The NEW Wintertime for Adriana mittens are on the loose!

If I'm not careful, I'm going to OD on mittens.
Hah! Who am I kidding?! I love them to bits, and these ones in particular!

My friend Adriana has an annual tradtion where she knits a strictly seasonal project every holidau season. Usually this project ends up being a pair of socks, but this year she decided that a pair of mittens was in order. More specifically, she decided that a pair of mittens designed by me for her was especially in order. I was only to happy to comply, and these are the result -- Wintertime for Adriana (Ravelry link): Mittens that are classic without being stuffy and seasonal without being cloying. These are the perfect mittens to wear while on your holiday visits or to give to the people you're visiting.

Here are some other things that you might like to know about Wintertime for Adriana:

The pattern is a clear, concise, 4-page .pdf file with large charts and images.

Size: Women’s Medium (or any hand that is 8” in circumference.)

Gauge: 10 stitches = 1 inch (2.5 cm) in Stockinette st.

Yarn: One ball of Knit Picks’ Palette (231yd / 50g) in each of the following colours: Spearmint (Main Colour -- MC,) and the following Contrast Colours (CC): Blush (CA,) Red (CB,) Garnet Heather (CD,) Ivy (CE) and Cream (CF.) Note – Knit Picks Palette in Red been discontinued. Please substitute with Knit Picks’ Palette in Pimento (CB,) if necessary to preserve the original colour scheme. Alternately, any other fingering yarn in these colours or colours of your choice may be used. A 15” piece of waste yarn of the same weight in a contrasting colour to hold the thumb stitches is also required.

Needles: One set of five (5) double pointed needles in US 0 (2 mm) or size necessary to obtain gauge.

Notions: A stitch marker to mark beginning of round (optional,) and a sewing needle to weave in ends.

Skills Needed: Knitting in the round, stranded knitting, twisted stitches, and chart reading.

Enjoy the new mittens! I'll be back soon, with yet another mitteny offering -- I'm just waiting for the yarn to arrive in the mail.

The Swedish Fish pattern is ready!

Just as promised, here is the Swedish Fish mitten pattern (Ravelry link), ready to swim home with you. Why not spice up your holiday knitting this season by trying the fish? You can catch the pattern here on Etsy or here on Ravelry.

Bands of colourful, funky fish frolic across these unique mittens. The pattern is easily memorized so the knitting moves quickly and the colours are irresistible! Go on, try the fish!

Here are some other things you might like to know about the Swedish Fish:

The pattern is a clear, concise, 4-page .pdf file with large charts and images, which I will send via your PayPal email address as soon as I possibly can.

Size: Women’s Medium (or any hand that is 8” in circumference.)

Gauge: 10 stitches = 1 inch (2.5 cm) in Stockinette st.

Yarn: One ball of Knit Picks’ Palette (231yd / 50g) in each of the following colours: Twig (Main Colour -- MC,) and the following Contrast Colours (CC) : Red (CA,) Yellow (CB,) Green (CD,) Iris Heather (CE,) Garnet Heather (CF) and Golden Heather (CG.) Note – Twig, Red, Yellow and Green have been discontinued. The following substitutions may be used: Knit Picks’ Palette in Doe (MC,) Pimento (CA,) Semolina (CB) and Clover (CD) to preserve the original colour scheme. Alternately, any other fingering yarn in these colours or colours of your choice may be used. A 15” piece of waste yarn of the same weight in a contrasting colour to hold the thumb stitches is also required.

Needles: One set of five (5) double pointed needles in US 0 (2 mm) or size necessary to obtain gauge.

Notions: A stitch marker to mark beginning of round (optional,) and a sewing needle to weave in ends.

Skills Needed: Knitting in the round, stranded knitting, twisted stitches, and chart reading.

Enjoy the fishies!

Because you might like to see a new mitten.

Here's more of the new mitten, called Wintertime For Adriana (Ravelry link): It's really coming along well! I'm just putting the thumb in now.

I'm in hiding from my Xmas knitting! I don't even want to think about it yet! It may involve lots of lacy scarves!

Go on, try the fish!

Hey! Look what's finished...
Yes, it's a Swedish Fish mitten (Ravelry link). The pattern will be available by this weekend (September 20-21!)

And...another mitten just might be happening....and it just might be Adriana's fault. She's wanted me to design a mitten for her for quite some time, now, so here we go:There's not that much to see yet, but I'm pleased with it so far.

