11 in 2011

Dawn scarf

2011-11-06T09:56:00.002+02:00

My attempt to knit a scarf with beautiful dawn colours is not really a success... It is practically impossible to imitate the morning colours with just two yarn colours. But we´ll see how it turns out! At the moment it is rather grey.

11 + 3

2011-11-06T09:51:00.005+02:00

This big brother scarf is actually a back to school one. It´s for a god daughter, the plan is to knit a hat, too.

11 + 2

2011-11-06T09:47:00.003+02:00

Cowl, seven brothers and silmu, pattern from Hedgehog. Not sure if this is wide enogh, but it´ll strech!

11 + 1

2011-11-06T09:44:00.003+02:00

Queen Ann´s Lace, Puro. Nice and quick!

Still Going

2011-10-29T14:12:00.002+03:00

I'm not sure if I'll make it to 22 (2x11) before the end of the year, but here's an update on the ongoing scarf/shawl knitting. I chose too many patterns and bought too much new yarn to only do 11! The first is another cowl with Novita 7 Brothers and Silmu, this time longer and with a twist. The second is another Queen Anne's Lace scarf.

Sky Scarf Update

2011-10-29T13:22:00.003+03:00

Here's a photo of my sky scarf so far. Just over a month down - I'm aiming for the whole academic year. I'd love to see yours here, Karhu and Flikka!

Beyond Eleven

2011-09-21T10:09:00.005+03:00

I seem to have bought yarn for more than 11 projects along the way this year, so I'm going to keep going until Christmas with the shawl/scarf theme. A long cowl counts, right? I made this one last weekend out of Novita 7 Brothers and Novita Silmu with a 5mm needle. I cast on 180 stitches. This was so fun and easy, I think I'm going to make two more!

I also finished up two crocheted projects while traveling in Latvia and Estonia a few weeks ago. The first is number 12B with a bordered added. It's a combination of 200g Araucania Ranco Solid (black and grey) with Novita Tico-Tico as the border. I could have made it even larger, but ran out of yarn.

The second is a Queen Anne's Lace scarf made from Patons Classic Wool and a 4mm hook. This pattern was very addictive and would make a great last minute gift!

Knitnick group afghan

2011-09-09T16:02:00.005+03:00

Us - the three bloggers here - had a lovely summer knitnicking, and the result is in the photo. Well, we obviously also crocheted! This group afghan is a gift for a newly retired colleague. Each one of us crocheted 16 granny squares and then we took turns in joining them together and finishing the edges. Knitnicking was so much fun that we are going to continue it, indoors of course in these parts of the world at this time of the year. Looking forward to it! Btw, knitnick = knitting picknick.

No 11: Präntöö

2011-09-05T17:01:00.002+03:00

My last (but not least) contribution to the project is another one of my designs, Präntöö shawl.

The shawl is made of Novita Tico Tico using 4 mm needles. It took 141 grams of yarn. I'm planning to write down the pattern so if anyone is interested, let me know.

Number 10: Holden shawlette

2011-08-30T21:16:00.000+03:00

This shawl has been long in the making, not only because of the pattern, but because the yarn was so thin. But now it's finished, and just in time for our colleague's retirement party tomorrow.

The pattern is called Holden shawlette, but I made quite a few more repeats because the yarn I used (Malabrigo Lace) was so much thinner than in the pattern. I used 65 grams of the yarn, so just over one skein. The shawl is still fairly big, it's really soft and light. I used 3½ mm needles. I might do this again with thicker yarn, I love the lace and the picot edge.

Number 9: Mansikkasaari -shawl

2011-08-24T21:25:00.001+03:00

My ninth shawl is ready. It's the first pattern I have designed myself, and I'm quite happy with it. The blue Tico Tico and the pattern go well together. It took 110 g of yarn, I used 4 mm needles.

Big thanks to my fellow knitters who helped me with the photo session!

Number 12B

2011-08-23T18:44:00.004+03:00

I made a 12th scarf, but didn't like it and ripped it out yesterday. Here's the start of a second attempt at #12 (but with different yarn). Is it possible to make 11 more between now and December?! That would be crazy, right?

