump day, still tickles me that phrase xx