Another pair of Fingerless Mits

I'm kind of in love with fingerless mits right now. 

After creating this pattern, I decided that I wanted to make a pair with some awesome fingering weight sock yarn I bought from KnitPicks.

So, i knitted some gauge swatches and put my high school math classes to work!

Materials:
sz 3 US DPN (I used 4)

sz 2 US DPN for ribbing
3 stitch markers
stitch holder or scrap yarn
1- sz 4 needle for bind off
tapestry needle

Yarn:
1 ball Knitpicks Imagination Hand Painted Sock Yarn (I used Seven Dwarves)

Abbrev:
pm - place marker
sm - slip marker
rm - remove marker
ssk - sl 1 kwise, sl 1 pwise, insert L needle thru 2 sl stitches and knit together
k2tog - knit next 2 stitches together
m1R - lift the bar between stitches from back to front, knit thru the front of the stitch
m1L - lift the bar between stitches from front to back, knit thru the back off the stitch
(Here's a video)

Total stitches are listed at the end of decrease and increase rows in bold.

Make 2

C/O 60 stitches with sz 3 needles

Join in round without twisting. Place marker at start of round

Switch to sz 2 and k1, p1 rib for 1-1.5" (This is what I'm going to do with the next pair I make.  The first ones I used a Twisted German Cast On for the ones pictured.  Apparently it doesn't work as well for fingering weight yarn.  You could also start with 3-7 rows of purl stitch instead of ribbing if you're so inclined. If you wish to start with purl rows, stick with the sz 3 needle.)

Switch back to sz 3 needles

Row#1 - k30, pm, k to end

Row#2 - k all

Row#3 - k to 4 stitches before m, ssk, k2, sm, k2, k2tog, k to end (58)

Row#4-10 - k all

Row#11 - Same as #3 (56)

Row#12-18 - k all

Row#19 - Same as #3 (54)

Row#20-26 - k all

Row#27 - Same as #3 (52)

Row#28 - 34 - k all

Row#35 - Same as #3 (50)

Row#36 - 42 - k all

Row#43 - Same as #3 (48)

Row#44 - 47 - k all

Row#48 -k1, m1L, k22, pm, m1R, k2, m1L, pm, k22, m1R, k1 (52)

Row#49-51 - k all

Row#52 k to m, sm, m1R, k to m, m1L, sm, k to end (54)

Row#53 - 55 - k all

Row#56 - Same as #52 (56)

Row#57-59 - k all

Row#60 - Same as #52 (58)

Row#61-63 - k all

Row#64 - Same as #52 (60)

Row#65-67 - k all

Row#68 - Same as #52 (62)

Row#69-71 - k all

Row#72 - Same as #52 (64)

Row#73-75 - k all

Row#76 - Same as #52 (66)

Row#77-79 - k all

Row#80 - k to m, rm, slip next 18 stitches onto waste yarn or stitch holder, rm, k to end (48)

Row#81-92 k all

Row#93-94 - p all

B/O with sz 4 needle

Thumb

Pick up stitches from waste yarn / holder onto 3 sz 3 dpn (6 ea)

Leave 12-18" tail for sewing up the hole between thumb and hand

k 5 rows

p 2 rows

B/O with sz 4 needles

Weave in all ends and gently block if you so desire

I love these!  They are super warm and cozy!  

Dryer Balls

Discussion about these little things was met with a million jokes at my husband's expense.

I only heard of these a few days ago.  Upon researching them, apparently they can decrease dry time by 25-50% (which is rad, cause our dryer has to cycle twice to dry clothes right now) and they can also soften clothes without the use of chemicals, which is pretty awesome also.  We don't have anyone with perfume allergies over here, but if it saves me having to buy dryer sheets, I'm all for it!

So... instead of following all of the tutorials I found to make these little gems, I went to Ravelry to see what kind of patterns were on there.

There were 2.

