Getting ready...

...to knit the heel on the current L'Amour et la Morte sock:
...for NaKniMitMo 2010:


...and strangely enough, for the 2010 Knitting Olympics as well:I still can hardly believe that subjecting myself to such a deadline seems like a good idea. The last time it was a total bust (for me, at least,) but 2006 was a long time ago. It might be cliche, but things are different now. Still, fingers crossed. Now all I need is a team that will have me.

National Knit Mittens Month 2010


We're only a few days out from January 2010, which is my favourite month for a couple of reasons: my birthday falls at the end of it (on the 30th) and because it's also now National Knit Mittens Month, a cause that I can definitely get behind. Alternately known as NaKniMitMo, it's a month-long KAL with contests (and prizes!) to keep those mitten projects dripping off your needles. All the necessary information about the KAL is right over here, in the official Ravelry group. I took part last year, and it was lots of fun.

I'm also extra excited about this year because my new mitten pattern, Anna's Mittens, is the official pattern of NaKniMitMo 2010. The best part? The pattern is on sale for $4 USD from now until the end of January 2010 in honour of the KAL. Pick up a copy here. I had been toying around with the idea of a big, highly-textured pair of mittens in a delicious red for a while – something with a big, hearty cuff, a smattering of floral-inspired colourwork on said cuff and big, pure uninterrupted bits of screaming colour with plenty of purling for texture and interest.I always walk around with this (probably totally incorrect, but still, to me it makes sense) version of Folk Art in my head and sometimes this comes out in my work. These mittens are one of my attempts to create my own body of Folk Art from a country that may or may not have ever existed (but may or may not be located somewhere in central Europe. Possibly.)They’re named “Anna’s Mittens” after my friend Anna, who is actually European, unlike the mittens. They were her Christmas present this year. She loved them!

So now all I have to do is decide which mittens I'll be knitting next month. With any luck, a couple of new mitten patterns will be created in the process.

Feathered Friends + Etsy update

A wee taste of what I'm up to now:The Feathered Friends Mittens. More details soon, as they become available.

Oh, and the Cupcake Mittens and the Pear Mittens are now up in my Etsy shop. Other patterns will be turning up there shortly.

Pizzelle socks are now live

Pizzelle is live, just in time for the holidays:Whimsical socks with a large floral motif, reminiscent of the floral/snowflake patterns seen on Pizzelle cookies. For added interest they have striped soles and contrasting cuffs and heels.

Don’t care for sportweight socks? Substitute a comparable amount of fingering weight yarn and use US 3 (3.25 mm) needles to produce lighter footwear.

Pick the pattern up on Ravelry or in my Etsy shop.

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

And the rest:

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

Gauge: 7 stitches = 1 inch (2.5 cm) in Stockinette st.

Yarn: 2 skeins each of Knit Picks Telemark (103yd / 50 g) in Chestnut (Main Colour – MC) and Passion Heather
(Contrast Colour – CC,) or any other comparable sport weight yarns that complement each other.

Needles: One set of five (5) double pointed needles in US 2 (2.75 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: Increasing and decreasing, knitting in the round, stranded knitting, twisted stitches, and chart reading.

Socks...with a name

I wasn't expecting the impromptu sock-naming contest in response to my last post, but I'm kind of glad that it happened. Thanks so much to everyone who made suggestions! As you can see, the sock is finished:...and I'm pleased to report that it does now have a name. The (impromptu) winner is Ruth, who suggested the name "Pizzelle." (And before I forget, Ruth, please allow me to present you with a complimentary copy of the pattern once it is released. Just let me know where to send it.)

This name struck me as being particularly apt as the flowers on the sock look strikingly similar to those on the cookies. Also, this allows me to now have two patterns named after European desserts (the other being Bavarois.) I sense a trend happening here.

Regardless, you can check out Pizzelle (and Bavarois, too) on Ravelry, if you so choose. Expect the pattern to be out before the holidays.

And, oh, wait til you see the new mittens that are on the way. I do hope you'll like them.

Snowbunnies mittens are live!


