Perfect Weather for Knitting

Nothing better than staying home on a cold wintery day and snuggling in with a blanket and knitting the day away.  I have had a few of those days this month and knocked out some fun things. 

First with my Baby Sis' birthday at the end of January I knitted her a small pair of those half moon mittens.  The small size fit her perfectly.  I hope they keep her hands warm for years to come.

I also knocked out building block #2 for our monthly knit along.  This month the point was to learn how to read a knitting pattern chart. I didn't have any problem, it was easy to remember.  Natalie end up writing it out.  I don't think she will ever like reading a chart.

Finally, I got annoyed with the pattern I was working on and decided to do something easy.  I dug through my scraps and knitted another antimacassar.  I now have 3 antimacassar hanging out in my home.  I think my goal is to knit 9 of these and then sew them all together and make a throw.  But who knows how this scheme will end.

Here is hoping during all this cold and snowy weather you have stayed warm and cozy in all your wonderful knitted accessories. 

Half Moon Mittens or Kooky Knitted Calzones

Last Friday I came home at lunch and saw 3 AT&T trucks on my block.  The technicians were on the poles working on the lines.  When I got home Friday night we had no cable service and the wifi was out.  Doesn't take a detective to figure out one of those techs might have made a mistake.  Today after much turning on and off of "equipment" they discovered that someone on Friday had "forgotten" to re-connect our cable.  Not the end of the world, but thankful to be back on the grid today.  I missed my wifi.

What I did do over my internet disabled weekend was finally finished Daniel Yuhas' Half Moon Mittens.  Thanks to Robyn at Kirkwood Knittery I was able to finish the pattern and knit up these kooky mittens.  Despite looking like lobster claws, as soon as I saw this pattern, I wanted to knit these mittens.  The mittens are knitted in the round with just two ends to weave in, one at the tip of the thumb and one on the cuff.  Very clever construction Daniel.  I am so happy with the finished mitten. 

I am one of those fingerless mitts people, but with the recent cold snap my finger tips were freezing off.  I can now wear my fingerless mitts and pull mittens on when the temperature drops.  I also have the added bonus of looking like I have multi-colored calzones on my hands.

Knitting Fail in 2014 Or Saved by a Scarflet

Listen to my tail of woe.  I am in the throes of epic knitting fail.  I finished knitting 2 Fabulous Felted Hat in 2013 and all I need to do is felt them.  Actually, I have been trying to felt one down to wearable size and it is refusing to do down that last couple of inches.  I have tried everything short of dipping the damn thing in hot lava and it just won't go down.  Big GRRRR and felting advice accepted.

I also worked on Jacob Yuhas' Half-Moon Mittens.  Apparently, the pattern is slightly smarter than me I keep getting stuck.  I have had more interventions on this pattern than Lindsey Lohan.  I think I am finally back on the right track, but we will see.  Also want to add the left-hand lift to increase 1 in this pattern is very brilliant.  Thanks Jacob.

I even tried to cast on a Pembroke Shawl.  Another fail moment.  I completely misread the pattern and had to rip the whole thing out.  So much knitting win in 2014.  Insert sad trombone music here.

To make myself feel better I thought I would do something simple.  Using some leftover cascade tweed yarn I knit the Scarflet.  Garter stitch and buttonholes, very easy.  The hardest thing about this pattern was picking out buttons and finding 4 that matched.  Also, I got it done in 2 nights.  I know it is lame, but I will take a knitting win wherever I can find it right now.