Fingerless Mitts

I have now journeyed into the land of 'Fingerless Mitts and Gloves'. Not too different from socks in that you are knitting in the round using double pointed needles. I recently visited my local yarn shop called "Stitch Therapy a Fine Yarn Shop" www.stitchtherapybrookly.com . Small shop, but loaded with beautiful yarns. The owner is always willing to help you figure out patterns and always encouraging her customers to try out this or that. Great place. Please visit this store, as the saying goes 'great things come in small packages' and you will definitely not be disappointed.

Well, she had finished knitting up a lovely fingerless mitt for a floor display. I toyed with the sample while visiting and that night fell asleep thinking about this glove. I just had to try it. Well, I went back the very next day, purchased a lovely red yarn by EXTRA - 100% Australian Merino, Shrink Resistent yarn.

What a pleasure to knit with this yarn. The ply is beautiful and there is this lovely slight sheen to the fabric. I presently do not have a picture of the finished product as my mom, once again, is blocking the set of fingerless mitts at her home.

You will notice, by viewing the second picture, that I have started my second pair of fingerless mitts in Artyarns Supermerino colorway 119. Using US #4 needles.

When I started knitting the mitts, I decided to do both at the same time using two sets of double pointed needles in the same sizes of course, so that I could finish both basically at the same time. One is a little more advanced in the pattern than the other, but will soon reach its mate quickly. This is a really easy pattern to do.

I have a slight problem with my knitting in that I do the first mate correctly and then somehow the second mate is tighter!! I have no idea why this happens to me, although some have suggested that maybe I feel more confident with the pattern, thus I am knitting tighter in order to finish the entire project. Who knows, but I aim to conquer this little dilemma.

Opal Ankle Socks

This is another pair of socks I recently finished. I love this yarn as it is self-patterning. It almost looks like Fair Isle knitting, but NOT! This yarn is lovely to work with and very forgiving. I encourage everyone who knits to always use a yarn that will be pleasing to the eyes so that you don't get bored with it. This yarn, you will definitely not get bored.

These socks are simple basic ankle socks, knitted on US #2 dpn needles.

Update on Latest Socks

Well, finally I finished the Flying Geese Socks. My dear mom blocked these socks for me and let me tell you, they look fantastic blocked! I didn't realize what 'blocking' can do for your knitting pieces.

I must share with you that I have discovered that I tend to knit my first socks of a pair nicely. Its mate usually never looks the same. Case in point: I did the first sock of the Flying Geese Pattern and it came out beautiful, granted there might have been one or two little 'signature markings' but overall it came out beautiful. Its mate on the other hand, did not as you will see from the picture.

First of all let me share with you that knitting can be very very relaxing, but when you are under a surmountable stress value as I was on the day I attempted to finish this sock, you will quickly come to realize that you will make terrible mistakes that you will regret for the life of that sock.

The mate to this sock went through much distress at my hands. I started grafting the toe way way before I was supposed to. I realized my mistake, but by this point I had already 'cut' the yarn. I attempted to go back and undo the grafting, add yarn to the existing yarn and continue the pattern until I really arrived at the place of grafting the required stitches. Well, my toe area ended up looking like a 'roach killer' sock!! Meaning that it was pointy rather than rounded as it mate was.

By the end of this finished product, I can tell you I was NOT relaxed, but more distressed than when I started. My daughter said not to look upon it as a 'mistake' but rather that the sock itself had 'character'. Suffice to say, I took her advice and left the sock as is.