NaKniMitMo,Take One

It's still white outside. And it's bitterly cold. I'm pulling for a cold day. What's a cold day, you ask? It's a day on which school is canceled for no reason other than that it's frigid. How frigid does it have to be? We were debating that today in the teacher's lounge, and one teacher claimed -25 after the wind chill, but we just don't know. Maybe the buses won't start. That actually happened one year. Really, I'm pulling for a cold day. But just out of concern for the munchkins. Wouldn't want them to get frostbite at the bus stop. Yeah... I'm just concerned about the munchkins. Heh.

So, I finished the first pair of mittens for NaKniMitMo, and at the rate I'm knitting this month, it just might be the only pair I finish this month. I really have two more pairs planned, plus two pairs of fingerless mitts, plus finish this project, but we'll see how much time finishing the KNITTING FOR SMALL CHILDREN takes.


Photo taken yesterday, when it was much less frigid outside.

The thumbs gave me a bit of trouble. I had gaping holes at the base of the thumb where I picked up the stitches, so I sewed them closed before weaving in the yarn at the end. How did I do?



I modified the tip by decreasing on the sides rather than evenly around. I think it looks neater this way.



These are a birthday gift for Blee, whose birthday is not until next Friday. I'm ahead of the game on this one.

Yarn
Dream in Color Classy in Some Summer Sky

Needles
Size 5, 3.75 mm

Pattern
Basic Mitten Pattern from The Knitter's Book of Handy Patterns by Ann Budd

Christmas Knitting in Review—Part One

I have one word for Christmas knitting this year—disastrous! Two projects were finished on time and wrapped. One project was wrapped unfinished. And—get this—I still have five other projects that aren't even on the needles yet. That doesn't take into account ongoing birthday knitting.

What the hell was I thinking?

This will not happen next year. No knitted goods for Christmas. You scoff, I know, but I will not fall victim to this December craziness again! I have a new plan... knitted goods only for birthdays. See, this way, they are spread out over the year.

Anyway, on to the Christmas knits! The first project and probably most well-executed was a hat and mittens for Small Child 2.



Trying to get pictures of her modeling the mittens was difficult, to say the least.



Okay, hold the mittens a little closer this time.



Okay, not so close to the camera, closer to you.



Okay, now stop moving!



There... great cheesy smile!

Small Child 1 was willing to model the hat for me out-of-doors, in proper light.





Small Child 1 may have a future in modeling handknits!

Yarn
Berroco Comfort in Rosebud, Pretty Pink, Ivory, and Cornflower

Needles
Mittens—Size 6, 4 mm
Hat—Size 7, 4.5 mm

Patterns
Mittens—Basic Mitten Pattern, The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns by Ann Budd
Hat—Scrap-happy Celebration Hat by Cosette Cornelius-Bates

Favorite Things Friday—Smitten with Mittens

I am taking my first stranded knitting class this coming Sunday, and in two weekends I am taking a Selbu class. All this has me interested in stranded mitten patterns. I've spent way too much time on Ravelry lately, smitten with mittens. Here are my favorites:

Free Patterns
Herringbone Mittens with Poms
Squirrely Swedish Mittens
Both of the above patterns are by Elli Stubenrauch of Elliphantom Knits. I just love Elli's patterns and her blog.

Icewine Mittens by Emily Holbert Kellam
Great gift for a wine-lover!

Squirrel and Oak Mittens by Adrian Bizilia, of We Call Them Pirates fame. Apparently, I'm into squirrels.

Endpaper Mitts by Eunny Jang
Stranded knitting yumminess in fingerless mitts.

Tiffany by Sabine Riefler
Latvian-style mittens reminiscent of Tiffany windows.

Sea Mineral by SpillyJane
Latvian-style mittens with ocean waves. SpillyJane is a great designer.

A Bird in the Hand by Jorid Linvik
Not be confused with Bird in Hand by Kate Gilbert. (See below.)


Not-So-Free Patterns
Bird in Hand by Kate Gilbert
The woman behind Clapotis designed this pair of fantastic mittens. I love the little birdy on the thumb.

Snowbird Mittens by Elli Stubenrach
Elli does it again! Featured in Vogue Knitting Fall 2008. Apparently, I also have a thing for birds.

Amaryllis Mittens by Mary Ann Stephens
Latvian-style pattern with four different thumb motifs.

Entomology Mittens in Knitalong
Norwegian Snail Mittens in The Knitter's Book of Yarn
Fiddlehead Mittens
These are also by Adrian Bizilia of We Call Them Pirates fame.

Potpourri by Tanis Gray
Featured in Vogue Knitting Fall 2008.

Wintertime for Adriana
Swedish Fish
Willistead
Polska
More of SpillyJane's patterns. Seriously, this girl does not get enough credit.

Cat Mittens
Frog Mittens
Wedding Mittens
More by Jorid Linvik

And finally, my favorite Selbu pattern. Beautiful long gauntlet cuff.