Tag fingerless

FO Friday: Tips Off

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A little while ago, I spun some yarn. As I mentioned, my youngest son laid claim to the yarn almost immediately. “Mom,” he said, “you never did make me those gloves with no fingers like you said you would.”  Way to lay on the guilt, kid!  🙂  On the other hand, it worked …

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Project: Tips Off

Pattern: improvised

Yarn: my very own handspun

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I used the Fried Chicken thumb increases as a starting point, and I tried doing the fingers with an increase row right before the fingers (rather than casting on and picking up stitches between the fingers.  Mixed results on the latter — I’m not convinced it’s easier or better than the usual way.

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Julian has been wearing these night and day — so already they are a bit worn.  It makes me so happy when something I make is well-loved.

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FO Friday: Button Mitts

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Project: Button Mitts

Pattern: All of ‘er Buttons Mitts

Designer: Lorilee Beltman

Available: sometime in Jan 2013

Yarn: Socks That Rock Lightweight in HRH Crown Princess of Purple, Violetta

This is the Jan 2012 Rockin’ Sock Club yarn, in the “not a sock” pattern.  I am thoroughly in love!  The cinched cable is delightful, and I love the buttons-as-seam closure (they are just sewn in place — the mitts do not unbutton, they just slide on). Nicely shaped wrist and thumb, high marks all around.

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Ravelry Monday: Mitts, Mitts, Mitts

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Happy Monday! Time to look back at the previous week’s recently added knitting patterns on Ravelry and pick a few favorites.

First Pick: Gotland, by Marias Garn (SEK 40, appx $6.25)

What really, really gets me is this combination of robot-trendy purl ringlets, and Victorian-ish colorwork roses. Love it, times a million. Great, now I sound like the judges on American Idol!! I could see these looking great in a number of palettes … how about pinky roses with grey-green leaves on a rusty-brown background, and creamy rings?

 

Second Pick: Argyle Wrist Warmers, by Emily Snyder ($2.50, available in mid-March)

Really charming two-color mitts that look like they have a lot more going on than they do.  I really love the clever increasing-diamond clocks on the thumb gussets. Clever! I would of course make them in deep purple and light teal blue.

 

Third Pick: Butterflies on the Lattice, by Melissa Walshe (FREE! at Melissa’s Blog)

What is not to love? Simple, stylish, elegant … and in worsted, a crazy-fast knit.  Is it too early to think Christmas??

New Pattern Release: Photog Mitts

remilyknits 2 Comments

Introducing my latest pattern: the Photog Mitts! This pattern for palmless, fingerless mitts in squishable Happy Feet DK is all about maximizing warmth while leaving the hand free for work.  Great for photographers, sailors, and anyone who wants to keep their hands both warm and unencumbered.

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Pattern: Photog Mitts

Designer: Rachel Henry (that’s me!)

Available:  for $3.50 at Ravelry

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Happy Feet DK

Inspiration: I designed these for my friend Donna (of Donna Kelliher Photography) — she specializes in photographing dog sporting events, which means she is outside in all kinds of weather. Handling a camera with full mittens or gloves on is dicey at best, and regular fingerless mitts cover the palm in fabric, which bunches up and makes holding the camera difficult.

Design/Skills Needed: The cuff is worked in the round, starting with a simple scalloped edge that comes to a point and continues in a subtle line of slipped stitches all the way up the wrist and hand. Stitches are cast off at the base of the palm, and the remainder of the mitt is worked flat with slip-stitch edges that hug the palm. A thumb gusset provides superior fit. The top is finished with i-cord edging that runs around the pinky and pointer fingers to hold the mitt in place – the thumb is also finished with i-cord edging.

Yarn: Suitable for the most colorful hand-painted yarn, but stylish with subdued colors too, these functional yet charming mitts are quick to knit and fun to wear.

I would be delighted to answer any questions or help any knitters working on this project.

Ravelry Monday: Pareval, Anchor Bay Sunset, and Bella Rue

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Happy Monday! Time to look back at the previous week’s recently added knitting patterns on Ravelry and pick a few favorites.

First pick: “Parseval” by Melissa Wehrle ($4.00)

This sweater is mostly-ribbed, with a bit of cabling towards the top with a big cowl neck.  This sweater made it into my (ever-growing) queue, because I think it has potential to look good on many body types.  The cabling will draw the eye upwards, and the ribbing will make the body and sleeves accommodating.  It’s worked mostly in the round — my favorite!  I don’t have a good, simple sweater right now … maybe I should start this one sooner rather than later?

Second Pick: “Anchor Bay Sunset” by Julia Duren (FREE!)

Simple, attractive, fingerless mitts — no fancy colorwork or cables, no girly lace.  Yet, with just a few purl rows in a contrasting color, these mitts look great!  Endless color possibilities — they could be a real stash-buster for sock yarn.  The pattern says they are designed to wear as-is, or over a wrist-brace for carpal tunnel or other RSI issues.

Third Pick: “Bella Rue” by Amanda Rios ($8.00)

Although I adore this sweater for many reasons — the top-down construction! the button detail on the sleeve! the awesome pleated panel on the back! — I have a sinking feeling that adorable as it is, it just wouldn’ t work with my body type. Alas!

Ravelry Monday: Toorie, Castle on a Cloud, and DROPS 130-12 Jacket

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Happy Monday! Time to look back at the previous week’s recently added knitting patterns on Ravelry and pick a few favorites.

First pick: “Toorie” by Carina Spencer ($5.00)

I absolutely adore the unusual shape of this hat.  The gathers, the close-yet-casual shape, the nifty decreases opposite mimicking (but not repeating) the gathers — it all works.  For those averse to pompoms, perhaps a crocheted flower or big dramatic button could substitute. This pattern looks like it would work with hand-painted yarn quite prettily.

Second Pick: “Castle on a Cloud” by Katia Smits (€3.50 EUR)

I was lured in for a closer look by the allusion to “Les Miserables” — I mean, who doesn’t love Cosette? These fingerless mitts have something interesting going on every few rows — exactly my kind of pattern.

Third Pick: “130-12 Jacket” by DROPS Design (FREE!)

I had a hard time settling on a “free” pattern this week — but this little cardi is just fine.  Looks like it has some interesting construction, with right and left front panels curving to meet at the neck and lower back, with the upper back panel bridging the gap.  I’ve heard about DROPS patterns being terse — this one is no exception! Definitely no hand-holding here.