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February 9, 2006
Nordic Mittens
As promised, here are the finished Nordic Mittens (did you hear that? finished!)
I had in my mind the perfect photo shoot for my lovely mittens - playing in the snow and building snowballs. Snow clinging to the wool and the nice contrast between the bright white snow and the black and red mittens. Then I crashed back to reality. Snow? There's no snow around here. Wind we have, snow - not so much. So, you get the lame office shot. Sorry, it was the best I could do.
Detail Shots:
Project Details:
Pattern: Vinternatt Mittens Kit. Size medium
Yarn: Strikkegarn Rauma Yarn (included in kit) - about 1 1/2 skeins of red and not quite 1 skein of black.
Needles: 3.25 mm and 3.75 mm dpns (I had to go up a needle size on both to compensate for a tighter gauge - that's the first time that's ever happened to me, usually I have to go down a needle size).
Modifications: Um, not a single modification. It was all I could do to follow the pattern There may very well be some mistakes, but don't tell me about them if you see them. My tension improved tremendously on the second mitten. I think it might have been that I stopped gripping the needles like they were going to jump out of my hands, and that I stopped wrapping the right hand yarn around my pinky six times, but I'm just guessing.
The TechGuy socks are progressing nicely. I made quite a lot of progress yesterday.
Did you notice? Yes indeed, I am knitting that freakin sock on one 24" circular needle. Magic loop on a 24" needle is not ideal. Why would I do it then, you ask. Well, because of this. WTF is up with that?! I wasn't even pulling on it or anything, just knitting with it - and about 10 stitches into the round too. So, I'm off to the LYS at lunch to see if I can get some addi turbos and return this little sucker. Jeeze. Oh, and on a side note, I remembered why I didn't love the magic loop. It makes my right pinky sore - the cable almost rubs a raw spot on it. Weird.
Comments
Your mittens are just great! Congrats on finishing, and still in time to keep your hands warm. Although given your location I'm guessing you've still got a lot of winter left. Time for a little more Ombre oomph, and then you can get on with the Butterfly prize.
Posted by: PumpkinMama at February 9, 2006 9:48 AM
Hoo-ray for your mittens!!!!!
Posted by: Wendy at February 9, 2006 9:55 AM
I love those mittens! Great job.
Posted by: Kim at February 9, 2006 9:56 AM
great job on the mittens!! i hope it is still cold enough to wear them in your town for a while.
Posted by: blossom at February 9, 2006 10:04 AM
Snow or no snow - those mittens are gorgeous! Gorgeous I tell you. As you know, I have only knit socks on two circulars and I only use Addi Turbos. Am I a snob you ask? Maybe so, but that's how I do it and it works for me. I've never had a needle problem - and I own lots of Addis. Knitting on two circulars is exactly like knitting straight. Just flip it around and you're good to go! The only complaint I've ever heard is that people don't like when the needles hang and hit each other. Doesn't bother me. Hope you can get new Addis soon!
Again - those mittens are an inspiration!! Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Cara at February 9, 2006 10:11 AM
The mittens are fabulous! They look identical. Nice, nice work!
Posted by: margene at February 9, 2006 10:12 AM
The mittens are amazing! I bet the stranding really keeps the wind out. Are you doing a techie design on your socks, or leaving them plain?
Posted by: Zarah at February 9, 2006 10:18 AM
Wonderful nordic mittens, Stephanie! They are great. I agree with you on the wind and lack of snow. I wanted my Dimple photo shoot to be in snow too... *sigh*
Posted by: Kristi at February 9, 2006 10:24 AM
Love the mittens, they turned out so beautifully. I really like the black and red contrast.
The sock looks great too. Rubbing a raw spot, ouch! That just isn't good.
Posted by: Rebekah at February 9, 2006 10:29 AM
Yay for finished mittens! They look fabulous, I've liked the design and the colors from the very beginning!
Posted by: grumperina at February 9, 2006 10:39 AM
I like your mittens... it's nice to have a completed project. You should be proud of your knitting.
