Here is something I can share. I knit a pair of fingerless mitts on the weekend. JoAnn gave me some great yarn as a gift when she went to New Zealand last winter called Naturally Karamea. This particular yarn is DK weight and is made of 75% Merino, 15% Alpaca, and 10% Possum. I really get a kick out of the possum bit. I wonder how they managed to shear a possum and spin up his hair? That would make a great Far Side comic for sure!
The pattern is called Susie's Reading Mitts and can be found for free on Ravelry. There are almost 2000 projects listed so it's a very popular pattern. I can see why too. It's simple to knit, fast, cheap (it only took one ball of yarn) and very cute. A perfect gift for a teacher or a friend or a coworker.
But these are for me!
So I basically followed the pattern as written except for a few mods:
* I cast on fewer stitches to make for a snugger fit, for me that was 36 stitches.
* I hemmed the false picot edge as I knit instead of seaming afterwards. So for the bottom hem, I had done a cable cast on and when I folded the turning row over I knit together the stitch on the needle with the corresponding bar from the cast on edge, making for a quick hem as I knit.
* I did the same for the top hem except I knit the stitch from the needle together with a bar from the last purl round and cast off at the same time.
* I knit 14 rounds from the end of the lace pattern to the beginning of the thumb gusset.
* and I knit 3 rounds on the thumb before starting the purl rounds
Totally cute, totally warm and something I'll be making again really soon. I still have one more ball of this yarn so who knows, maybe I'll have to make a matching hat?
those are adorable! love the colour! i don't believe i've ever knit with possum before, but it looks soft :)
ReplyDeleteooh, just gorgeous!! Simple, but with a bit of detail that make them amazing. I have these in my queue, and one of these days I'm definitely going to make them!!
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