So... not to be discouraged, I decided to write a pattern.  How tough could it be, right?

I totally did it backwards.  I started by making balls of scrap acrylic yarn, thinking I'd just knit a little wool "jacket" for them.  The pattern came second... I had to knit a cover based on the size of my pre-existing ... -ahem-  balls.
So... here's the pattern that I did.  I knitted them flat, then stitched them around the ... -ahem- balls. (You must know that I am a 12 year old boy from the eyebrows up... so I giggle even to type the word.)

Materials -
sz 7 needles
Tapestry needle

Yarn -
I used Full O' Sheep in Little Lamb, tho any 100% wool (except superwash) will do.
Scrap Acrylic Yarn

Abbrv -
kfb - knit into the front and the back of the stitch
k2tog  - knit the next 2 stitches together
( ) - repeat inside the parenthesis the amount of times indicated

C/O 6 stitches (I used this method)
Row#1 kfb all
Row#2 (and all even rows) purl all
Row#3 (kfb, k1) x6
Row#5 (kfb, k2) x6
Row#7 (kfb, k3) x6
Row#9 (kfb, k4) x6
Row#11 (kfb, k5) x6
Row#13 (k2tog, k5) x6
Row#15 (k2tog, k4) x6
Row#17 (k2tog, k3) x6
Row#19 (k2tog, k2) x6
Row#21 (k2tog, k1) x6
Row#23 (k2tog) x6
Cut yarn (leave about a 12" tail for sewing piece together) and thread thru stitches on needle, starting with the one furthest away from needle tip.  This creates a little drawstring.
Wind scrap acrylic yarn for core (You can use wool for this too if you'd like), then wind wool over top until the ball is the right size for your little wool "jacket".

Repeat as many times as you'd like.  I made 6.

Felt balls using the method of your choosing.  We don't have an agitator in our washing machine anymore (top loader high efficiency) so I used a scrubber sponge on the outside of them until they were fuzzy, then boiled them for about 10 minutes, then into the dryer for a few cycles on the hottest setting.  Mine are still a little damp, but I cannot wait to try them out!

Shawls!

I'm not sure why... but I keep finding things that I want to knit and keep pushing off making socks.  It may be because there are two of them... like... you get one done, and it's all like this:


HOORAY!!!!!
"  "  "
AWWWWW!!!! I'm only HALF done... Hemmeny heeeeeeeeee...


So... I was at our local yarn store, shopping around for things that I really don't need, and there was a sample of this shawl.  It was love at first sight.  It was made with this yarn and just so gorgeous.  Seriously.  It's amazing how wide the range of emotions is when you knit.  A FO can invoke the most intense emotion.
I had to create one of these for my very own.
Having never made  a shawl before, the whole process foreign.  Extraordinarily intimidated, I purchased the yarn and pattern, and jumped in with  both feet.

First was the garter tab.  I didn't really understand how shawls come to have their shape, so after I followed the directions to begin this new adventure... it didn't really look how (in my mind's eye) it should.  Shouldn't it  be more pointy?  Don't you work shawls from the bottom up?  Isn't this how it works?  I've been knitting for a year... surely I know how it should look.
Nope.
Shawls are weird.  And brilliant.
I'm half done with mine.  I have been knitting in every free moment that I have to try  and finish it so I can wear it.  I want to wear it everywhere.  Seriously.  I might get another color this weekend so I can have some variety.

I should really start some socks.

Striped Fingerless Mitts

When I first started knitting again 13 months ago, I quickly became obsessed with this pattern.  For a recent re-beginner, I was very intimidated.  I wanted gorgeous, ruffly, gloves!  I wanted to knit them by myself with squishy, beautiful yarn!
I knitted my first pair :

It took some time.  The most tedious part was getting the buttons aligned correctly.  Took me hours to get all six of those little suckers in just the right place.
I had also knitted them with a sz 6 us needle when the pattern called for a 7... don't ask me why.  I have man wrists, and if i wanted to give them a better chance at fitting, I should have went to an 8. Also, since this was one of my first knitting projects, i didn't understand why the pattern recommended for the bind off to be with a larger sz needle.  Silly me.
Anyway... I loved the look of the finished product.  I wanted to find a pattern that was exactly like these... only without button holes.  I quickly realized that If I wanted it done, I'd have to do it myself.