Cool Idea

2011-08-21T23:23:00.001+03:00

I've finished my 11 scarves/shawls, but have several other projects in mind to finish before the end of the year, so I hope to keep posting here! Up next, maybe a half granny square shawl. In the meantime, I came across this cool project! You can find more details here. I think I'm going to join!

Sky Scarf from Leafcutter Designs on Vimeo.

Eleven!

2011-08-09T22:43:00.002+03:00

I can hardly believe it, but I finished scarf number 11 yesterday!

The yarn for this Pimpelliese is Novita Freesia, a cotton yarn that was for sale a while ago. Haven´t seen it since. I used 3,5mm needles. I liked knitting this one, the pattern is easy and pretty. It already found its user, my daughter.

Number Ten

2011-08-08T10:47:00.003+03:00

Finished this scarf on my trip to eastern Finland (Punkaharju) to visit my uncle and his wife in their lovely summer cottage. It is Novita Puro, colour Aallokko and I used 6mm needles to knit it and crocheted around with a 5mm hook. The pattern is in the Novita Magazine Kevät 2011.

Seven & Eight

2011-07-31T12:44:00.000+03:00

I've finished this Multnomah a couple of weeks ago, but due to certain circumstances haven't been able to photograph it outside. The yarn is Schoppelwolle's Zauberball (1 skein), and the needles were (I think) 3 mm. I could have used bigger needles to make the scarf a bit bigger, it's more like a shawlette than a shawl. But I like the colors and the pattern.

I also made a lacy Baktus using two skeins of Sisu Fantasy and 3 mm needles.

Number nine

2011-07-29T12:42:00.007+03:00

Finally finished scarf number nine! This must have been the third one I started... It is made of Novita Tico tico, and I used a number 3,5 circular needle. The pattern is no pattern, just knit the first and and last stiches front and back, yarn over, knit pull over. And purl back. It can get very boring... I then crocheted the edges and made little flowers to give it a pretty touch.

Number Eight

2011-07-22T11:25:00.005+03:00

The scarf number Eight is crocheted, the pattern is in the Novita Magazine 2011 Kevät and the yarn is Nalle. I used a nuber 3,5 hook. Quick and easy!

The Seventh

2011-07-22T11:14:00.007+03:00

This scarf I started a while ago. The yarn is Novita Kukkaketo Päivänkakkara and I used number 3,5 needles. The pattern is my own, but I didn´t need any creative talents to "design" it. It is simply Yarn over, slip, knit, pull over. And R2 just purl. And then slip, knit, pull over, yarn over and purl back. In the process I got so bored with this (I´ve got an almost similar one going on with even thinner yarn...) so that I wanted to add something nice to it so that I wouldn´t hate it ... The granny squares actually helped!

Feather and fan

2011-07-22T10:59:00.003+03:00

This is my scarf number 6! The yarn is Puro Batik and I used number 5 needles. The pattern is the feather and fan pattern that Hedgehog taught me. It is super easy and pretty, although I think that this colour is a little too "restless" for the pattern. I actually modified it a bit by adding 3 knit-only-rows between the four pattern rows. The scarf found a new home earlier this week when I visited a friend in Iisalmi.

Number 11!

2011-07-17T17:31:00.004+03:00

This was the second project I started for our goal this year - and now it's the last to be finished! I can't believe I've finished already. A few quick scarves really helped. I still have a few more scarf/shawl projects queued up, so I think I'll keep going!

The yarn is Estonian - a friend has a sheep as part of the same flock. I used 4.5mm needles, except for the bind off (6mm). The pattern is modular - and quite quick. There were a lot of ends to weave in, but many fewer thanks to tips I found from other knitters on Ravelry.

Here's a little knitted/crocheted graffiti Karhu and I found near the city hall in Vaasa today, too:

Nine & Ten

2011-07-14T23:07:00.005+03:00

I finished this scarf in just over 24 hours! It went so quickly, and thanks to help from Karhu, I'm not afraid of crocheting anymore! I have already planned to make another scarf from this pattern (unfortunately only available in Finnish) using another colorway of Novita Puro yarn. I think that this pattern is quick and interesting enough (especially with the mix of knitting and crocheting) to repeat soon.