The Willistead mitten pattern is out!

Just in time to start your Xmas knitting, here's the Willistead pattern (Ravelry link,) ready to go! You can pick it up here on Etsy or over here on Ravelry.Colourwork mittens inspired by a walk in Willistead park in Windsor, Ontario past the lovely old Art Nouveau ironwork gates. Every motif on these mittens is an painstakingly accurate reproducton of the motifs on that gate.

Since this mitten only requires one to use two colours of yarn on every row it is an ideal project for those new to colourwork.

Here are some other things you might like to know about Willistead:

The pattern is a clear, concise, 4-page .pdf file with large charts and images.

Size: Women’s Medium (or any hand that is 8” in circumference.)

Gauge: 10 stitches = 1 inch (2.5 cm) in Stockinette st.

Yarn: One ball of Knit Picks’ Palette (231yd / 50g) in each of the following colours: Green Tea Heather (MC) and Calypso Heather (CC,) or any other fingering yarn in these colours or colours of your choice, and a 15” piece of waste yarn of the same weight in a contrasting colour to hold the thumb stitches.

Needles: One set of five (5) double pointed needles in US 0 (2 mm) or size necessary to obtain gauge.

Notions: A stitch marker to mark beginning of round (optional,) and a sewing needle to weave in ends.

Skills Needed: Knitting in the round, stranded knitting, twisted stitches, and chart reading.

Enjoy the mittens!

Let me show you something!

I apologize if it seems my blog is turning into a great big commercial for the things I make, but here we go again. I've added some of my handspun to my Etsy shop as well as (get this,)

SOCKS.

That's right. Socks. A for-reals fully-knit pair of socks. An instant holiday gift, for you or for someone you care about, and you won't even have to put needles to yarn to get it.

But it gets fancier, right? These are more than mere socks -- they're spindle socks. That means that I spun every ounce of yarn that went into these socks myself, on my drop spindle. I never did count how many hours that took me (and I don't want to think about it too much, really,) but I'd say that the end result is definitely worth it.

But maybe you don't want a finished pair of socks. Maybe you are in love with the colours in my spindle socks but would prefer to make a pair of your own. Should this be the case, I have something to show you:

Spindle-spun sock yarn, the very same yarn that I spun and used to make my spindle socks. 100g of it, ready to go right over here.

There's other handspun up there as well, spun from Fleece Artist slivers. Here, have an Etsy widget:

And look what the fishies are up to now:

Domovina sock pattern is now available.

It's a lovely, grey afternoon that practically begs one to sit down and start a new pair of classic, autumnal socks. Well, have I got a sock pattern for you, just in time for the change in season (c'mon, Fall!)
Domovina (Ravelry link) is up, out and ready for you to make your own pair. Just wander on over to the sidebar for the relevant Ravelry and Etsy links.Here are some other important things you might like to know about Domovina:

Folky peasant sampler-socks featuring a variety of techniques in palatable amounts (perfect for those new to colourwork and/or cables.) Go on and learn something new! An ideal blend of the rustic and dressy, these are the perfect socks for Fall!

Size: Women’s Medium (or any foot/leg that is 8” in circumference.)

Gauge: 9 stitches = 1 inch (2.5 cm) in Stockinette st.

Yarn: To make socks as shown, 2 skeins of Patons Kroy Socks 4 ply (192yd / 50 g) in Mercury (Main Colour – MC) and less than half of 1 skein of Handmaiden Fine Yarn Casbah Sock (355 yd / 115 g) in Blackberry (Contrast Colour – CC), or any other comparable fingering weight yarns that compliment each other.

Needles: One set of five (5) double pointed needles in US 1 (2.25 mm) or size necessary to obtain gauge.

Notions: A stitch marker to mark beginning of round (optional,) a cable needle (also optional,) and a sewing needle to weave in ends.

Skills Needed: Knitting in the round, twisted stitches, chart reading, colourwork, cabling and grafting.

Enjoy the new pattern...Willistead (Ravelry link) is going to be the next pattern out!

Thinking outside the bowl.

Here's the final chapter in what might be my Most-Documented Project EVER:Yes, the second Willistead (Ravelry link) mitten is done! The next time you see these handsome fellows on here it'll be announcing the publication of their pattern. For those anxiously awaiting that day, it will be soon! I've just gotta get Domovina (Ravelry link) out there first. With any luck, she'll be out tonight!

