Got to love those gift certificates!

I just got back from my local yarn store. I was armed with a gift certificate from my boss and made a great haul. This pile will make a pair of socks, three hats, two pair of fingerless gloves.

Here's what I bought:

• Sublime Baby Cashmere Merino Silk DK - 2 skeins. Pale Pink. These will be made into fingerless gloves (seems I am in a rut -- if you can call that -- with fingerless gloves.

• Plymouth Diversity sock yarns. Yellow Orange white. Further in the skein the colors change to pink and purple. -- Obviously, socks.

• Berroco Remix -  Tan.  I have some hat patterns I want to try. One of these patterns will get this skein.

• Mirasol - Nuna in Navy. 3 Skeins. I loved the color and sheen of this yarn. Probably will end up a hat and gloves, maybe a scarf.

Now I just wish I had enough to do these plus the 2000+- projects in my stash in the yarn room. If I live long enough to use it all up, I will be over 175 years old!

Stay tuned. Back to the needles.

Variations on a theme

I posted my pattern of fingerless gloves a couple of days ago, but that is just the beginning. Here are three more sets of fingerless gloves using the Lilly's Fingerless Pattern (December 23, 2013), all from different yarns, different sized needles, and the numbers of stitches.

The maroon gloves were made with a 100% worsted wool. The original pattern calls for an aran wool which is a little bulkier, but the worsted worked very well.  I used size 9 needles and the larger size of the pattern.  Since it was made for a woman's hands, I also made it a little longer to cover more of the wrists. 

This blue pair is made with bulky yarn, 100% acrylic. I used size 11 needles and the smaller size pattern. The gloves ended up with a nice thick finish and perfect for a man's hands. Since the yarn is washable, it makes them very rugged pair. Also I want able to knit them in a couple of hours while watching a football game.

This pair is made out of an alpaca and wool mix.  It is a a sport weight yarn so I adjust the pattern again. I used size 7 needles and cast on 40 stitches.  I extended the thumb out to 10 stitches (instead of 8), but everything else is the same. I gave these to my husband and he has hardly taken them off! His home office gets cold, so they are perfect for him.


Now I have to pick out my next project.  I have two days before I have to go back to work so ...

Back to the needles.

Merry Christmas! Free pattern Lilly Fingerless Gloves

Using big yarn and big needles, you can knock these mitts out in quick fashion. I made three sets over the weekend for last minutes gifts. One pair was done with super bulky yarn and size 11 needles for my boss, using the same numbers and they turned out great. (I'll put the pictures of the other two sets in the next day or two). This purple pair, I made for me!

Lilly Fingerless Gloves

Fingerless gloves may be a fad today, but they are actually from the Victorian era. At those times, young ladies were expected to learn to play music and sing, as well as needlecrafts such as knitting, embroidery, and sewing. To keep her hands warm but still free to play the piano, fingerless gloves were not only fashionable, but functional.  

A few years ago, these gloves came back into fashion as computer gloves.  In order to stave off the chills of low thermostats in the winter or air conditioning in the summer, these gloves made working on computer keyboards a must. 

Today, they are also called texting gloves, allowing thumbs to racing across cell phones keypads while keeping hands warm.  No matter what you use them for, they are a delightful accessory to any wardrobe.

Sizes: Ladies' Medium (Large).

Materials:

2 skeins Classic Elite Yarns Chateau  (70% baby Alpaca; 25% Bamboo Vicose Alpaca), or any Aran-weight yarn.

Size 10 (6.0 mm) double pointed needles
2 stitch marker
Stitch holder
Yarn needle
Gauge: 10 stitches (5 ribs) = 2”. (A precise gauge is not critical because this is a very stretchy stitch)

Special Stitch: Twisted Knit - Knit into the back of the loop.


Cast on 28 (32) stitches. Join being careful not to twist the stitches. Place marker.

Every round: *K1 in twisted stitch, P1.* Continue from * in the round until piece measures 5”.

Round 1: Inc 1, k2, inc 1, place marker, continue in twisted rib pattern to end. 30 (34) stitches
Round 2: Knit in twisted rib pattern.
Round 3: Inc 1, k4, inc 1, continue in pattern to end. 32 (36) stitches
Round 4: Knit in twisted rib pattern.
Round 5: Knit in twisted rib pattern.
Round 6: Inc 1, k6, inc 1, continue in pattern to end. 34 (38) stitches
Round 7: Knit in twisted rib pattern.
Round 8: Knit in twisted rib pattern.

Next round: Place the stitches between the markers on a holder. Cast on 4 stitches. Continue knitting in twisted rib pattern to end of round.
Next round: Knit in twisted rib pattern.
Next round: K2 tog twice. Continue knitting in twisted rib pattern to the end of round.

Every round:  Continue knitting in the round in twisted rib pattern for 3” from cast on edge or desired length.
Bind off in pattern.

Thumb:
Put the 8 stitches from the holder on the double pointed needles. Join yarn and knit 8 stitches. Pick up 2 stitches from the cast on edge of the hand. Place marker. Join to the first stitch.
Knit two rows.
Next round.* K1 in twisted stitch, P1.* Continue from * in the round until thumb measures 1½ (2)” or desired length.
Bind off.

Cut yarn, leaving an 8” tail.  Weave in ends.

Neko takes a sniff and approves.

Happy Solstice!

I am hoping to get back to my blogging and knitting after the holidays!

Colorado Baby Hat

A friend of mine is having a baby in a couple of months. I wanted to give her a Colorado hat (see the entry of November 17, 2012), but I designed my hat for an adult. So I decided to try a few modifications to fit a wee head.

I basically used the same pattern as the adult hat with a sock yarn and size 2 needles. I reduced the number of stitches by 12 (96 to 84), but I kept the stitches of the design the same. It turned out really nice and I think baby Reagan will really like it. The yarn is a cotton and bamboo blend so it will be fine for a spring baby. The baby is a girl but this hat is perfect for both boys and girls.

Tonight I am finishing my purple shawl. I swear. Only a couple of rows to do, but since it's the bottom of the shawl, there are about a million stitches in one row.

Well, back to the needles. Those rows won't do it themselves.