Indulgence Fingerless Mitts

I looked at the large amount of yarn leftover after finishing my Thumb Joint Socks and thought it would be a shame to toss it back into the stash. 

I've been wanting a new pair of fingerless mitts recently, so I immediately cast on. 

To keep things simple, I followed the numbers from my socks. That plan worked out fine. 

The only "issue" as I was knitting was with the thumb gusset. 

I guess I've been following knitting patterns more than I've been designing them lately. 

The first gusset attempt came out shorter than I wanted. 

Even the second one, technically, wasn't what I had in mind. But these mitts were for myself and my patience only extends so far, so the second attempt was used. 

Despite the gusset struggles, the fit the fit is quite good. 

Everyone at knitting group appreciated them. One woman liked them so much I emailed her the pattern. 

The marvels of modern technology. I was able to open my Note over the pattern and send it away!

Lady Godiva's Glove?

The other day I got out the doll I knit with the idea that I should probably finally make her some clothes.
For motivation I put her on the side of my desk where I could see her constantly.
Since her head is (let's be honest) a little big for her to sit up nicely I arranged her so she was reclining comfortably.
(Remember, I work from home so having a naked doll on my desk is not an issue.)
This morning I arrive at my desk and she is wearing one of my fingerless mitts.
"huh," I think, "that's weird."

When Hubby woke up I asked if he had put the glove on her.
He said yes.
He said her saw he laying there and she looked like a Mini-Me and I'm always wearing my mitts so it seemed appropriate.
My Hubby is silly.
On the other hand, considering it's just us and the dogs if he had said no we would have had a problem.

So, November

What is it about November that attracts all these challenges?

You know what I'm talking about.

There is National Novel Writing Month. That so isn't going to happen around here.

There is National Knit a Sweater Month. That is more likely, however it's not going to happen this year since I'm not going to cast on a fresh sweater for it.

The only sweater action around here that I can guarantee will be resuming my Electric Bunny Sweater when my new yarn arrives.

Then today I heard about National Blog Post Month. I'm not sure whether I've heard about this before. I know there are challenges out there to blog every day, but I don't know if this is it.

However, since I'm been bemoaning for months the fact that I have to get back to blogging, maybe I'll actually take up this challenge.

Not officially though. It looks like there is some website you're supposed to register with, but it's probably not mandatory so I'm going to blow it off.

I've always ignored such challenges in the past since I used to blog consistently. Recently it's obvious I need outside motivation. 

From the very, very brief skim I gave that website, the goal is to blog every day as a way to improve your writing. I guess that means those wordless picture posts I've been doing when I'm lazy don't count. But then again, I've long known that my photography skills aren't good enough to pull off picture only posts.

On the other hand, if I keep babbling like this (as I tend to do) the challenge won't be sustainable.

Anyway....knitting!

Since hitting the wall on the Electric Bunny Sweater I've focused on some small projects I've been meaning to get off my plate.

Oh, don't worry, I haven't actually turned to any WIPs or UFOs.

Over the weekend I knit a pair of fingerless mitts using Mirasol Tuhu in the "Apple Green" Color. The pattern is the T'ara Mittens from Book #24-Tuhu.

This yarn is so dreamy. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it in my KFI sample box. It tanked my resolve not to fall into a stripy sweater trap again. On the other hand, I haven't cast on for said stripey sweater, so I guess my resolve is intact.

Although the other day I was wondering if a crocheted, stripey, top-down sweater would be practical and if I would have enough yarn to finish it.

Anyway. A few months ago, maybe even in the summer?, I'd told my walking buddy Judy that I'd make her a pair of fingerless mitts. She didn't ask. I volunteered after she admired a pair of mine. As you know, this is very unusual behavior for me. Even more unusual that I followed through. ha!

Well, with the pause in the EBS, but with the safety net of resuming it as soon as the new yarn arrived, I was free to finally whip out these mitts. I gave them to her yesterday and she professed much affection for them.

