satan ate my mitten

The other night, Friday night I believe it was, I had a bizarro nightmare in which I was knitting a mitten that kept shifting shapes as I was knitting it and changing colors every 5 seconds like some crazy fiber optic lamp from the 70s. In the dream, I was seated across from Danielle at my kitchen table. My mitten began to hiss and make noises, and Danielle started laughing, saying, "Shit! Your mitten is possessed!" And I guess it was because suddenly there was all this horror-movie style house-groaning as "Satan" asked for the mitten. Suffice it to say, I gave him the mitten. I awoke to the house shaking. Those who have more spiritual leanings than I do might be inclined to say, "Well, that's what you get for knitting a dirty pair of mittens, you pervo." I respectfully disagree, though, being as the reason the house was shaking was probably because a huge truck rumbled by or a tree fell in the park across the street or more ice was sliding off of our roof or any one of the million reasons why our place shakes regularly. It might have even had to do with the earthquake in PA, considering all the fault lines in the northeast. Science is much scarier than myth.

The dream did express, however, how I've been feeling about these mittens I was trying to knit (all haphazardly and insanely) for Matt for Xmas (at the very last minute, of course). I thought I would be all slick and go for subtle by copying this talented stranded knitter on ravelry. I love her mittens and the way the striping of the Noro Kureyon Sock makes the pattern crisp in some parts (like those gorgeous cuffs!) and subtle in others (like the, ahem, frolicking deer). It's genius! Maybe I should have totally copied her and used Kureyon Sock (albeit in my own colors) because I am loathing the way the colors are knitting up on my mitten, and the regular Kureyon knit at this gauge is hurting my already achy hands. Not fun. I am frogging these asap and using the yarn I originally had in mind for them, a much squishier alpaca/wool blend. I might have them done in time for Matt's birthday on New Year's Day. Or I might have them finished for him in a week or two. Hmmmm, we'll see how that goes....

holidaze knits

pattern: Porom
designer: Jared Flood
yarn: Louisa Harding Grace Silk & Wool
needles: 16 inch circs in US #6 & #8

I am still in a bit of a holidaze, so just a quick post and run here. I am happy to report that my mother-in-law loved the Porom I knit for her. In turn, I loved knitting her a Porom. I am all about the quick and easy yet lovely knits, and this pattern certainly fit that bill. To a non-knitter, it probably looks waaaaaaaaaaaay fussier to knit than it actually was. Score! It was a breezy dream come true! The Louisa Harding was a delight to knit with, also. I need to pick up some more of this Grace yarn for a project for myself, possibly for a slouchy Fern Glade. I am really digging the slouchy hats lately. Of course, I won't be able to cast-on for that until I finish some more holiday knitting. Since I wasn't able to finish what I had in mind for Matt in time for Xmas, I am going to try to get it done in time for his birthday, which is New Year's Day. So I had better get back to my knitting over here. Hope you all had a fabulous holiday, folks!

comfort knitting

pattern: basic mitten recipe (see below for details)
designer: me (& anyone who has ever knit a mitten)
yarn: Pigeonroof handspun in Millefiore
needles: Addi Turbos in US size 1

You know what's immensely satisfying after a couple of frenetic weeks (that I am actually extremely grateful for)? Finishing a quick and easy project before moving on to your holiday knitting (at t-minus 4 days, of course). I didn't use a pattern for these mittens. I just wanted to knit something very basic that would really show off the yarn and its gorgeous striations like sedimentary levels. I cast on 48 stitches, k2p2 for 32 rows, knit one row, then started increases for the thumb in the next row. I knit the tops of the mittens using a round decrease, but I kinda wish I had gone with the traditional wedge-shaped decreases because the mittens do feel a bit baggy. Or maybe I just have freakishly skinny fingers on a regular sized hand and that’s why there’s all that room in there at the fingers whereas the mittens fit perfectly across the palms.

Off to finish some presents now, but one thing before I go.... I loved knitting with this yarn so frigging much! Seriously, I loved every second of it; I loved knitting every stitch. The palette is amazing. I love how the colors knit up together. I need to score myself some more of this stuff.

there will be knitting soon...

...and there will be tons of it. My hands have been occupied with other projects these days, but by the middle of this week, I should have some time to knock out some last-minute knitted gifts for family. And by "knock out" I mean one of two things: knitting leisurely in a sunny spot or by the fire OR knitting in a happily distracted fashion while laughing with friends and stuffing myself with nachos. So yeah, I don't really mean "knock out" so much as "slowly working on whatever I can finish in a reasonable time frame without stressing myself out to bits." Heh. In the meanwhile, look at the purty picture I took!