Two by Two

HPIM0999
Originally uploaded by nlobban

This time of year I like to get small project fixes - my attention span really doesn't extend to larger more complex projects. As an added bonus, these mittens are knit flat, so I decided to knit them both at the same time. I do sleeves that way a lot. The trick with these though is that there is a left and right mitten, so I have to remember to reverse whatever I have done on the first mitten when I get across to the second mitten. The other trick is to never set the project down without making a row pass across BOTH mittens, otherwise it's a bit tricky to remember which direction you're knitting in - ask me how I know this :-).

The overwhelming advantage is that when you're done knitting, voila, you have a pair. No Second Mitten Syndrome.

These are knit on 4 mm on my Denise interchangeable needles, with Diamond Galway Irish knitted worsted wool. They look a bit big at the moment, but that is because I'm at the top of the thumb gusset I think. Once I take those thumb stitches off (you can see the gusset "wedge" in the centre of each mitten) I think the mittens will take on a more proportionate look.

Happy New Year!

I've not been a very good blogger in 2007 - sometimes life is just too busy to stop and write about it! I'm still here, though, and having lots of fun on Ravelry, and hope to be a better blogger in 2008.

Malabrigo FO

Finally, a finished item to show off this year! This yarn is really lovely, and knits like a dream on the mid-gauge machine. Inspired by the beautiful photography on Yarnstorm, I thought I would play around a little - here's my "Malabrigo Trifle" pre sweater production.

I love the colour of this yarn, so I decided to do a plain, v-neck sweater to best showcase the colours, although I couldn't help adding a little crochet trim shell stitch around the neckline.

My only complaint about this yarn is that it has a very strong smell of vinegar, even after washing, and while I have no objection to the smell of vinegar in general, I would prefer that my clothes (and therefore me) not smell like vinegar. Any tips on overcoming this aroma would be gratefully accepted! I've washed the sweater in Eucalan, and laid it on my blocking board to dry outside on a briskly breezy day, but the unmistakeable odour of vinegar persists.

That's it for now. Next project: a baby bunting for my cousin.

"Snow Day" Mitten Pattern

Here is a freebie machine knitting pattern that I designed recently when the kids and I had a "Snow Day". Enjoy!

Yarn: 2 50gm balls worsted weight yarn (sample done in Cleckheaton Country 8 ply, gauge stated on the ball band is 22 sts and 30 rows = 10 cm (4”), and I used very little of the second ball)

Machine: midgauge, no ribber required (sample knit on Studio SK860, can also be knit on LK150 or Bond. MT 6

Size: Youth or ladies S (ladies L in brackets)

Finished measurements : Youth or Ladies’ S: circumference – approximately 20 cm around (8”), length - 19 cm (7 ½ “)

Ladies’ L: circumference – approximately 22 cm around (8 ½ ”), length – 22 cm (8 ½ ”)

Symbols/abbreviations: \ remove stitch from needle and replace on needle 2 sts to left (except the stitch farthest to the left, which moves only one stitch over so as not to increase the total number of stitches in work)
/ remove stitch from needle and replace on needle 2 sts to right (except the stitch farthest to the right, which moves only one stitch over so as not to increase the total number of stitches in work)
^ lift purl bar from adjacent stitch and hang on empty needle
S small
L large
T tension
MT main tension
EN every needle
EON every other needle
K knit
R row
RC row count

Special Tools: EN and EON selector tools handy, garter bar would also be useful

Special Techniques:

Triple strand “braided” e-wrap (adapted from “back and forth e-wrap” described in Mary Anne Oger’s Knitting on the Edge )

Break off three lengths of MY approximately 3X the width to be cast on. Holding three strands parallel, e-wrap cast on first and every alternate needle across. Change direction at the last needle and e-wrap back all needles skipped in the first step. See photos below.

Basket Weave Pattern (from Susan Guagliumi’s Hand-Manipulated Stitches for Machine Knitters )

TIP: If you ensure that you are moving sts towards the carriage side of the bed, then this will make it easier to remember which direction you should be transferring the sts and you will not need to follow the chart as closely.

The transferred stitch closest to the carriage should be placed on the needle immediately adjacent (two sts on this needle) so as not to increase the overall number of stitches. All other transferred stitches should be moved in the appropriate direction by 2 sts.

Instructions

CO 44 (48) sts using triple strand braided e-wrap. RC000. T10 K1R. T6 K1R. Remainder of mitten is worked at T6. Work basket weave chart to RC27 (RC30).

Leave 8 sts on carriage side in WP, all other sts to HP. Carriage on hold. E-wrap CO 8 sts. Knitting on these 16 thumb sts only, K to RC15. Dec EOS, ER 2X to 4 sts. Break yarn and thread through these 4 sts, remove from needles and gather. Push thumb to the back of the work and fold in half, return 8 sts to WP, and rehang the 8 e-wrap cast on thumb sts on these needles. Cancel hold.

RC000, keeping continuity of basket weave pattern, resume working from chart to RC27 (RC30). This marks the end of the basket weave pattern. Remainder of mitten is knit plain.

Dec E4thS across row. K2R
Dec E3rdS across row. K2R
Dec E2ndS across row. K1R

Break yarn and thread through rem sts, gathering the top of the mitten. Sew seams, braid and secure the 6 strands of yarn (from cast on) as shown in the photo, and weave in remaining ends.

Repeat for second mitten, making sure that thumb is worked on the opposite side as that of the first mitten. This may require knitting either one less or one more row before starting the thumb to ensure carriage is on correct side.

© 2007 Nancy Lobban. Pattern for personal use only.

Smoke on the water

Or more precisely, "sea smoke", caused by the extremely cold temperatures this morning.

38 Hats for Afghanistan

Thanks so much to everyone from the Metro Machine Knitters' Guild and the Mayflower Machine Knitting Guild who contributed hats, they are now on their way to Afghanistan, and I hope to post a picture of them at their destination in the near future. You'll notice the one pink hat - that was a special request!