I loved making the blue cotton feather and fan scarf so much that I made another one using Italian Ice Yarn (mostly cotton) while visiting a friend just to the north of Vaasa last week. I ran out of interest in the pattern by the end, but think it was a good pattern to make with this yarn. I still have a few skeins of it left, but am not sure what I'll do with it...

I can't believe I'm already so close to our 11 scarf/shawl goal!!

Number 6: Linen shawl

2011-07-13T14:33:00.001+03:00

My sixth shawl is a simple garter stitch linen shawl. It took one skein (100g) of Punta Yarns Montoya Beach Solid, I used 5 mm circular needles. I started with 6 stitches and increased one stitch (yarn over) at the beginning of every round, and continued until I ran out of yarn.

The shawl found a new home immediately. I sent it today to a friend for her birthday.

Two More Finished Projects!

2011-07-02T22:54:00.004+03:00

I think these two are number seven and number eight for me... I bought the yarn for both in Munich at Easter time this year. My stash is out of control, but I figure if I use up new purchases right away, it doesn't make the situation any worse, right?

The red shawl is made from Lana Grossa Meilenweit Solo Colore sock yarn and the Pimpelliese pattern. (I haven't had a chance to block it yet.) I started it on the ferry between Travemünde and Helsinki after a trip to Berlin. I loved this yarn so much, I bought skeins in two other colors in Helsinki. (Please disregard what I said above about my yarn stash.)

The second one is made from Lang Yarns Solo Dégradé . It's a cotton band type of yarn. I never would have bought if it the shop hadn't had a model of a similar feather and fan scarf knit up from it on display. I would buy more of this yarn in a second. It's a perfect summer weight and was so easy to knit.

Summer scarf (#5)

2011-07-01T13:25:00.005+03:00

This was a nice and quick summer scarf! The pattern is in the Novita magazine Kevät 2010, the yarn is Novita Puro Batik, I used number 5 needles. It´s very simple, you just knit and then in the end let stiches "run".

Shawl No 5 - Coquille Shawl

2011-06-28T17:29:00.000+03:00

I finished this shawl a couple of weeks ago, and blocked it during Midsummer.

The pattern is called Coquille Shawl and it can be found from Knitty. The pattern is simple but pretty, and it's done using two sets of needles, I used 3 mm and 5.5 mm needles. The yarn is Lang Jawoll Magic, and I used 139 g of it.

I'm working on my 6th and 7th shawls at the moment, but I might do something else than shawls for a change.

Number 6 - Forest for the Trees

2011-05-09T10:28:00.003+03:00

Here's another scarf from the Knit One Below book I got for Christmas this year - I finished this up this weekend, despite the weather being more appropriate for gardening than knitting! It took four skeins of Puro yarn. The pattern is easy, but correcting any mistakes is incredibly frustrating. I was surprised by how much I had to concentrate when the greens from the two skeins were nearly the same.

Simple scarf

2011-04-30T13:44:00.001+03:00

This is a simple garter stitch scarf, except for a purl row with a different yarn every fifth row. The mohair yarn is Fils anny blatt and the thicker yarn is Gedifra Rosas. I used circular 7 mm needles. Both the yarn and the pattern are from Fiinaneule in Helsinki. Mohair is not my favourite yarn, and that together with bamboo needles wasn't a very good combination.

Still, the scarf is very soft and light, and the thicker yarn gives it a nice texture.

Baktus Number two / Scarf Number four

2011-04-19T18:16:00.004+03:00

This scarf I knitted on my way to and in Helsinki, whre I went for a training last week. It is a basic baktus, but with a cable on one side. The yarn I bought ages ago in Germany, I used 3,5 needles. Again, my baktus isn´t quite symmetrical...

Gabriel's wings

2011-04-18T17:53:00.000+03:00

I finished my third shawl last weekend. The pattern is called Gabriel's wings (Ravelry), and I used one skein of Regia Hand-dye Effect and 3 ½ mm needles. An easy and pretty pattern. I like how the yarn looks, but I didn't like it that much when knitting. It got tangled really easily, and I had to cut it a couple of times, because I just couldn't untangle the knots.