So... Here it is.

Now... this pattern i worked with 3 row stripes in light and dark purple.
The thing i love about this pattern is it's completely open for interpretation.  It can start with ribbing.  It can end with ribbing.  You can say "pee on ribbing" and pretty much do whatever you want!
Also, if you want the wrist part a touch longer, just add a few knit rows in between the decrease rows.

Materials:
sz 7 us DPN (I used 4)
3 stitch markers
stitch holder or scrap yarn
1- sz 8 needle for bind off
tapestry needle

Yarn:
1 ball Knitpicks Comfy Worsted in Blackberry (109 yards)
1 ball Knitpicks  Comfy Worsted in Seraphim (109 yards)

Abbrev:
pm - place marker
sm - slip marker
rm - remove marker
ssk - sl 1 kwise, sl 1 pwise, insert L needle thru 2 sl stitches and knit together
k2tog - knit next 2 stitches together
m1R - lift the bar between stitches from back to front, knit thru the front of the stitch
m1L - lift the bar between stitches from front to back, knit thru the back off the stitch
(Here's a video)

Total stitches are listed at the end of decrease and increase rows in bold.

C/O 40 stitches.  Join in the round without twisting ( I used a twisted German Cast on)
Row# 1 - k20, pm, k to end
Row#2 - k all
Row#3 - k to 4 stitches before m, ssk, k2, sm, k2, k2tog, k to end (38)
Row#4-#10 - k all
Row#11 - Rep Row#3 (36)
Row#12-18 - k alll
Row#19 - Rep Row#3 (34)
Row#20-24 k all
Row#25 - Rep Row#3, remove m (32)
Row#26 - k1, m1L, k14, pm, m1R, k2, m1L, pm, k14, m1R, k1 (38)
Row#27-29 k all
Row#30 - k to 1st m, sm, m1R, k to next m, m1L, sm, k to end
Row#31-33 - k all
Row#34 - Rep Row#30 (40)
Row#35-37 - k all
Row#38 - Rep Row#30 (42)
Row#39-41 - k all
Row#42 - Rep Row#30 (44)
Row#43-45 - k all
Row#46 - k to 1st m, rm, place next 12 stitches onto scrap yarn / stitch holder, rm, k to end (32)
Row#47-55 - k all
Row#56 - p all
Bind off with sz 8 needle

Thumb-
Pick up the 12 stitches from the scrap yarn / stitch holder, leave a long tail (12 inches or so) for sewing up the hole in the thumb

k 3 rows
p 1 row
b/o with sz 8 needles

Weave in ends.

Do everything again!

Tada!  Beautiful gloves!

The Deal

I made a deal with my besties to try and motivate myself to use the copious amounts of yarn in my stash instead of buying more.
I need to use a third of what I currently have before I can buy more.
Is it bad that I already have a wishlist of what I want to buy as soon as I'm allowed!?

