FO: Rolling Thunder Gloves

I finally updated some of my project pictures and now I have an FO to share! Hooray!

Pattern: Rolling Thunder Gloves by Sivia Harding (free on Ravelry)

Yarn: Leading Men Fiber Arts Show Stealer in Anne's Story

Needles: US #1 (2.25 mm) Addi Turbo 

Mods: None! I knit the pattern as written and the mitts are a perfect fit. I used copper lined size 8/0 Japanese beads from Fusion Beads in Seattle that I re-purposed from a knitting project that never came to fruition. The garter rib is quite stretchy so the mitts would fit a variety of hand sizes and the details on these are just lovely: a turned hem, texture stitches, little lines of beads along the purl welts, a garter thumb gusset, and a rolled hem. The only fussy thing about knitting these was pre-stringing the beads.

WIP Wednesday: Rolling Thunder Gloves

 I started with something of a problem. Variegated yarn. Some people love it and some people hate it and I tend to be somewhat ambivalent about the stuff. It's difficult to find the right pattern for whatever it is your variegated yarn is doing. I think I found the perfect pattern for this particular yarn, which is Leading Men Fiber Arts Show Stealer in the Anne's Story color. I ordered the yarn from Little Skein in the Big Wool as a companion to my Anne of Green Gables kit (more on that soon). As you can see, it has beads.

 I've already finished the first glove...

and my project has a home in my new Chubby Cloud project bag that I purchased at KnitFit! this last weekend. 

The pattern is Rolling Thunder Gloves by Sivia Harding and it's available as a free Ravelry download. Sivia based the pattern on her Rolling Thunder Socks (found at knitty.com) and you'll need the chart and instructions for the beaded bits from the socks to knit the gloves. I'm using clear copper-lined beads that I had on hand and the effect is a little like rain drops on Fall foliage. The combination of purls, knits, beads, and garter rib is perfect for this autumnal yarn.

FO: October Leaves Fingerless Mitts

Pattern: October Leaves Fingerless Mitts by Abbie Tilden

Yarn: Sincere Sheep Cushy Fingering in Be Mine

Needles: US #1 (2.25 mm) Hiya Hiya Sharps

Mods: None! (Her wrist looks bumpy because of her watch.)

Remember my super-secret knitting project for my knitting group retreat swap? This is it! I drew Meg for the swap and I knew I'd have fun knitting something for her. She has a toddler size girlie at home and is a working mama so I know she doesn't get as much time to knit as she would like. Meg knits lots of hats so I thought the next best thing would be some fingerless mitts that she could use at the park with her kiddo or going for walks. The swap theme was small accessories with lace or cables or both. I think these mitts fit the bill perfectly - they have cables running up both sides and the gusset increases are integrated into a lace leaf motif. Meg seems like the kind of lady who appreciates a little luxury, so I chose a fingering weight yarn from Sincere Sheep in a merino, nylon, and cashmere blend. The yarn is a dream to work with - nice and round with a bit of density to it that makes it flow through your fingers and off the needles.

Handspun Treads

While thinking about my next big knitting project I decided to cast on for a small, fast project. I purchased this yarn at Madrona in February and, copying fellow Purlygirl Meagan, decided to knit Treads. They're quick and satisfying and as soon as I started getting bored knitting one stitch it was time to switch to another.



Pattern: Treads (free Rav pattern)
Yarn: Spincycle Yarns Handspun BFL in Greed
Needles: US #5 Addi Turbos
Mods: I was pretty sure that I would run out of yarn if I knit the individual fingers so after the last braid I knit one row and then worked four rows in 1x1 rib before binding off. I had about three yards left from the skein.