Four & Five

2011-03-26T15:45:00.003+02:00

The second Lacy Baktus was easy to finish on the train to/from Hesinki last weekend - it makes finish number 4!

Number 5 feels a little like cheating - it was so quick to make! I love the Morning Snack Scarf pattern. This was made with Noro Kogorashi that I bought in Helsinki when I was there, and I think I'll keep it for myself!

I've been meaning to post this link for a while - I found it via someone's Twitter feed, I think, but it's been a while now! Hope it makes you smile!

Triangles in a row

2011-03-19T12:35:00.000+02:00

My second scarf was quickly finished with 5.5 mm needles and three skeins of Novita Puro. The pattern was quite addictive, you make a triange starting from the bottom, decrease in every row until you have one stitch left, then pick up stitches from one side of the triangle and do another one. The pattern is from Novita Talvi 2010. The yarn isn't one of my favourites, it has too many knots and the yarn got really thin at some points.

Lots to Share!

2011-03-17T22:13:00.005+02:00

I've been busy! I've finished scarves/shawls number 2 and 3. The first is Multnomah in Schoppel-Wolle's Frische Fische yarn. The second is a Lacy Baktus with Novita's Nalle Kukkaketo (Päivänkakkara - to match my tulips!).

I loved the Lacy Baktus so much that I had to start another one right away. This time with Novita 7 Veljestä Raita. I'm looking forward to knitting on the train this weekend!

Baktus done!

2011-03-16T20:48:00.003+02:00

Finished Baktus two nights ago. It was nice to knit! Did not turn out to be perfectly symmetrical, it was a bit difficult to count the increases and decreades in this yarn!

Fisherman finished!

2011-03-13T20:04:00.004+02:00

So happy to have finished the scarf I started first!

Starting with Grey Lace

2011-03-09T16:24:00.000+02:00

I finally finished my first scarf, had started it a while ago, but other projects took my time. The lace pattern was really easy to remember, could be a good first lace project. The pattern is from Novita spring 2010, yarn is Novita Rose Mohair and the needles are 5 mm. It took 130 g of yarn to make this scarf. I've started my second scarf as well, and the pattern is really addictive, but again other projects seem to take my time at the moment...

Good at Starting, Not So Good at Finishing

2011-03-06T18:34:00.002+02:00

I'm still working on the fan shawl and the green and orange scarf, but I had to start something new this week, too. I love the Zauberball from Schoppel-Wolle. I made socks from a blue ball a couple years ago and decided to finally break into the rainbow-colored one (called frische Fische) that I bought at the same time. The pattern is Multnomah (more details on Ravelry). I have no idea how large (or small) this is going to be - might be more of a shawlette, but in either case, I think I know who I'm going to give it to.

My first Baktus scarf!

2011-03-03T11:37:00.002+02:00

Had to start a new one before finishing the fisherman... This I´m already in love with, the yarn (a present from a friend) plays a big part in my falling in love with this pattern after two centimeters.

Ack! Distracted by Socks!

2011-02-26T12:34:00.004+02:00

I've been knitting socks again - they're so much quicker than the scarves and shawls! I've also been working on this eternal project. Despite the fact that according to Ravelry I started this in 2009, I'm going to include it in my 11, since I started it again (for the fourth time) at Christmas, after we'd decided on the 2011 goal. Otherwise, I'm afraid I'll never finish it! The only question now is whether or not I need to buy another skein or two of the yarn (DROPS Alpaca) now that I've made the scarf much wider than originally planned in order to be able to work it on a circular needle...

First scarf finished!

2011-02-25T23:09:00.005+02:00

First finished, but this one I started second... The fisherman´s rib is just too slow, so I had to knit something quicker. This cabled scarf is Novita Puro, the pattern is in the Novita magazine fall 2009 issue. Super easy! Used four scanes of yarn and the scarf is 2,20 cm long.

One Down, Ten to Go!