Here's my stash:
Jo-Ann Sensations Truly SolidsCharcoal GreyFingering26260g2524524Knit Picks Imagination Hand Painted Sock Yarncloud castleFingering21950g2438438Knit Picks Imagination Hand Painted Sock YarnOver the RainbowFingering21950g2438438Knit Picks Imagination Hand Painted Sock Yarnruby slippersFingering21950g2438438Knit Picks Imagination Hand Painted Sock Yarnseven dwarvesFingering21950g1.25273.8273.8Knit Picks Paletteaurora heatherFingering23150g1231231Knit Picks Paletteautumn heatherFingering23150g1231231Knit Picks Palettefairy taleFingering23150g1231231Knit Picks PalettefuchsiaFingering23150g1231231Knit Picks Palettegarnet heatherFingering23150g1231231Knit Picks Paletteholly berryFingering23150g1231231Knit Picks PalettelantanaFingering23150g0.5115.5115.5Knit Picks PalettemajesticFingering23150g1231231Knit Picks Palettemidnight heatherFingering23150g1231231Knit Picks PalettemullberryFingering23150g1.25288.8288.8Knit Picks Paletteoyster heatherFingering23150g1.5346.5346.5Knit Picks Paletteraspberry heatherFingering23150g1231231Knit Picks Palettesalsa heatherFingering23150g1231231Knit Picks PaletteSpruceFingering23150g1231231Knit Picks PalettetealFingering23150g1231231Knit Picks Stroll MultiheartFingering23150g2462462Knit Picks Stroll MultisunsetFingering23150g2462462Knit Picks Comfy SportBlackberrySport13650g4544544Knit Picks Felici Sport Self StripinggroovySport16450g4656656Knit Picks Felici Sport Self StripingmonochromeSport16450g4656656Knit Picks Felici Sport Self StripingrecessSport16450g813121312Knit Picks Simply Cotton Sportbasalt heatherSport16450g813121312Knit Picks Simply Cotton Sportbittersweet heatherSport16450g4656656Knit Picks Simply Cotton Sportgolden heatherSport16450g4656656Premier Yarns Serenity GardencrocusSport18565g3555555Premier Yarns Serenity GardenGemsSport18565g3555555Knit Picks CotLincoffeeDK12350g3369369Knit Picks CotLinLinenDK12350g1123123Knit Picks CotLinmoroccan redDK12350g3369369Knit Picks CotLinPomegranateDK12350g2246246Knit Picks CrayonclementineDK12850g3384384Bernat Cottontots Ombresdoll houseWorsted15085g2300300Berroco Cotton Twist SolidsIvoryWorsted8550g6510510Berroco Cotton Twist Solidsmasala mix jewelWorsted8550g4.5382.5382.5Berroco Cotton Twist SolidstangerineWorsted8550g10850850Caron Simply Soft Solidsautumn maizeWorsted315170g2630630Caron Simply Soft SolidsBlackWorsted315170g0.5157.5157.5Caron Simply Soft SolidsboneWorsted315170g3945945Caron Simply Soft SolidsChocolateWorsted315170g1315315Caron Simply Soft SolidsGarnetWorsted315170g1315315Caron Simply Soft Solidsgrey heatherWorsted315170g1315315Caron Simply Soft SolidsLavander blueWorsted315170g1315315Caron Simply Soft Solidsoff whiteWorsted315170g2630630Caron Simply Soft SolidsorchidWorsted315170g1315315Caron Simply Soft SolidsPersimmonWorsted315170g1315315Caron Simply Soft SolidspineWorsted315170g1315315Caron Simply Soft SolidssunshineWorsted315170g1315315Caron Simply Soft SolidswatermelonWorsted315170g1315315Caron Simply Soft SolidswhiteWorsted315170g0.5157.5157.5Knit Picks Brava WorstedblackWorsted219100gKnit Picks Brava WorstedcurrentWorsted219100g1219219Knit Picks Brava WorstedpaprikaWorsted219100g1219219Knit Picks Brava WorstedsiennaWorsted219100g1219219Knit Picks Chroma Worstedbittersweet heatherWorsted198100g1198198Knit Picks Chroma Worstednew englandWorsted198100gKnit Picks Comfy WorstedBlackWorsted10950g3327327Knit Picks