I’m Knitting As Fast As I Can

Except for darning in the yarn ends and blocking, my not-yellow mittens are done:

Pattern: Mitered Mittens by Elizabeth Zimmermann - the May project in Knitter’s Almanac

If you’ve never knit this brilliant design, you are basically making two large chevrons by increasing and decreasing simultaneously on every other round.

Yarn: Knit Picks Bare Superwash DK (less than 1 skein), dyed with turmeric

Needles: Bryspun, 5-inch, #3 double-points

Observations: The only thing I changed this time, was to work the thumb over 17 stitches instead of the 15 stitches recommended in the pattern. Oh, and I also worked the hand decreases until there were 12 stitches left; I think the pattern says something slightly different.

There are several things I’ll do differently on the next pair.

• I’ll most likely eliminate the ribbing at the cuff. I don’t like the look. I think I’ll work the cuff, or at least the first 2 inches or so, in a smaller needle so it’s a bit more fitted.
• I will almost certainly add 1 stitch between each of the decreases (i.e., at the end of ndl #1 and ndl #3) to prevent the gap between the decreases.
• Because there is no thumb gusset, there’s quite a bit of stress on the palm side near the thumb.

I’m toying with the idea of increasing by 4 stitches (one on each needle) on the round in which I place the waste yarn to try and reduce the stress. The 4 stitches could be decreased on the next round. More likely, I’ll eliminate the decreases on the waste-yarn round and just work the increases. That might look cleaner, especially if I add that extra stitch between the decreases.

The back looks quite nice, though:

All in all, the mittens were a very fast and satisfying knit. I’m glad I made the cuff a little long, but the hand is a bit too large for me. Of course, that’s easily adjusted now that I have an idea of how the pattern works.

If you’re wondering what’s in the bucket in the photo, stay tuned.

I’d been searching to no avail for the perfect yarn for my Rhinebeck Not-Sweater when serendipity intervened.

Last Tuesday Katherine gave me a belated birthday present - a skein of Alpaca With A Twist Fino in a grey color that is exactly the same color as the sky in Syracuse during a snowstorm. Perfect!

I fiddled with the charts a bit then decided to just start knitting and work out the kinks as I go since time is running short. Here’s the baby shawl at 129 stitches:

Not too impressive, I know. But I’m trying.

Several people wrote and asked if I’ll offer the pattern once the shawl is finished. That was my plan–assuming it comes out looking good. So I’ll probably be looking for a test knitter in a couple of weeks unless the shawl doesn’t pass the smell test at Rhinebeck.

And several people wrote and asked what I made from the not-yellow yarn I dyed with turmeric. It’s being transformed into a pair of mittens. They’re almost finished, but since my resident hand model is at cheerleading practice and can’t model them right now, I only have this “in process” photo:

The pattern is the May pattern from Knitter’s Almanac by Elizabeth Zimmermann. I didn’t make any changes this time, but I did jot down a few things I might try with the next pair.

I’m working away on my mitten (notice I said mitten, not mittens), and I’ll probably be ready to post a full report on the process on Friday. Suffice to say, my tension is not quite as even as Debi and Beth presumed. But I’m hoping all will be well after a little blocking.

In the meantime, I have to tell you about the yarn I’m using for the mitten. It’s a new offering at my LYS called Soft Sea Wool by Reynolds.

I’m not mincing any words about this yarn. It could be one of the best yarns I’ve ever knit with. OK, it doesn’t surpass my own homespun or maybe one or two other commercially spun yarns I’ve used over the years.  But, yikes, it is fantastic! I would describe it as having the same tight twist as Koigu and Gems Pearl but about a thousand times softer and loftier.

Can you see what I mean:

It’s a two-ply and seems to be spun in more in a woolen fashion (as opposed to worsted) It also has a slightly “sueded” feel to it. In short, it’s soft and sproingy and, quite literally, perfect.

Although Reynolds seems to be touting it as a sock yarn, I’m not 100% convinced that it will stand up to rough wear. Anyone have any experience with how it washes and wears??