Mittens!

It's been way too long. Knitting has been kind of slow since I've been back up at school, but at least once a week during Gossip Girl Mariel and I get some knitting in. At the beginning of the year I was trying to do that argyle hat, but it was such a mess. I noticed when I searched online, most people do argyle knit flat and then seam up the socks or hat or whatever. But I wanted to be brave and do it in the round. (Actually, I'm just scared of seams.) But sure enough, it was just an absolute mess and I kept messing up each time I started the hat -- probably four or five times. So I've set that aside for a while. I'm determined to someday do it, but it takes much more planning and patience than I realized before.

So what HAVE I been knitting then? Mittens! As promised! I finally picked up that fun green yarn that I bought at the Knit Nook last winter and decided to learn how to make mittens. I guess I had put off making mittens because I thought they were going to be hard. So I searched for a very simple pattern, one without any increases for the thumb. They went really quickly and they were pretty fun to knit. And the best part -- they were easy!

Pattern: Instant Mittens
Needles: US size 8
Yarn: Tessin, 43% super wash wool, 35% acrylic, 22% cotton; color 65806; (not quite) 1 skein (110 yds)


I'm pretty pleased with the way they turned out, at least as a first pair of mittens. But I only knitted from one ball of yarn, so I didn't get the double warmth thing the pattern talks about. And I think I would increase for the thumb after all because there are a few holes near the thumb. We'll see how they actually hold up when winter hits in a few weeks.... Eek!


So one pair down. Then two weeks ago, a few of us girls from the dorm went to this knitting shop, the Red Purl, which I had found online when I was craving yarn. It's in Niles, MI, just about 15 minutes away, in the most adorable little neighborhood! The store was so cute too! Funky red woodwork with stuffed sheep in the window decked out in cowboy hats and boots. And they had a dog! And CAKE. Because we just picked the best day possible to go - their one year anniversary. So there were a bunch of women hanging out and knitting and there was cake and, best of all... ALL THE YARN WAS ON SALE! I was pretty ecstatic. Yarn shopping just puts me in the best mood. So I got some Malabrigo yarn for 25% off and some pretty maroon yarn for 10% off.

I have no idea what I'm going to do with the purple yarn. I bought it because I was just enamored with the color and, again, the gorgeous subtleties from the kettle dying. I should try that... Anyway, I do have something to show for the maroon yarn.


More mittens, of course. ;) Notice how well it matches my bag! I'm convinced my knitting bag must have subconsciously inspired my color choices. Here is the pattern I'm using. This one has thumb increases, but I think I'd tweak the pattern if I used it again. I still am getting this mitten thing down.

It's midterm week so I haven't gotten to work on them much lately, but Fall Break is coming, and we all know what that means -- knitting time!

Till then,
Teresa