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

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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.

I want to knit all the things!

As you know I started Hannah's stocking. I didn't get far before I was drawn away by another project. Hand warmers. I made a pair last year and gave them to Hannah who will probably never wear them. I may take them back and give them to Grace and see if she will wear them. Somehow I talked myself into knitting a pair for me quick.

So far they are quick. I just finished one in 3 days and need to sew it up so I can wear it. As soon as I finish the second one I will be a good girl and go back to the stocking. I will post a picture when they are done.

I was looking on Ravelry at all the newly posted patterns as I do everyday. There are that many!  I saw one for boot toppers. I've seen these before but they "sell" them as decorations for the tops of your boots. But this pattern showed them in a practical way. More like leg warmers and they can keep the snow out of your boot legs and if snow does get in it will not make your legs wet. You need to use wool though. Acrylic will soak up the snow and your pants will still be wet. I have this strong desire to knit warm things for winter. It's like a nesting urge. I have a pair of thick socks waiting to be knit. Then came these hand warmers and now these boot toppers. Winter is supposed to be extra cold and snowy this year. I want warm knitted things!!!!! Stupid stocking. Sigh....

It's done!

I finished it on Sunday night. It is not as long as I want it compared to Sam's. I want them all to be the same lenght.  Easy to do. The pattern says to decrease until there are 8 sttiches on each needle. Then I just knit round and round till it is the lenght I want. Then cinch closed. It looks like a stocking! Even though it's far from perfect, can you see how big the heel is? Yuck! I can see fuzzys from the black yarn I used for the lifelines. Lesson learned on that. I hope to remove the fuzzys as I rip it out after Christmas. I am excited that it's done. Now I can start on Hannah's stocking. Her color is more of a teal. I started the white fuzzy top today and will buy the other skein I need on Tuesday, my day off. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!