The Snowbunnies mittens are out now! Pick up the pattern here, on Ravelry.Row upon row of adorable bunnies (in two flavours!) parade across these cute mittens.

Instructions are provided in the 4-page .pdf to make these as fingerless mittens as well.

Bunny mittens in progress

I don't think it's customary for one to be so chipper on a Tuesday morning, but here we are. I've started a new book, my iPod is replete with unplumbed music and a house full of new yarn (three big yarn-buying trips will do that.)

I also am filled to near-bursting with design ideas. Here's the latest:Bunny mittens (Ravelry link.) Yes.

Pear Mittens!

These had been hanging about since October -- I couldn't believe that it had been so long! It was high time that they were completed, so here they are.

Meet the Pear Mittens:Rows upon rows of cute pears (D’Anjou, Bartlett and Bosc!) adorn these cute mittens. This pattern is ideal for those new to colourwork. The striped thumb adds interest (I'm a great fan of the striped thumb.)

Instructions are included (as usual) detailing how to make these up as fingerless mittens as well.

Grab the lovely 4-page .pdf here on Ravelry. A massive Etsy shop update is due to occur any day now (but if you'd like to see it sooner, let me know.)

And all the usual info-stuffs:

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

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

Yarn: One ball each of Knit Picks’ Palette (231yd / 50g) in Wallaby (Main Colour – MC,) Green Tea Heather (Contrast Colour A– CCA,) Cornmeal (Contrast Colour B – CCB,) Brindle Heather (Contrast Colour D – CCD) and Bark (Contrast Colour E – CCE.) 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 1 (2.25 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: Increasing and decreasing, knitting in the round, stranded knitting, twisted stitches and chart reading.

I'm off to start another new mitten. It never ends (at least, I hope it doesn't.)

Fruition

The Thistle Mittens (Ravelry link) are finished:
I'll be working closely with MacKintosh Yarns to ensure that the pattern is available sooner rather than later. In the meantime, check out their yarns. I, personally, can't say enough about the Iona Sportweight.

In other news, I am pleased to report that my L'Amour et la Morte (another Ravelry link) socks have happily taken up residence at Antique Beat. Two more pairs of Men's socks are slated to join them there this month.
And for my final news of the day, the Pear Mittens (again with the Ravelry linkage) are currently getting a thumb. Shortly thereafter they'll be having their picture taken, and then? Expect the pattern to be released this evening. I'll update with the link when they're out.

ETA: They're live! The Pear Mittens are available NOW, on Ravelry!

Hedgehog Mittens are out!

The Hedgehog Mittens went live last evening!

The backs:Get the pattern here on Ravelry, and soon in my Etsy shop (which I am going to update one night this week, I swear.)

And the palms:Mittens with amorous hedgehogs on, inspired in no small amount by Nanny Ogg. I’d like to think that she’d wear a pair.

These are available in both finger-having and fingerless varieties. Instructions are included in the 4-page .pdf for both.

____________________

Granny navigated through the press of bodies by the sound of a cracked voice explaining to the world at large that, compared to an unbelievable variety of other animals, the hedgehog was quite fortunate. Nanny Ogg was sitting in a chair by the fire with a quart mug in one hand, and was conducting the reprise with a cigar.

Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett
____________________


Other things that you might like to know about The Hedgehog Mittens:

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

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

Yarn: One ball each of Knit Picks’ Palette (231yd / 50g) in Celadon Heather (Main Colour -- MC) and Bison (Contrast Colour A – CCA) and approximately 10 yards of Knit Picks Palette in Oyster (Contrast Colour B – CCB.) 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 1 (2.25 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: Increasing and decreasing, knitting in the round, stranded knitting, twisted stitches, duplicate stitch OR intarsia and chart reading.

And now I'm off to work on those Thistle Mittens.

Prickly

I've been commissioned by MacKintosh Yarns to design a mitten with a thistle motif in their Iona Sport Weight yarn. Let me just say that this yarn is ruining me for all other mitten yarns -- I suspect it's the cashmere (can you blame me?)

