2013 knitting completions

 

Finally!

Last night I started the hat! I shocked myself as I cast on and joined in the round by magic loop method and it went perfect!  Usually I have to restart 1-3 times to get it right. I'm quite excited as I have been tired and on stocking burn out. Now I just have to knit ribbing for 

12-1/2 inches. But it's ok because I love ribbing. I am starting to get the itch to start my Pavo-vicuña socks. 

It's done!

I finally finished Hannah's stocking. It took forever. It looks pretty good. I will  never use two strands of acrylic to knit anything ever again. What was I thinking? Now to the hat for Sam and Joel. As I said before they will share the hat. Ultimately it will go to Sam for college. I should be able to whip this hat out pretty quick since it's bulky yarn. I have to decide what needle size to use to make it thick enough. Then on to the socks for me. 

Wool

I have talked a bit about mitts that I made. But nothing I have knit has given me the feelings of deep joy that the Packer mitts gave me. The softness, not fuzzy alpaca/angora softness but it's own deep softness. The way this yarn knits up. It's beautiful! But what sent me over the edge was how warm these mitts are. How incredibly warm merino wool is. Are all wools this warm? 

I could feel myself in a sweater made out of this yarn. The thought of my upper body being as warm as my hands made me swoon. 

The other thing that got me was how stretchy the mitts were. No need for elastic or much ribbing. I just can't get over it. I think I have the mitts out of my system. It's back to the stocking. I finished the heel. Now the final slog to get to the toe. I think the heel looks ok so I will keep it. I don't know how long it will take to finish. I'm anxious because I want to start the hat and my socks. 

More mitts!

I don't know what comes over me but I made another pair of mitts. This time it's a record. I started Friday and finished both on Sunday. It would have been Saturday but the first mitt was too long and I had a hole and I dropped stitch. So I ripped out 2/3 of it and now they look better. 

I got this crazy idea that I wanted something I could wear for the Monday night Packer game. Well now I do! I didn't have a lot of yarn left but enough. I was nervous because I really didn't know if I would have enough. 

More thoughts about mitts

I

I am wearing the mitts I made because my hands are cold. They actually help. But it's my fingertips that really get cold. It got me to thinking maybe I could make myself a pair of warm ones with the flip tops. But for right now my fingertips are warming up. But these are mostly nylon and acrylic. Warm wool would be better. 

But I want the mitts to be hard wearing. I have a nice pair of 100 percent alpaca mittens. They are a bit big due to the nature of alpaca-it has no memory. I bought them for $20 at the wisconsin sheep and wool festival 2 years ago. They are double knit. The top layer developed holes from wearing them driving the car! The friction of the steering wheel on the mittens. I have mended them but they look bad due to the gray alpaca I used. These mittens are amazing when you shovel snow. Warmest things I have. 

I have never been a big fan of bulky weight yarn. But I think I am going to rethink that. The thought of having a thick warm throw as I knit or watch tv is suddenly appealing. Thick mitts or thick socks. I better stop before I cast something on.

Mitts are done!

I finished the mitts. I'm not real happy with the second mitt. I tried a new bind off that is stretchy. It is and i really like it. It was easy to. The thumb does not match. I kept doing seed stitch instead of 1x1 rib. The good thing is I learned something new. I will use this new bind off in almost all my projects.