The mitts done I cast on for a hat using Mirasol Hancho. Again, lovely stuff. 100% hand-dyed Merino. Stunning colors. It's a one skein project so it will be interesting to see if I can finish it before the sweater yarn arrives.

Ok, that's enough for now. Don't want to blow all my topics at once and not have anything to talk about all month!

Done: Trellis Mitts

I finished knitting the second (left) Trellis Mitts last night.

Technically I still have to weave in the ends, but it's done enough for me. Especially considering I'll be weaving in the ends when I finish this post.

Not much to say about it since I wrote all those other posts in mid-April about making them bigger or into gloves or into socks.

I will be happy to have another pair of fingerless mitts to wear. You can almost never have enough pairs. You never know what color you will be in the mood for on any given day.

One amusing thing...according to my Ravelry project page I started them on May 16, 2010. So they took me almost a year. haha. Of course they didn't because I wasn't actively knitting them all that time.

Still, it's interesting to see how pauses and stops influence how quickly you finish a project. I'm sure if I'd worked straight through I would have finished in two weeks.

Oh, my finished pair took about half the skein of Ella Rae Lace Merino. I'm looking at the rest of the skein trying to decide what to do.

I wonder if I can figure out a crochet version?

KFI: Trellis Mitts KAL—The Pattern!

Knitters! Start your needles!

I have posted the pattern to Ravelry. You don't have to be a member to access it. Download Now.

It is a 5 page PDF with one picture. The charts are on page 5.

Sizing
I made the mitt to fit my 7" circumference hand, but it will stretch to comfortably fit a 8" circumference hand.

I suggest you make it with zero to negative ease so the lace pattern will open up and be visible.

If you want to make it bigger you can add a few stitches.

The smocking is in multiples of 4 stitches.

The pattern calls for a 48 st cast on. The next size up to make the smocking work would be 52 sts.

You can hide the extra stitches in the ribbing on the palm. Just remember your stitch count on each needle has changed.

If you do add stitches you might want to adjust the thumb hole placement instead of following my directions blindly.

I have you place the thumb holes 3 sts away from the design on the back of the hand. When you are ready to make the thumb, try the mitt on and see if you like where the thumb will end up. Is the pattern straight? Is it centered?

It sounds weird, but it will make sense when you can actually try it on.

If you do move the thumb remember to write down how many stitches in from the pattern it is so you can adjust the second mitt as well.

Connect
I've started a discussion thread for the KAL on the Ella Rae Facebook page for questions and chatter.

I've also started a discussion topic in the KFI group on Raverly. I'm hoping to keep the discussion confined to Facebook so questions and answers are easy for everyone to find, but I realize not everyone is on Facebook.

Enjoy!

KFI: Trellis Mitts KAL—Socks?

The KAL starts tomorrow morning!

How exciting.

In the mean time, here is another set of vague ideas for altering the pattern. This time for socks.

Using the stitch pattern on a pair of socks was another suggestion thrown out by a Facebook fan. It almost derailed me because I do like knitting socks. I'd been so fixated on making a pair of mitts with a leaf motif that socks hadn't occurred to me.

Once the idea was presented I really liked it and might have to make a pair of socks to match my mitts in the future.

Since I haven't actually made the socks, these suggestions are once again untested, but here's what I can tell you so far.

Ribbing. Smocking. Whatever.
I was surprised to discover that the smocking was much more flexibile than I expected.

Why, yes, I did try to mitt on my foot. :-) My stitch count would be the same.

I think the trick will be not to pull the wraps on the smocking too tight so it can expand like ribbing. You might want to do a little swatch to see how it works for you. If you are going to need to make a sock cuff bigger than the as yet unrevealed mitt I can tell you the smocking is a multiple of 4.

Alternatively, you can ditch the smocking and just do normal ribbing, but where is the fun in that?

Stitch Patterns
The mitt fit my leg rather well and it if wasn't for the thumb I could have easily converted it to a sock.