Posted by: Chery at February 9, 2006 10:47 AM
Wonderful!
Posted by: Leanne at February 9, 2006 11:06 AM
The mittens look great, even in the office. If you noticed a difference on your second mitten, just imagine how great your second project will be.
Posted by: Emily at February 9, 2006 11:15 AM
YAY!!!! The mittens are gorgeous!! You should be really proud of yourself for this project! They are beautiful. You certainly made a ton of progress on the sock last night. Good luck with getting a replacement needle.
Posted by: caitlyn at February 9, 2006 11:21 AM
The mittens are sensational...and if you need photographs in the snow, send them to Shelley or me. She is up to her waist in Idaho, and we have a big storm predicted for the weekend. Yay.
Posted by: Marcia at February 9, 2006 12:13 PM
My hands are clapping for you in Chicago, Stephanie! You are my color-work knitting guru! Great mittens!
Posted by: christine at February 9, 2006 12:20 PM
The mittens look great! They will keep your hands so warm and toasty. I want the patience and skill to try fair isle one day.
Posted by: Areli at February 9, 2006 12:52 PM
The mittens look great - even without snow! I bet they look good in the wind too! Nice sock!
Posted by: Stephanie at February 9, 2006 12:56 PM
Congrats on the mittens! They look fab. Bummer about the needle though.
Posted by: Angela at February 9, 2006 1:06 PM
Love the Mittens! I really like doing Fair Isle type stuff - am trying to decide on the next sweater.
I see by your e-mail address you're from Wyoming...I've a pal in Lander, my daughter worked in Jackson Hole last summer and we try to visit every summer. Love Wyoming!!
Knit on!
Posted by: Julie at February 9, 2006 1:09 PM
Your mittens are really beautiful!
Sorry to see what happened on your 2nd circular needle, but I'm impressed at how quickly you picked up the 'socks on circular' method! :-) I still haven't given it much of a try, but someday...
Posted by: Sock Pal at February 9, 2006 2:57 PM
WOW! Those mittens are excellent! I am so impressed! If you want to try them out in the snow, we are supposed to be getting a storm here in MD this weekend. (Finally! Big snow fan here)
You made me glad I went for the addi turbos today when I bought new circs. I was going to go for bamboo, but I decided to invest in the addis.
Posted by: Coleen at February 9, 2006 5:04 PM
You did an amazing job on those mittens. They look fabulous and I hope they keep you nice and warm!
That needle should definitely be returned.
Posted by: Purly Whites at February 9, 2006 5:57 PM
YAY for the mittens!! They look gorgeous! Who needs snow? Wear 'em anyway!
Posted by: Kathy at February 9, 2006 8:06 PM
The thumbs are my favorite part of the mittens!
Posted by: emily at February 9, 2006 8:37 PM
Groovy mitts! Thumbs up!
Posted by: Dharma at February 9, 2006 8:45 PM
Ooooh! What awesome mittens! You really did a great job Steph. You would never think that was your first Fair Isle. I bow to you, Oh Knitting Goddess!
Those socks look great. Brad has already requested another pair of socks so I'm thinking that might be a nice, simple, quick pattern to try. Whatcha think?
Posted by: Jenn at February 9, 2006 10:36 PM
Love the mitts. We're supposed to get some snow tomorrow and I know that FedEx will deliver on Saturday... Just a suggestion. :)
Posted by: Cindy at February 10, 2006 7:41 AM
WOW those are great! That IS weird about magic loop and your pinky. I haven't noticed that at all....hmmmmmm.....
but the mittens! way way cool
Posted by: April at February 10, 2006 8:24 AM
Those mittens are amazing, Steph. Way to go on the colorwork. I really want to try this...
Posted by: Lolly at February 10, 2006 9:24 AM
Gorgeous mittens!
Posted by: Vicki at February 10, 2006 12:46 PM
Perfectly good law office mittens! As for the broken needle...I have tried using size 1 bamboo circulars for socks and don't like them. Perhaps you could return them and get a replacement needle?
Posted by: Lynette at February 10, 2006 5:24 PM
