The last post of 2007!
I relaxed last week and didn’t push too much :) Just kind of felt like taking it easy, so I watched a lot of movies, read a couple books and didn’t worry about the weather. But I didn’t neglect the knitting entirely either!
Or the dyeing, as it turned out :)
The last time I had to clean the snow off the car, my fingertips froze. Really. It was annoying and painful and I took it as a sign from the knitting gods that I needed a new pair of mittens. I wanted them to be dense and warm. What makes dense warm mittens? Bulky wool, of course :) And I had the gorgeous Rapunzel just waiting for a project. So I set out in search of a pattern.
I haven’t had enough experience with mittens to be terribly comfortable fooling around with decorative ideas yet, so I was looking for a plain design, worked in the round with bulky yarn. I found more patterns that I would ever have imagined for two needle mittens. I found a plethora of patterns for toddlers and children and lots of good plain patterns for adults in worsted weight as well as some patterns that I can only describe as high art done in stranded knitting and Fair Isle. Gorgeous things that I would be terrified to wear even if I could manage the knitting. There were also a fair number that gave a child sized pattern with instructions to go up a needle size for each size larger mitten you wanted to knit. Honestly, the needle size I would need to make the child sized mittens fit my large paws would result in lace. And lace, lovely as it is, is not well suited to mittens - the cold-weather kind anyway…
Finally I landed on Janice Farrell Pea’s Easy Peasy Mitten Pattern. Bulky yarn? Check! Plain and simple? Check! The only drawback for anyone else making this is that there’s only one size - and it makes a big mitten. This was perfect for me as I have big hands but could be an issue for someone else.
I have also been dyeing - more in the last couple of weeks than I’ve done in quite a while.
See this?
I knew they were different colors going in but I wanted to use them together to approximate a bulky weight yarn and, truth be told, I also want to see what the differences would be if they were dyed together - same pot, same dye bath.
Of course they’re being used together:
I’d like to thank all of you who come to read, comment and chat. From the bottom of my heart, I wish you all a warm and happy new year!
No trackbacks yet.
and the happiest of new year’s to both of you there also- good health, good yarn, good times!!
you’ve been a productive person during the holiday season i see- your mittens look quite warm and comfy, and the blanket is going to be a real beauty- the less said about my productivity during ‘07, the better! let’s just call it ‘the year of the slump’ and pass it right on by-
btw, dana’s endless knot socks were a major hit with her- thanks for sharing the pattern-
stay happy-
Barb - Maybe 2k8 will be a better year for you, you know, knitting-wise :) Hopefully things will level out for you.
I’m thrilled to death that Dana liked the socks. I may make another pair of my own as I’m very fond of them too!
The mittens look nice and cozy! And the blanket? Wow! It looks like it will be a very comfy blanket when it’s done.
Robbyn, I wish you and yours the very best for 2008! Hugs!!!
Ev - Thanks sweetie - and the very best to you and John!
Wishing you a happy and prosperous 2008! I feel very blessed in being able to call you my friend. :)
And a Happy New Year to you too, to you and your dear One. And the cats. And the gerbils. And you knitting and the dye pot. oh, you know what I mean - everyone, but each in their special way!
Take care and all the best for a superiffic 2008!
Opal - You aren’t the only one who feels blessed sweetie :) Heh - and I get the better end of the deal because I get to be inspired too!
Wing of the Moth
Wing of the Moth
Wing of the Moth…
Just trying to be encouraging! :)
Nat - Well, you all had an unfair advantage - it was 2008 down there long before it was up here :)
I so wish the best for you dear folks, the kids, your job, your home and your knitting - may they all be splendid and gorgeous :)
Wow what a huge difference in those yarns. They’re both pretty, yet so different. Cool experiment!
I love your new panel. It will be fun to see your blanket come together.
Happy New Year!
Lisa - I’m already plotting another dyeing session along similar lines - same two yarns, different color :) I really seem to be on a dyeing spree lately!
Happy New Year kiddo!
Robby, I will be holding on tight to my wonderful online friends during all the changes to come this year. Here’s wishing you a wonderful 2008. and once you get comfortable with mittens, they are great to play with, especially with color!
Whoops, what happened to the “n”? 
Rob - 
You’ve got to watch that “n”; he’s a slippery little bugger!
I love knowing that, courtesy of the web, my friends are no further away in Paris than they are in Pennsylvania. I know you’re going to have a busy year - I hope it is also wonderful!