Now look what jumped out of the bowl and onto the needles this morning: Yes, it's another pair of mittens, which are looking slightly Rastafarian this early in the game. Expect this effect to be dimished somewhat as there are more colours yet to be added.

I'm off to work on Domovina. Wish me speedy charting!

Sleepy! Ringing! New Yarn!

Work on Willistead's mate (Ravelry link) continues, albeit slowly. I cast on for him yesterday and started the cuff, but I had a show to attend, so I had to put him down for the evening. Said show was just about the loudest one I've ever seen and I did not leave unscathed. My poor ears are still ringing slightly now -- I should also mention that I was at the back of the venue. So between being sleepy and ringing, today was a particularly unproductive knitting day, as is evidenced here: I barely made it into the colourwork portion of the cuff. Rest assured, though, when this mitten starts going up it'll go up fast and be over before I know it. Round about that time (if not sooner) the pattern will be released and then anyone and everyone can make their very own pair of Willisteads (fingers crossed that this day is not too far off.)

Oh, and look what came in the mail today, courtesy of the effervescent Bertha:Right to left, that's Yarntini sock yarn in Gimlet and precious, precious Sock Hop in Magic Carpet Ride. The latter might be the only yarn I have ever encountered that I honestly do not want to knit. I mean, I will, eventually, I'm sure of it. But for now I'm leaving it be. Thanks so much, Bertha!

Bertha and I recently we did a swap where I traded her one completely knit Dream Twister sock and the rest of the yarn required to knit the mate in exchange for sock yarn. You've already met my new yarn, so Here's her new sock: This is one intense sock, and I was happy to only have to knit one of them. I think Bertha will be pleased to only have to knit one of them, too! Enjoy your sock, lady!

One finished fancy mitten.

Hey, I finished the mitten! He's even been steamed and pressed so he's looking his best. Meet Willistead (Ravelry link):

This is his back:

and here's his palm:

Now I'm working on his mate, who will hopefully go up as quickly as he did.

In other news, I'm off to see Spiritualized tonight! I can hardly wait!

How that mitten's grown!

Yesterday's mittens grew a bit today. With any luck it'll be finished in no time at all! It'll look even better once it's pressed.

Here's the back:


and the palm:


Now I can't decide whether I should just keep at it and see how much more mitten I can produce today, or whether I've earned myself a night off.

Sneak peek!

Hey, it's something new! This is actually its third incarnation, and hopefully, its last. I've been carrying around this concept since a pleasant summer evening in July. I really need to get this one out of my system.

Yes, it's posed like a sock, but it's a mitten -- a very young, incipient mitten. Be gentle with it!

Here is the back (back of hand) of the cuff:and here is the front (palm) of the same cuff: The yarn is Knit Picks Palette in Green Tea Heather and Calypso Heather. Try as I might I just can't keep away from Palette. The new heathered shades they've released for the Fall are irrestible!

And just so you know that I haven't totally forgotten about poor Penelo (Ravelry link), I'll have you know that she had a whole gusset yesterday! The only thing was that I looked down and noticed that her pattern wasn't properly staggered. I took a deep breath and ripped her back two glorious inches. I hope to have this mitt done soon so I can get back to her next week.

Domovina just doesn't quit!

Oh no, they don't. Domovina (Ravelry link) are the socks that just keep on giving, especially if you're keen on ending up with a pair of folky, cozy socks.They feature all kinds of fun details, such as the cabled cuff and colourwork leg. Handpainted yarn used as the contrast colour adds a bit of spark, though I suspect that a solid colour would be equally lovely. The leg has handy "seam" stitches down the sides to eliminate the inevitable jog at the ends of rounds. I just love how neat and tidy they look.
The foot does away with colourwork entirely and sports moss stitch "seams" and a wiggly little twist stitch cable down the middle just to keep it interesting.

Yes, these socks are a bit technique-heavy, but strangely, that actually speeds up the process. The techniques keep you engaged! Also, as a sampler, Domovina gives you the chance to try both colourwork and twist stich techniques in small, palatable doses without committing to a gigantic, complicated project.

I still can't believe that I finished this sock today. This morning it didn't even have a gusset! The pattern is going to follow shortly, which means we're even closer now to actually seeing Penelo (Ravelry link) released as well. And the new purple-and-green-thing, too.