Saturday, January 15, 2011

Res Completae: Many, Many Mitts

With everything going on this fall, from deadline knitting to travel to preparing for the baby, come late November I really didn't think I was going to be able to knit anyone anything for Christmas. I love knitting for people for Christmas, so this was a huge disappointment at first. But then, once I let it go, it sort of just happened. Mitts ended up being the perfect project -- easy to take on the go and one of those types with the "potato chip" quality that makes it difficult to just have one (er, two...because one mitt does not a great gift make).

It started with Ysolda's Garter Stitch Mitts in Knit Picks Swish DK...


These are fast. I think I completed the pair in one evening around Thanksgiving.

Next up were Susie's Reading Mitts by Janelle Masters in Cascade 220...


Sans picot edging. This is a really lovely pattern. These were done while we were in Washington DC.

Then I just couldn't stop. These I just sort of made up on the fly, with some purpley grey Valley Yarns Superwash DK...



Then replicated (twice actually, so pretend there are four mitts shown in the below photo) with pink Cascade 220...



And again with teal Swish DK...



All together now!



12 mitts. 6 happy (at least they pretended to be) recipients. 1 very satisfied knitter.

P.S. If you look closely in the above photos, you can see the blister from where I ironed my left thumb while working on a little Christmas sewing. That same day, I burned my other hand on the oven....then later dropped my iPhone in same oven. What they tell you about getting all clumsy due to joint expansion during pregnancy is totally true.

22 comments:

barefootrooster said...

these are perfect -- i've been realizing that I need some simple, classy mitts of my own. (And owch to the ironing!)

Chantal Boucher said...

You make me laugh! ...for the clumsiness! But the idea of those mitts, just perfect and very cute!!
Good luck with the baby (hope that you gonna be less clumsy with him!! especially over the oven!!)

Thea said...

Those irons'll get you every time...

Teresa said...

Lucky giftees! A lovely collection of mitts.

Susan said...

Great job on all of those mitts. I say all the recipients are pumped for their gifts.

Brenda Jones said...

The mitts are delightful! Now I want some .... Gotta ask: Why were you holding your phone when you stuck your hand in the oven?

Maryse said...

The mittens are all so lovely! I don't think the recipients had to pretend ;-)

Chrispy said...

Awesome mitts! I sadly have dropped my Android phone on EazyC's head more times than I'd like to admit while nursing him at night/middle of the night/early morning. So the whole clumsiness doesn't go away quickly especially when tired.

BTW will we see you at Stitches West?

Wollgut said...

The reading mitts are gorgeous!

peaknits said...

What a wonderful pile of mittens - I doubt the recipients had to "fake" it;) I have received an "order" for a pair since I made some for a co-worker -that's the best!

Aline said...

Sorry to hear about the bobos...
The knits are great gifts!. My fav is the cream pair. The detail is so delicate.

Nettie said...

They all look so lovely! And perfectly neat! And you will find that most pregnancy "myths" are actually quite true, lol

jennifer said...

What great gifts! I feel you on the pregnancy clumsiness!

Brigid said...

Very lovely! Just imagine if you were clumsy like me *before* getting pregnant - I was out of control ;-)

Julie said...

Fingerless mitts are such great knitting gifts, aren't they? I find everyone really loves them. You pairs are all so pretty!!

April said...

Beautiful mitts. I love the colors you chose. Definitely going to have to give Susie's Reading Mitts another look. I originally passed on them because of the picot.

Mr Puffy's Knitting Blog: said...

So thoughtful ~ and beautifully made. I love hearing how quickly you can knit a pair ~ those garter stitch ones are going on my list!

Sorry to hear about all the bumps and bruises :(

Judi A. said...

I recently completed my first pair of fingerless mitts using Susie's Reading Mitts pattern and loved it. I gave them to a friend and she was so excited because she now can text without taking her gloves off! I know I will make several more, using several other patterns I want to try. When I was younger, whenever I would drop something or appear a bit clumsy, my husband would look at me and say, "Are you pregnant?!" Don't have to worry about that now. I'm just
clumsy. :-)

Karina said...

Really cute mitts. Glad to see you're back. I've missed your posts. Enjoy the pregnancy, clumsiness and all.

=Tamar said...

It's true about pregnancy brain, too -- just like a teenager's brain, your brain begins to grow lots of new neurons and make new connections, and that confuses the old learning. Might have something to do with the clumsiness, too, I think.

a friend to knit with said...

perfectly perfect. i love the colors!

just make sure you wear your clothes while ironing... i once burned my stomach (ironing in bra and panties..not nude!:) ) OUCH!

keri said...

What beautiful mitts - I have been thinking of knitting a pair of ysolda's garter stitch mitts, glad to hear they knit up fast!