2011-02-12T14:32:00.004+02:00

I finished my first of the scarves/shawls today! I like this effect (and the drape), but am not in love with the Puro Batik yarn. It's for a friend who's allergic to wool, though, so I hope she will like it! (I did decide to crochet around the edges in the end, despite my lacking crochet skills.)

I'm out of yarn at the moment for the Fan Shawl and am going to use that as an excuse to start a new project. Now the trouble is deciding which one...

Fan Shawl

2011-01-30T13:38:00.004+02:00

While I haven't quite finished the first scarf/shawl (I still need to decide about crocheting around the edges), I started a new project this weekend. It's a modular pattern - and very addictive! I have eight of the 28 units finished so far. The yarn is Estonian and smells nice and sheepy, but I'm not sure I'll have enough. I just went ahead anyway, hoping that I'll be able to get some more. I'm using 4.5mm needles, and it's quite dense. It will certainly be warm!

Scarf number one

2011-01-17T17:53:00.005+02:00

My first scarf is two-coloured-fisherman´s stitch, which is the stitch that Hedgehog is using, but this one is ribbed. (I used this instruction in German: http://www.ls-liane-stitch.de/Strickmuster1.html). I´m using Novita Rose mohair and a round needle number 5.
It is very easy, once you get used to it! One problem: mistakes are almost impossible to correct...

Happy New Year!

2011-01-03T15:22:00.007+02:00

One of my new year's resolutions is to be better about blogging... I've started my first scarf/shawl of the year already - I'm not really sure if it is a scarf or a shawl yet... I got the book Knit One Below: One Stitch, Many Fabrics by Elise Duvekot for Christmas and had to give it a try. The yarn is Novita Puro Batik, needles 4mm.

Last pairs Vol 2

2010-12-31T11:12:00.001+02:00

My last pairs

2010-12-31T11:05:00.000+02:00

Finished!

2010-12-19T21:45:00.000+02:00

Here are my last two pairs. This colored mitten is for my mother-in-law. The pattern is from Leszner's book "Kirjokintaita ja myssyjä". The yarn is Nalle Aloe Vera and the needles are 2½ mm.

This pair is for my father-in-law. The pattern is basic, the yarn is Puntayarns merinowool, needles 2½ mm.

And here are the thirty pairs of mittens we did this year! They look so pretty all in a row. We did a good job, and I can't wait for next year!

Pinks and Purples

2010-11-29T23:21:00.003+02:00

The bloom mittens have been moving very slowly, but I'm finally working on the second one.

I needed something quicker going, too, so I started up some mittens inspired by a friend's first socks:

Pink mittens

2010-11-27T14:04:00.000+02:00

I've finished these two pairs of mittens a couple of weeks ago already. The ones on the left are very basic mittens with purls every ninth round (women's size), the Yarn is 7 veljestä Polkka, needles 3½ mm.

The ones on the right are for my 6-year-old niece. The pattern is from Novita Winter 2008. The honeycomb pattern was a lot easier to make than what it looks. The yarn is also 7 veljestä, needles 3½ mm.

Green cables

2010-11-06T11:41:00.000+02:00

It's really hard to take a picture of your own hands, but after several attempts I finally managed to take a decent picture. Here's my sixth pair, the pattern is from Novita Winter 2008, the yarn is 7 veljestä and the needles are 3½ mm. A nice pattern, I'm planning to make a hat to accompany the mittens.

Distracted

2010-10-25T21:59:00.002+03:00

I was doing so well...

I'm still working on these - have been distracted by travel, work, and other knitting project. Shame on me! Think these are number nine, though, so I think the end is in sight!

Stripes all the way

2010-10-19T19:25:00.000+03:00

Here's my fiftth pair of mittens, stripes again. It's from the same book as the earlier pair (Myssystä sukkiin), just a different variation of that pattern. I changed it by adding increases for the thumb, there were none in the original pattern. I used Novita 7 veljestä and the needles were 3 and 3½ mm.

Pair No 4, and the fifth is on the way!