Meet the Thistle mittens (on Ravelry). The back:Somewhere between William Morris' tapestries, Byzantine herbals, my own scribblings and the Third Style of Roman wall-painting these mittens happened.

The palm:These just might be one of the prettiest things I've ever made.

Encore (et encore)

L'Amour et La Morte (on Ravelry) sock production continues.

I still love this pattern (to death.) And, happily, two more pairs took wing for the UK yesterday morning (may their recipient love them.) That's four pairs (three of them sized Men's Large) finished in less than a month! Here they are, all trussed up:Two pairs (for the Antique Beat Boutique) to go. That's (practically) nothing at this point.

And then there's this, as seen on my Ravelry projects page, which I find particularly apt:

Freebies + a scarf for Ducky Teapot

I've a couple of treats for you all this morning! Firstly, my effort to clothe Ducky Teapot has been successful:I think he likes it.I have no idea why I'd never thought to knit for him before!

And in honour of the rapidly approaching holidays (eek,) both the Heirloom socks and Domovina socks will be available as FREE Ravelry downloads starting now and running until Sunday, 15 November 2009 at 7 pm EST.

You recall the Domovina socks, yes?And, of course, the Heirloom socks that are available in both men's and women's sizes:Grab them while you can! I'm off to knit more socks.

Socks in Transit

Freshly shipped to the U.K. this morning:The first two (of four) pairs of L'Amour et La Morte (on Ravelry) socks destined to take up residence in the Antique Beat Boutique. As always, I am unnaturally taken with the packaging and tags (velvet ribbon has this effect on me.)If only I could travel in the envelope with them.

The Hedgehog Mittens

And for my next trick:
Hedgehog Mittens. Inspired, in no small way, by Nanny Ogg. I love Nanny to distraction.

Cupcake mitten pattern is live!

Finally, finally, I come bearing the Cupcake Mittens pattern! Grab it here on Ravelry (and yes, in the Etsy shop too -- soon.)Cute mittens featuring everyone’s favourite treat – cupcakes! Sweet little cakes (in several different flavours) march across both the back-of-hand and the palm of these charming mittens. A striped thumb adds contrast and interest.I should also mention that (as usual,) instructions are provided for making fingerless Cupcake Mittens as well!

Das infos:

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

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

Yarn: One ball of Knit Picks’ Palette (231yd / 50g) in Bluebell (Main Colour -- MC,) and partial skeins of Knit Picks Palette in the following Contrast Colours: Custard (Contrast Colour A– CCA,) White (Contrast Colour B – CCB,) Rouge (Contrast Colour D – CCD,) Doe (Contrast Colour E – CCE,) Bark (Contrast Colour F – CCF,) Pimento (Contrast Colour G – CCG,) Cotton Candy (Contrast Colour H – CCH) and Garnet Heather Doe (Contrast Colour I – CCI.) 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 1 (2.25 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: Increasing and decreasing, knitting in the round, stranded knitting, twisted stitches, and chart reading.

Now I'm off to go chart the NEXT two mitten patterns. Stay tuned!

What's next

THESE:Cupcake mittens. More on these soon!

New fingerless mitt pattern now available!

They're out, and in plenty of time for the holidays, too!These fingerless mitts (formerly known as the Gauntles, now known as the SpillyMitts,) feature a unique twisted stitch motif, with slightly different detailing on the inner wrist and palm. Get the pattern here on Ravelry!

Though these are sized to fit any hand 8 inches in circumference, the rib and cable motif will accommodate a variety of sizes.

The 4-page .pdf features large colour-coded charts to make the twisted-stitch-knitting process as painless as possible.

And here's are the rest of the details:

Yarn: 1 skein of Patons Classic Wool (223 yards / 100 g) in Mercury
Needles: 5 dpns in US 4 (3.50 mm)
Gauge: 6 stitches = 1 inch in Stockinette

And much like with the Heirloom socks, to make these mitts you're going to need to know how to knit through the back of the loop, cable, read charts and knit in the round.