I think part of the easy fit could be attributed to the fact that the palm of the mitt is 1 x 1 rib. That would have ended up the back of the sock leg. It strikes me as a little boring and I would want to do the Triple Leaf Motif on both front and back, with ribbing between, but I don't know what that will do to the sock fit.

The motif has some stretch to it, but I don't know if two motifs will have the cling that the ribbing provides.

The Triple Leaf Motif is over 15 sts (although as you'll see the stitch count does vary). I have it framed by twisted stitches, adding 4 sts to either side.

If you decide to work a motif on both the front and the back of the leg I would say add ribbing to the sides to make your stitch count work.

Heel to Toe
If you're taking the plunge to turn a mitt into a sock I imagine you are an experinced sock knitter who knows how to work a heel, gusset, foot, and toe.

Why not take the motif all the way down to your toe decreases?

In that case you might want to consider working the gusset decreases on the side or bottom of the foot to keep them from interferring with the motif.

The motif seems to have some vertical stretch to it as well, so you'll probably want to try on the sock regularly as you work the foot to get a good fit.

That's about all I can think of. I hope to see you tomorrow!

KFI: Trellis Mitts KAL—Gloves?

Look at this, the pattern isn't even available yet and I'm already suggesting how to modify it.

Please Note: These ideas are theoretical, which is to say un-tested as I have not knit through them.
I'm presenting them as a jumping off point for you. I hope you are either an experienced enough glove knitter to run with them, or can modify an existing glove pattern you own to incorporate them.

You want fingers on those mitts?
When I posted the first in-progress picture of the Trellis Mitts on the KFI Facebook page someone asked if they could be made as gloves instead of fingerless mitts.

That had not occurred to me because I don't knit gloves. Not only do I think the fingers are fiddly and annoying to knit, but my hands get so cold in glove weather that I need the wind break of leather or fabric.

But, of course the question got my wheels turning and I came up with two options. I'm presenting them now before the KAL starts on April 20 as you'll need time to think about and prepare for them.

Provisional Cast On
The mitts are knit from the fingers down to the cuff, which has the potential of making it tricky to add fingers.

My first idea is to start with a provisional cast on. Knit the mitts. Then go back and knit the fingers up.

Keep in mind that when you reverse directions you loose a stitch so you'll have to account for that in your stitch count. It shouldn't be too noticeable visually.

You'll probably want to move the thumb up.

As you can see in the picture, I have the cast on edge starting rather high up on the fingers. This works nicely for mitts but won't be so good for gloves.

It's a simple fix. After you've worked through the smocking directions try the mitt on and decide where you want the transition from hand to fingers to land. Then start your thumb gusset there instead of where I tell you in the pattern.

After you finish knitting the mitt, pick up the stitches from your provisional cast on and work fingers according to a glove pattern that fits your stitch count.

Keep an eye on your yarn consumption if you knit the cuffs much longer that I tell you in the pattern. You don't want to run out of yarn while working your fingers.

Top Down Fingers
A few years ago I stumbled across directions on the nonaKnits blog for knitting gloves by starting with i-cord fingers.

She instructs you how to knit each finger, join them, then knit the hand. This method might be easier since you are traveling in the same direction as the mitts. Also you'll be able to place your thumb more accurately since the fingers will hold it in place when you try it on.

The gauge and stitch count look about the same, which will make this an easy addition. I would say start the smocking either right after you join the fingers or work a few extra rows of ribbing after the join then start the smocking.

Cuff up?
This option has to be addressed although I don't like it very much.

First, I don't like the way the Triple Leaf Pattern looks going the other direction. You can decide this for yourself either by tilting your head so my picture is upside down (haha) or knitting a swatch and twisting and turning it.

Second, this will require a lot more heavy lifting on your part. You'll be on your own for knitting the thumb gusset and placing the thumb hole.

Really, if you want to go cuff up, I'd suggest you find a glove pattern with a similar gauge and try to drop the lace pattern into it. Of course that leaves the fit a real wild card.

Join in!
There is an event for the KAL on the Ella Rae Facebook page.