2010-10-11T19:55:00.000+03:00

I finished my fourth pair of mittens last weekend. The pattern is from a book "Myssystä sukkiin", the yarn is Gjestal Nagano and Novita Nalle, and the needles I used were 2½ and 3 mm. The pattern was really addictive, and I could use the technique I learned last year in a course about colored knitting. Now I'm knitting another pair, the pattern is a variation of this one, and equally addictive!

Riihivilla Blooms

2010-09-26T10:57:00.004+03:00

I started these mittens yesterday, using a pattern and yarn from Riihivilla, purchased in Helsinki's Market Square last December and found on Ravlery! I had to do the cuff twice, since it was too big with the recommended 3.5mm needles, but it's just perfect with the 3mm ones. I tweaked the pattern just a bit because I only have four colors, but I'm happy with the results so far!

It's Been a While!

2010-09-18T22:11:00.003+03:00

I didn't do much knitting over the summer, just a couple of pairs of socks, but I finally got back to these mittens (started in April) and it didn't take much time to finish them off. Improvised the cabled pattern, Novita Nalle yarn, 3mm needles.

Pair No 3

2010-08-31T17:23:00.000+03:00

I made these basic mittens for my nephew, either for his birthday (in October) or for Christmas. The yarn is Drops Big Fabel, needles are 3½ mm.

More knots

2010-08-02T18:23:00.000+03:00

I made another pair of knot mittens, this time from thinner yarn. They look a lot prettier than the first pair. The purple yarn is Gjestal Nagano and the knots are 7 veljestä. They will probably end up as a Christmas gift for someone who has slightly smaller hands than I.

My first pair

2010-07-22T14:17:00.000+03:00

I finally started my first pair of mittens this year, and what could be a better time than during the hottest time of the year! This is an old pattern, which my mother learned from an old woman living in the same village. I've wanted to learn how to make them myself and now I asked my mother to teach me. The mittens have basically knots and the ends of the threads are left inside the mitten (which you can see in the picture below). This makes the mittens really warm.

The knots are really simple to make once you got the hang of it. I had some problems first because the knots tended to disappear on the inside. The trick is to tighten the knot well before knitting the next stitch.

I think I'm going to keep these mittens for myself, since they are not quite as good as I would have liked. I'm going to make another pair with slightly thinner yarn (this was 7 brothers) for someone for Christmas.

Spring Mittens!

2010-04-11T12:53:00.002+03:00

As the weather's getting warmer, I'm a little less inspired to knit, but I did manage to finish another pair of Solf mittens en route to the USA last month. (It was great fun to visit a yarn shop with Michi while in Boston!) Inspired by Karhu, I used Nalle blueberry yarn (self-striping) this time. I'm pleased with them, except that I reverse the colors on the tvåändstickning edges! Oh well.

I've started another pair with Nalle - this time one of the flower colorways. These are cabled on the cuff and on the back of the hand. Bring on the flowers!

Tvåändstickning and more

2010-03-14T15:15:00.006+02:00

Finally figured out the tvåändstickning, with the help of Michi´s video and Hedgehog sitting by my side telling me what to do next.... I intend to knit a hat using this technique, now that I finally know how it works!

Here are the results of the mitten knitting:

The grey ones are the original Solf-vantar, the pink ones are something my daughter wished for herself. She was not sooo excited about the grey colour, but she found the pattern nice. I have to say that I am surprised how well the pattern works with these yarns with many colours.

I also managed to knit something of Novita Seitsemän veljestä Colori. They were quick to knit, but these are for someone with small hands. This pattern is on the reverse side of the label.

Visited a friend in Iisalmi a couple of weeks ago and knitted these there:

They are made of Novita Puro, this colour is Iltanuotio - Evening fire. They are nice and soft, maybe too soft for mittens.

My next project is reproducing something I got as a present about 15 years ago. We´ll see how that project turns out...

Michi: Don't Read This Post

2010-02-28T22:47:00.003+02:00

If you're still reading, consider yourself warned.

Two more finishes, but I've decided after this weekend that I'm knitted out. Done. Put almost everything away. Not forever, just for now. Sometimes with an addiction, you just have to do it until you've got it out of your system. Like with Tetris.