Wait til you see what's coming next!

Heirloom socks pattern! 200th post!

This is my 200th post. Let's celebrate together with a new sock pattern release! The (newly-renamed) Heirloom socks are now available!Get the pattern here on Ravelry. It will be appearing in my Etsy shop shortly.

These rustic, intricate socks are knit top-down and are available in both Men’s and Women’s sizes, so they can be made to fit practially anyone that you’d like to knit them for!

As the Men’s size was created to fit US Men's shoe sizes 10 and 11 (and the pair I made fit my husband who wears a US Men’s 12,) they will fit the male feet in your life. There just aren’t enough pretty, manly (and pretty manly) socks out there!Oh yes, and they’ll fit you ladies too. You’ll just have to use fingering weight yarn instead of the worsted.

Please note that the gauge differs between the two sizes, as does the yarn weight and needle size:

Women’s Medium:
Yarn: 440 yards (100 g) of fingering weight sock yarn
Needles: 5 dpns in US 3 (3.25 mm)
Gauge: 7 stitches = 1 inch in Stockinette

Men’s Medium:
Yarn: 2 skeins of Patons Classic Wool (223 yards / 100 g) in Cognac
Needles: 5 dpns in US 4 (3.50 mm)
Gauge:5.5 stitches = 1 inch in Stockinette

And to make these critters, you'll going to have to be comfortable with knitting through the back of the loop, cabling, chart reading and knitting in the round.

I'm off to work on the Gauntles pattern. Keep an eye out for that today!

The first of the Fancy-pants Gauntlets

It's finished!Yes, the fancy-pants gauntlet (working title: "Gauntles,") is but a fond memory. Now to knit the mate.

Oh, yeah, here's what the palm looks like:Keep an eye out for the pattern as it should be turning up soon!

You can't even approach the flava..!

...of my Colognac. Erm, I mean Kƶln socks. From the front:and from the back:Yes, the socks shown are men's socks. The pattern will also offer woman-sized socks, so fear not.

I polished these off yesterday, while I was working al fresco. I fear that my days of knitting outdoors this year (at least in my area) are sadly numbered. Luckily that means it'll be time to actually wear the things that I've spent all that time making. In fact, I started one such project today, may they be done and wearble very, very soon:This is the relatively early beginning of a pair of fingerless mittens (gauntlets.) Yes, you read that correctly. I am fighting the urge to put fingertips on these critters, at least this time around.

Frankly, what astounds me more than the fact that I am actually purposefully knitting things without fingertips is that I'm not yet totally burnt-out on all this twisted-stitch knitting. It can get intense at times, that's for sure.

What's going on

New socks:These are a new pair of Bavarian (Austrian?) twisted-stitch socks. Please note that I am knitting both of them simultaneously. I have a very good reason for doing so -- and that reason is that I am simply dying to design/knit a new pair of Bavarian (Austrian??) twisted-stitch gauntlets. The fact that this has entered the house isn't helping my willpower much.Yes, it's an innocent enough (boring enough?) ball of grey yarn, but it's calling to me. Hence both sets of US 4 dpns are busily holding two socks-in-progress. No gauntlets until at least one (preferably both) socks are complete!

Of course, temtpation lurks in every gauge. I've been fending these off for quite some time:VINTAGE SELBU MITTENS. The reason I haven't dived into these yet is twofold: firstly, that I've been too busy designing and mitten pattern-writing, and finally, because it has taken me so long to settle on colours. I may have to take a cue from the sample and go with the ivory/off-white option, in the interests of matching my soon-to-be new scarf.

Ah yes, the scarf. It occurred to me this afternoon that I am beyond weary of all of the handknit scarves that I currently have in my possession, and that I simply can not bear to wear them again this season. Hence, the search for this year's Perfect Scarf is on.

As it currently stands, the Perfect Scarf is a veritable snowdrift of an accessory. I figure I'll go big and cushy (and maybe hit something close to couture? Maybe??) seeing as I have two skeins of this on hand, and no other plans for it:Yes. Now to get knitting.