Warm hands
That nice Warm Hands button has been lurking in my sidebar for months now, suffusing me with guilt whenever I look at it. I joined Sandy’s knitalong months ago; I had the wool, I had the idea for the pattern, and since the mittens I made myself last year are still favorites, I had a Christmas recipient in mind for the new ones. Christmas came and went with only one mitten finished, but I finally set myself to complete its mate last Sunday. Here they are pre- and post-fulling:
These mittens definitely have that homemade je ne sais quoi. Actually, je sais exactly quoi: my gauge loosened up and mitten #2 came out half an inch larger all around; I totally guessed at the thumb gusset, wound up with too many stitches, and had to decrease haphazardly when I came to work the thumbs; it’s the first time I ever tried to full anything on purpose (we’re not counting the time in college when I oh-so-thoughtfully did Mr. Garter’s laundry for him and shrank his favorite vintage wool shirt – hand to God it was devoid of labels and I never suspected it was wool) and we don’t have a washing machine, so the activity in the bathroom sink may have been a little haphazard, too. Anyhow, I tried to correct the right mitten’s larger size with extra soap, hot water, and friction, and I was mostly successful. But I didn’t want the left mitten to get too much smaller, so it’s hardly felted at all. You can see the difference:
But they’re for my mother-in-law, and she’s going to love me anyway.
The specs:
One skein (with ample leftovers) Steadfast Fibers worsted weight wool, in a color they call “groovy green” and I call “celery”
US size 6 bamboo dpns
My own pattern, using the Carillon Stitch from my gal Barbara Walker.
I like them, really. I may make the pattern available here if I can tinker with the thumb and figure out how to offer a smaller size. Unless you have broad palms (and my mother-in-law does, fortunately), these would be more like overmitts. Much more fulling than I gave the right mitten would totally obscure the pattern, and those little bells and bell ropes are so cute. I’ll let you know when I’m satisfied with my work. Perhaps I’ll also post the pattern for my Merry Mittens, which came out so well.
Posted: January 11th, 2006 at 7:43 am
Those mittens are beautiful! I love that carillon stitch. (It reminds me of the little bag in Last Minute Knitted Gifts). And that green is very nice.
Bravo!
Posted: January 11th, 2006 at 8:55 am
very cute!
Posted: January 11th, 2006 at 9:10 am
oh my god, i love those mittens! soooo pretty.
Posted: January 11th, 2006 at 10:49 am
Very nice! That stitch is so pretty.
Posted: January 11th, 2006 at 10:53 am
V. cute!!
C’mon, go for it. Give us the pattern.
Posted: January 11th, 2006 at 12:54 pm
Awww…they’re so sweet! And I’m sure your MIL will LOVE that they have character. They look so toasty I just want to dive my cold little fingers into them.
Posted: January 11th, 2006 at 8:40 pm
REALLY cute!!
Posted: January 12th, 2006 at 10:40 am
Brilliant! love the stitch detail on the back, and great color!
Posted: January 16th, 2006 at 11:59 am
What awesome mittens! I love the color, and the pattern!
As far as the wool shirt, I don’t know if it’s too far gone or not…. I took a class with Joyce Willam and Lizbeth Upitis last year, and they were talking about “unfelting” things. I’m not sure on the exact ration (half/half?), but you fill a pot on the stove with room temperature water, vinager, and your shrunken object. You then turn on your burner and slowly bring the pot to almost a simmer. Then you turn off the burner and let it cool back to room temperature (all with out agitation). You should be able to rinse it, and then stretch it farther than if you did nothing. I’ll try to find something online to support my memory…
*disclaimer* I would only try this with something that is totally ruined, just in case it doen’t work you have lost nothing. Maybe it will work with Mr. Garter’s shirt?