Comfy WorstedBlackberryWorsted10950g0.554.554.5Knit Picks Comfy Worstedfairy taleWorsted10950g2218218Knit Picks Comfy WorstedHawkWorsted10950g2218218Knit Picks Comfy WorstedseraphimWorsted10950g2218218Knit Picks Dishie Multidaisy multiWorsted190100g1190190Knit Picks Dishie Multinettle multiWorsted190100g1190190Knit Picks Dishie MultiThistleWorsted190100g2380380Knit Picks Dishie Multiwaves multiWorsted190100g0.59595Knit Picks Dishie SolidscoffeeWorsted190100g1190190Knit Picks Dishie SolidsConchWorsted190100g1.5285-95Knit Picks Dishie SolidsHoneydewWorsted190100g1190190Knit Picks Dishie SolidsLinenWorsted190100g1190190Knit Picks Dishie SolidsmullberryWorsted190100g1190190Knit Picks Dishie SolidsPomegranateWorsted190100g2.5475475Knit Picks Dishie SolidsSwanWorsted190100g1190Knit Picks Dishie SolidsTomatoWorsted190100g2380380Knit Picks Shine WorstedBlackWorsted7550g17575Knit Picks Shine WorstedserranoWorsted7550g2150150Knit Picks Shine WorstedWallabyWorsted7550g2150150Knit Picks Simply Cotton Worstedbasalt heatherWorsted164100g1164164Knit Picks Simply Cotton WorstedCarnelian HeatherWorsted164100g3492492Knit Picks Simply Cotton Worstedgreen tea heatherWorsted164100g2328328Knit Picks Simply Cotton WorstedLimeade HeatherWorsted164100g1164164Knit Picks Simply Cotton Worstedmagenta HeatherWorsted164100g1164164Knit Picks Wool of the Andesgarnet heatherWorsted11050g4440440Yarn Bee Elf EyelashcloveWorsted5950g4236236Yarn Bee Elf Eyelashcosmic blueWorsted5950g2118118Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn! Ombresweet mocha ombreAran251140g1251251Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn! Sparkleblack sparkleAran251140g1251251Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn! Sparkleivory sparkleAran251140g1251251Hobby Lobby I Love this Yarn! StripesSurprize StripesAran251140g1251251Knit Picks Gloss HWblackAran164100g2328328Knit Picks Gloss HWcranberryAran164100g1164164Knit Picks Gloss HWDoeAran164100g2328328Knit Picks Gloss HWIvoryAran164100g2328328Lily Sugar'n Cream ScrubbybrownAran6850g16868Stitch Nation by Debbie Stoller Bamboo EweMercuryAran177100g1177177Stitch Nation by Debbie Stoller Full o' SheepblackAran155100g1155155Stitch Nation by Debbie Stoller Full o' SheepClementineAran155100gStitch Nation by Debbie Stoller Full o' SheepLittle LambAran155100g2310310Stitch Nation by Debbie Stoller Full o' SheepThymeAran155100g1155155Baby Bee Pitter Pattergrape jellyBulky290115g1290290Knit Picks Brava BulkyblackBulky136100gKnit Picks Brava BulkyRougeBulky136100g1136136Knit Picks Wool of the Andes BulkyblackberryBulky137100g2274274Knit Picks Wool of the Andes BulkycoalBulky137100g2274274Lion Brand HomespunrococoBulky185170gPlymouth Yarn Encore ChunkyGreyBulky143100g5715715Plymouth Yarn Encore ChunkyRedBulky143100g2286286Yarn Bee Playfulblack tie ombreBulky220140g2.5550550Lion Brand Fancy Furnight and daySuper Bulky3950g13939Gala Mixed Fiber Noveltygrey scale50g3

 It's a sickness.

On the short list of projects to complete next:
-Striped fingerless mits that are already started (comfy worsted, seraphim and blackberry)
-hat for Z (cupcake... maybe something equally as cute)
-hat for JP (he asked me to make something specific... I can't remember what now.)
-SOCKS!
-mits for a friend (you should know who you are!)
-hat for baby M. (Cupcake.  Super cute.)

It's like I  haven't been working non stop the last 6 weeks...