I finished up the blue felted mittens. (pre-felting photo here) They're definitely a man's size. I cast on 44 stitches instead of 40, in order to try out a little felted Fair Isling. They're a little longer than the first felted pair, too.

I also finished up the Solf mittens while watching the last night of Olympic events. Once my knitting hiatus is over, I will definitely be making more of these!

Hello My Name is Hedgehog

2010-02-25T00:44:00.004+02:00

and I'm a knitaholic.

I can't seem to stop myself. Here's another finish - and I've already started another felted pair! Waiting for them to shrink in the washer felt a little like Christmas Eve! They're made with Novita Huopanen yarn - more or less from the pattern on the band (less, given that I was using Finnish instructions!).

Solf/Sulva Mittens

2010-02-19T10:34:00.005+02:00

Karhu and I both bought this kit two weeks ago here in Vaasa - it's an old pattern from Solf/Sulva. Once I figured out the cuff, the knitting was quick - two evenings for the cuff, another for the rest of the hand. I love the way the decrease happens at the top! I'm using the Swedish version of the pattern and it took me a few tries to get it right. The pattern is a little vague (make one - how?), but it might just be my language skills! For the hand, I ended up doing the following (and it looks like the photos): R1: K1FB K4 K2T (S1KW S1PW K these two together through the back) K3 K1FB K1; R2: K all

The cuff involves some tvåändstickning... Took me a while to figure this out, but I finally put a few different sets of instructions together and made it work. I realized first that tvåändstickning is basically Fair-Isling with twisting the carried yarns each time (thanks for the video, Michi!). Then I noticed that the stocking I'm making had a half-version of the braid on the Solf mittens. In that pattern, the braid is done by purling with the carried yarns in front (and twisted each time). THEN I noticed that there are similar braids in Latvian Mittens by Lizabeth Upitis. These braid are also made by purling with the yarn carried in front - twice. So, back to the Solf mittens - these braids are made by turning the work inside out and knitting with the yarns carried behind (on the front side of the work), twisting them, as well. Twice. The knitting version is quicker (for me, at least), but it does leave a hole in the side where the color changes happen. I'm going to cover that up with some sort of tassel, as suggested in the pattern.

Tvåändsstickning

2010-02-13T07:38:00.001+02:00

For Karhu... I hope this helps!

Two Old Finishes and a New One

2010-02-07T17:36:00.005+02:00

I acquired (as gifts and through de-stashing) tons of Patons Classic Wool yarn from my mom and my aunt over the holidays, and I think that I'm going to make a series of mittens in a variety of neutrals. For the first pair I modified SpillyJane's Quo Vadis pattern.

I don't think these count towards the 10 for 2o10, but I did finish two other pairs of mittens this weekend. The white lovikkas I started in 2oo8, and I just had to weave in the ends and do the embroidery. The grey ones were also started in 2oo8 and needed thumbs. I'd like to embroider something on them in yellow (there are little flecks of yellow in the yarn), but will wait until I decide who to give them to first!

It's ON

2010-02-07T01:09:00.003+02:00

I have officially started my first pair of mittens. I chose the Minnesota Mittens from Folk Mittens by Marcia Lewandowski. So far it has involved learning a technique - tvåändsstickning (also called twined knitting, it's a Swedish two-end knitting that gives you a very tight, windproof fabric). Thank goodness for YouTube and Ravelry! Tvåändsstickning is still a bit tricky, as I haven't figured out a good way to keep the two ends of the yarn from becoming hopelessly tangled every couple of rounds, but man, are these going to be some warm mittens! I will hopefully have them finished before my ski trip the first week of March.

I've also had to figure out what the heck a thumb gore is and how to knit one. I think I'm doing ok, but I guess we'll see for sure by tomorrow.

While searching for videos on these new techniques, I came across the following video. It made me giggle and I just had to share. Happy knitting!

#2

2010-02-01T21:33:00.002+02:00

These are mittens for my sister, she has her birthday today! Started them Friday night, finished Sunday morning. The yarn is new Novita, Kukkaketo (Flower field) and the colour is called Ruusu (Rose). Just the right colour for my sis.

