Thursday 25 December 2014

Happy Christmas Everyone!

It's Christmas baby! Hope you're all having a wonderful day and season - hoping that all your sewing Christmas endeavours are going well and your homemade Christmas presents have been a success!

Thursday 11 December 2014

Selfish in December...is That Such a Bad Thing?


After last week's tutorial I remembered how satisfying knitting the mittens for myself were after making all those things for other people. And considering I've just bought most of my Christmas presents this week I thought I'd be really selfish and knit myself a matching scarf (thanks Lily Smeeton for the wool!) so that I'd be really snug this winter. After all, what's the use of being able to make things and not making things for yourself?

Toni

Thursday 4 December 2014

Tutorial - Unisex Fingerless Mittens


This isn't a tutorial as such, as I've been a bit strapped for time recently. This is the pattern for my fingerless mittens - I've had them for 3 years or so - I made them for myself after making loads for friends and family who didn't really appreciate them!

As there are no fingers I decided to make these a one size pattern. A while ago I also made two mitten patterns with a similar fit, one for large hands (mine are about 8" long!) and a set for a smaller pair, so if you'd like me to publish those, please ask. 

These are unisex - my Mum's partner Tom can just about get them on and his hands are huge, so for a large male hand I would give yourself two more stitches around the girth of the glove. 

Fortunately I used a 'stretchy stitch' to cast on, so the ribbing stretches as much as it possibly can - you're not left battling with one row of tight stitches when the rest of the ribbing eases over your hand just fine.

My instructions do not include the purled stripes seen in the picture above, I added them last minute and didn't put them on the pattern, but they're not hard to work out if you have a little time.

Here is my method - 

Using 6mm double pointed needles cast on 32 stitches using the slip knot method. Here is a video that teaches you the method.

k2 p2 for 8 rows.

knit 14 rows.

knit until the penultimate stitch, m1, k2.

k2 m1. knit to end of row (16th row).

knit 1 row.

repeat the last 3 rows until you have 10 new stitches (42 in total)

knit 6 stitches, and slip the 12 stitches you have just knitted onto a stitch holder.

knit 3 rows.

k2 p2 for 7 rows.

cast  off.

Thumb - 

pick up stitches from holder.

pick up 2 more either side of the body of the glove, one on each needle - I did this to try and stop the big hole appearing between your thumb and finger that happened with other mitten patterns, and it worked for me (total 14 stitches).

knit 4 rows.

cast off in the same manner as before.

Cut and sew in your ends with a large needle, and you're all done!

Sorry I've not had time to show you with proper pictures this week, but try the pattern - it's pretty easy!

See you next week,

Toni