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A while ago I noticed my mitten collection was seriously depleted. I probably could have made a couple pairs with orphan mitts, but there are times when I need to look more put together.
I cast on a pair of fingerless mitts and worked on them here and there between other projects. When the stormy weather forecast for the weekend came in, I dropped everything else and concentrated on the mitts.
Maine Morning Mitts. In case you're wondering the yarn is Norma in Paprika. After I typed that, I discovered Norma isn't listed on the website. I'll add it to my list of updates.
These mitts are a staple, but I seem to have lost or misplaced all the pairs that I've made in the past. These will come in handy as our wintery weather continues into tomorrow. Since the season is just getting started and I have a bad habit of losing mitts, I need to cast on another pair.
Knitting time has been a bit scattered this week, but I have made progress on my mitts.
I have an assembly line method when it comes to mitts. I like to make both mitts and then come back and knit the thumbs. There's a certain satisfaction that comes from binding off the first one and casting on the second one right away.
These are Maine Morning Mitts in case you're wondering. They look a little wonky now, but they fit like a dream and will look better after I block them.
While I hate to see fall come to an end, I am looking forward to winter. This week's color inspiration . . .
Last of the season.
As we enter the season of traditions, it's only fitting that I keep one of my personal traditions for this time of year. Lost fingerless mitts. I've been known to lose them in the mountains of Vermont. Or on a fairgrounds in Maine. It's a tradition I've inadvertently managed to keep for several years running.
I actually thought I was going to escape the tradition this year. This fall I had a pair of Maine Morning Mitts that would wander for a day or two and then reappear as if they had never been on leave. As long as they returned to their proper home, I was OK with that. We had a working arrangement.
Last week the inevitable happened. I took the mitts with me on a long day of errands. Too many stops to count - in and out, again and again. I had a feeling that something was going to happen to the mitts. When I finally got home, it was late and dark. And I couldn't find the mitts. I told myself that maybe they would surface in the light of day, but deep down I knew they were gone. Instead of finding a new home in the scenic New England countryside, this pair had probably landed in a parking lot.
The next day I made the decision that the time spent trying to track down the mitts would be better spent knitting a new pair. And while I was at it, I decided to use a different pattern. While I love the tried-and-true Maine Morning Mitts, they have a habit of wandering. I've lost more than one pair. So I went in search of a new pattern and settled on this.
Lacunae Mitts by Anne Hanson.
This pattern moves right along. In no time at all I had knit what appeared to be a skinny tube. The tube was transformed with a quick try-on.
Magic. If this pair doesn't wander, they will truly be magical.
This has been a week for dyeing. Every day there's something new and exciting coming out of the pots. Mid-week we had unseasonably humid weather that slowed the drying process. It's crunch time for an upcoming event, and I have a schedule to keep. There's no time for a lag in production.
Here's a sample of what's been brewing. This one reminds me of berries mashed and mixed together.
Reminiscent of the summer gone by.
And a cheery blue.
Subtle variation with hints of green.
On the needles . . . I'm finishing the garter border of Yvaine. Mindless, comfort knitting is good at a time when everything else requires more focus and attention. Out of necessity I started a new pair of fingerless mitts. The cold, early mornings have been too much for my hands. Crazy as it seems I have been unable to locate one pair of mitts for myself in this house filled with wool, so the only option was to make a new pair.
I considered several patterns but time was a-wasting. In the end I settled for an old standby that fits well, knits up quickly and is practical.
This is the beginning of a pair of Maine Morning Mitts by Clara Parkes. The yarn is Bartlettyarns worsted weight, colorway dark heather. This hard wearing yarn with colorful flecks is produced locally here in New England. These mitts are a great one skein project. Note to self - it wouldn't hurt to have more than one pair.
Our neighborhood is gearing up for the festivities this weekend, my own yard included.
There's talk of adding lighting. Every year our display gets more elaborate.
While I'm on the subject of spooky, take a look at this creation. I am in awe of the detail - bones, vertebrae and even teeth.
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My color inspiration for the week comes from the neighbor's yard. There was a bold, dazzling display of color that lasted for a day or two. And then it was gone.
A reminder of how fleeting the season is.