#3

2010-01-24T23:22:00.001+02:00

While I definitely do not recommend tearing ankle ligaments, it has been good for the knitting.

I saw these mittens in Grace Robinson in Freeport, Maine over the holidays, and given that they were knit with Julia yarn (from Nashua Knits, pattern by Kristin Nicholas), I knew right away who I needed to make them for. Julia.

I just did a big yarn storage reorganization over the weekend. What did I learn from this less-than-thrilling task? I seriously need to finish up some UFOs, I want to make more time (and space) for quilting/sewing, and I most definitely need to continue the yarn-buying diet well beyond February.

Pirate Mittens, Project # 1

2010-01-24T16:19:00.004+02:00

These are the first official 2010 mittens. They are going to be a birthday present for my nephew Kalle, who turns six in the end of January. The yarn is Novita Seitsemän veljestä, the perfect mitten yarn, especially if you need to finish something in no time! The wooden needles are size 3.5 (European), and I bought them in Sweden last year. Like them, light and very silent!

Project Number Zero

2010-01-24T16:01:00.006+02:00

This is my first post, but not the first offcial mitten project. See, I started these felted mittens already in November 2009, so officiallt they don´t count. They´re made of Novita Huopanen and the pattern was on the inside of the label. I had an old scane. The new ones don´t have the patterns any more. Not so practical!

Before felting the mittens were pretty big!

After felting they were the right size. Different person´s hand on the lower picture....

Inspirational Hats

2010-01-17T13:16:00.005+02:00

I thought this blog from 2009 might be good inspiration for us - it's by an Icelander who made a hat a week for a whole year! The red and purple striped mittens were made to match a hat I made with red, purple, and orange Peace Fleece - the free Chevron hat pattern can be found here. For once, I made things for myself! They match a great scarf I got for Christmas 2008 from a friend.

Speaking of hats, our own Flikka is collecting hats for women going through chemo here in Vaasa. You can learn more about it on her blog. I think this is a good enough reason to break my yarn diet and purchase some less-scratchy (non-wool) yarn for a couple of hats!

Slacking

2010-01-17T01:48:00.004+02:00

Thanks, H, for the invite to participate in this knitting/blogging event. However, you have successfully made me feel a bit like a slacker, as you've already completed two pair of mittens and we're not even out of January. *sigh*

In my defense, I have been finishing up Christmas and baby gifts left over from 2009. Today I finished the second to last of those projects - a bunny, for my friend's first baby. The pattern is from Joelle Hoverson's Last Minute Knitted Gifts. Really simple, and completely adorable.

I also chose my first pattern for my first pair of mittens... it's a start, right?

On the Couch

2010-01-16T13:52:00.001+02:00

Not for psychotherapy, but thanks to a bum ankle. The plus side is that it's a great excuse to knit! I finished my first two pairs of mittens, both from Robin Hansen's Favorite Mittens.

The first are the striped mittens, according to Hansen, a common pattern in Maine and Gotland. The yarn is from Peace Fleece, purchased at Purl Diva in Brunswick. They're a little large for me, and I might try to shrink them a little.

The second pair are thrummed/drummed/stuffed - very warm, but a little small for me. These went really quickly! The natural yarn is from Replot; I would use something a little thicker next time, but it was nice yarn to work with. The pencil roving is also Finnish.

The next pair I'd like to try from Hansen's book is the Rolled Mittens. I might even try to learn to knit 'American' for that project!

Two Mitten Books

2010-01-10T23:37:00.005+02:00

Here are two inspiring books I got over the holidays. I've already started two pairs of mittens from the first one - photos to come soon!

First Post

2010-01-10T02:19:00.000+02:00

My goal was to get the ball rolling here on the first of the year, but it's still January, right? As you can see from the mission in the sidebar, after knitting 9 pairs of socks in 2oo9 (pictured in the header above), two knitting-addicted neighbors have decided to aim for 10 pairs of mittens in 2010. We've also invited some friends (near and far) to join us this year and to blog about our progress.