Yarn Play

As you may have gathered from past posts, I have a thing for fingerless mitts/gloves. My hands are always cold - sometimes even on summer nights. I like to try out different patterns for them and the best part of using the patterns is becoming acquainted with new, luscious yarns.

I purchased the pattern for Schaefer yarns Razor Shell fingerless gloves (they can be made long or short of course) and I decided that I wanted to make them in the yarn that was used in the pattern. Schaefer yarn Heather yarns are named for famous women. The one I chose is called Indira Ghandi - it's beautiful & I can't wait to get started on these lovely gloves

My current favorite fingerless glove pattern is by Cheryl Niamuth and is called "Fetching". Cheryl also has another pattern that I really like and it is called "Dashing" - they are both quick to knit, very satisfying to make, patterns! The red yarn above is from Knit Picks from their 'Wool Of The Andes' collection in 'Firecracker'. It knit up into a really nice glove that I think will wear very well - as well as being very warm!

Rowan Classic Cashsoft is, simply, a treat to work with - soooo soft. Being able to use these will make Fall easier to take when it arrives again.....well, maybe that's a stretch but it will be nice!

Debbie Bliss Cashmerino is another soft touch yarn that I have fallen in love with. I am not sure that it is quite as soft as Cashsoft but it knits up truly wonderfully - it affords beautiful stitch definition. My next adventure, I think, will be to buy some pure cashmere yarn - enough to make a pair of my favorite fingerless mitts.

On The Needles Now

I once swore that I would never make a sweater. I am generally warm enough without them - and most of them make me look like something that Omar The Tentmaker would be proud of! Of course, never say never. I am working on one now! As I have mentioned before, I am a Noro yarn addict - I use it so much - for so many things! The pattern I am working on is from Knitter's Magazine from the Fall 2004 issue. The sweater is called "Random Acts of Color". I would NEVER have thought twice about the pattern from looking at it in the magazine had I not seen it done by fabulous knitter Carol Harrington. I instantly knew that, in fact, there was a sweater in my future. Carol teaches this sweater in a class at Anacrosstitch in Anacortes, Washington called 'Scarf Sweater' & she has some wonderful twists to the magazine pattern. I like Carol's rendition better. The class is over four weekends - 2 hours at a time on a Saturday. That's a lot of money and travel time for me - so I thought I would try the pattern from the magazine on my own to see if I could do it myself. Thus far - I can! It's difficult to find this particular issue of the magazine which is out-of-print and very seldom available - so I was thrilled to be able to find one. It's actually a VERY simple pattern. Simple strips knit like small scarves (hence the name Scarf Sweater) are actually rather boring & simple knitting . Carol's three needle bind off method to connect the strips makes the pattern so much more interesting than the instructions from the magazine. Of course, I think anything made with Noro is a winner - and for this sweater I am using my favorite Noro yarn - Silk Garden. I think it's going to be a real treasured sweater !

The other Noro project that I have on needles is a pair of Noro socks - one sock is done ! I have found that I really like Skacel 12 inch Addi Turbo needles for making socks. It took me a bit of time to get used to the bent tip on them - but I think that the shorter length makes for faster, easier knitting. Another great new find for me! I have been thinking that the next pair I make will be done on size 0 needles though - these are being worked on size 1's. The socks feel better on than I had thought they would as the yarn feels rather stiff and waxy in the hand. I have also been reading on Ravelry that the yarn sofens with washing - which gives me hope of a drawer full of Noro socks ! I would love it if the came out with a sock yarn made from Silk Garden ! Okay - I am off to do some honest-to-gosh SEWING now - on a quilt for our Aunt !