I've been focused on a pair of Newfoundland Mitts, and now all they need is thumbs.
Look closely. Fresh snowflakes for added effect. The little pink lines are placeholders for the thumbs. I modified this pattern a bit and used Elizabeth Zimmermann's thumb-trick. If you have a copy of her Knitter's Almanac, you'll find instructions there. I also blogged step-by-step directions here.
I unraveled the pink yarn to expose the thumb stitches. Just a few short rounds and these mitts will be finished.
After a couple busy weeks with shows and travel, I have a little breather. It's a good time to catch up on orders, paperwork and deadline knitting. I have more than one project that's on deadline, but yesterday I focused on this one.
Newfoundland Mitts. I've made these several times and really love the warm, cozy texture. This time around I did some research. I dug a little deeper and started reading project notes on Ravelry. What a wealth of information! I came across several clever modifications. Now that I've settled on a couple adjustments, the knitting will be quick. Huge thanks to everyone who takes time to post their notes.
Newfoundland Mitts. Check it out. It's a free pattern. I had visions of an outdoor photo shoot for these mittens, but Mother Nature is keeping us in the gray with an impressive Nor'easter. Wet and windy conditions have forced me to keep it indoors. I'm smitten with this pattern. Worsted weight yarn makes this a relatively quick project. The opportunity for different color combinations makes for all kinds of fun. Slipped stitches make an impressive colorwork display.
The gray yarn is leftovers I had dyed for Thrummed Mitten Kits - a basic Merino. It's paired with Sweet Potato - an Alpaca / Merino / Silk blend that I use for the X-Mitts Kit. On the needles.
Another pair of Newfound Mitts. This storm was a reminder that winter is here, and it's just getting started.
The weather has turned chilly, and everyone in my household is scurrying for extra layers before heading outdoors. Hats, mittens and scarves are all getting a good workout. Last week I loaned gave away two pairs of my mitts. The first pair was easy to surrender. When it came to the second pair, I hesitated for just a split second, but as a mother I will do almost anything for my kids. That includes giving up my handknits. Over the weekend I realized that my generosity had seriously depleted my own supply of mitts. I was in a store and heard two women talking about losing mittens. They were discussing where to buy cheap replacements. I contemplated that option for a brief moment before coming to my senses. I have enough yarn to make mittens for all of New England. Why on earth would I buy a pair? I added mittens to my knitting list and got busy. This time around I selected the yarn before the pattern. After a little time on Ravelry, I was reminded of this design.
Newfoundland Mitts. A few years ago I made several pairs of these mittens for the kids. There were colorful, warm and best of all, quick to make. This pair is all mine. In case you missed the announcement last week, I'm offering 15% off all online orders. This offer ends today. See the website for details.
