I used knit picks glossy fingering, a combination of merino wool and silk, for extra warmth and a little extra shine. The yarn was quite lovely to knit with, and I really like how these turned out.
The big surprise for me was learning that my normally extra-loose gauge totally tightens up when knitting with two colors. It makes sense, given that I am not as adept at holding the yarn in my left hand and everything ends up getting tightened up a bit, but it made me a bit nervous.
My sister has small hands, but I'd already gone down a couple of needle sizes (as I have started to do as a matter of routine, these days) and they ended up a little bit small, especially in how the thumb fit to the rest of the hand.
Thankfully, some post-Christmas blocking seemed to help (so she claims) and now my sister is wearing her new mittens around the house. She has so far avoided wearing them outside because she "loves them too much." Well, I tried to argue that mittens should be used, but really, who I am to say she can't decide these are precious objects.
*This post is brought to you by borrowed internet. Eight percent, whoo!
4 comments:
These are gorgeous. Though the beetle is an eccentric design choce for a mitten - doesn't seem wintry somehow - but it's more elegant than the more typical Norwegian reindeer.
I've used the KnitPiks catalog a lot. I think that's where my self-striping sock yarn came from (it's been in my stache for awhile!).
I can usually depend on being able to use the size needles prescribed in the pattern if I'm using the yarn called for - but every now and then I get a surprise. I'm worried about the line sweater I'm knitting - but I did a guage swatch since the instructions called for washing and machine drying BEFORE measuring the rows and stitches.
those buggies are so perfect for your sister! and, if her house is anything like mine, maybe she needs them inside. ;)
p.s. i will give a dollar to anyone who comes up with the reverse wink emoticon.
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