I started a discussion thread for once the KAL get's going.

If I need to, I'll start a discussion in the KFI group on Ravelry, too, but I'd rather try to contain questions to one location so they are easier for me to find and respond.

KFI: Trellis Mitts KAL

You don't hear from me for ages and then I show up announcing my first Knit-A-Long, which I'm planning to start on April 20.

I have some gall.

I'd also like to ask why KAL doesn't translate into Knit-Along. I mean, that the proper spelling of the word, right?

Anyway.

That picture is of the unfinished right mitt. It is finished now but I haven't had a chance to take a picture. I'm working on the left mitt now and if I spent less time on the computer and more time on my knitting I might actually finish it.

On the other hand (hehe) part of me says not to finish the left mitt so I'll actually be knitting along with the, um, knit-along.

I've never run a KAL and I've actually only participated in one KAL for my Audrey sweater that I knit back in 2004 before I had a blog. And even then I just lurked and read what everyone was talking about.

That all means I'm kind of making this up as I go along.

A Gathering Place
The first thing I did was set up and event for it on the Ella Rae Yarns Facebook Page. I have 40 people attending and 20 maybes. That's pretty exciting, especially considering the only promoting I did was post that picture on the wall of the main KFI FB page. Well, prior to this blog post.

I had it in my head that I'd be able to send updates and such to event attendees, but I don't see that capability. When the time comes I plan to try to channel everyone to the discussion section. Of course I'll also set up the pattern on Ravelry and start a discussion thread in the Ella Rae group there.

Materials and Gauge
Yarn: Ella Rae Lace Merino (Fiber: 100% Superwash Merino Wool
Yardage: 460 Stitches: 6.5 Needle size: 4 Ball weight: 100g)

Needles: Set of 4 size US 2 dpn (or size needed to obtain gauge)

Gauge: In stockinette stitch 7 sts x 10 rows per inch worked in the round.

Sizing: I made the mitt to fit my wee 7" circumference hand. But I also made the palm in ribbing so it would have some stretch. On Friday I took it to the Library Knitting Group and let several people try it and then measured their hands. It comfortably fit up to a size 8" circumference hand. I suggest you aim for zero to negative ease, which will open up the lace pattern. The mitt I made it about 7 inches long, so it comes well down the mitt.

When the KAL starts I'll give suggestions on stitch count to make it a little bigger in circumference. I'll also give suggestions on making the section between the fingertips and the thumb shorter. As with my Top Down Alpaca Mitts the Trellis Mitts are worked from the finger knuckles down to the wrist as I feel this gives more options for length modifications.

The pattern is almost ready. I've written it up and sent it off for proofreading. My friend Danni has already sent it back and Pam said she'd have a look too, but she was having trouble opening the document.

I was going to dole out the pattern a section at a time, but now I've decided to just release it and let people work at their own pace while I'm availalbe to answer questions. Hopefully everyone will chat and share progress pics as well!

I've decided that Facebook can't be trusted not to eat the pattern based on it's tendancy to eat status updates and discussion entries. Therefore I'm going to see about having posted on the KFI website and just link to it.

Other Yarn Suggestions
I attempted to post this information on Facebook, but it disappeared, so you can understand why I'm bitter.

Lace Merino from Ella Rae, the yarn I'm using, is a fingering weight yarn. The "ball band" gauge is 6.5 sts/inch on a US 4 needle. The pattern gauge is 7 sts/inch on a US2.

Here are some other yarns for you to consider based on weight:
Araucania:
Itata or Ranco Sock.

Debbie Bliss:
Casmerino Baby or Rialto 4.

Louisa Harding Kashmir Baby.

Noro:
Taiyo Sock or Silk Garden Sock or Kureyon Sock.

Queensland Collection Sugar Rush.

Sirdar Snuggly 4 Ply.

Sublime Baby Cash Merino Silk 4 Ply.

Phew! Ok, what else would I need to tell you? Well, nothing at this point. Really, the picture is all the persuasion I probably need.

I hope you'll decide to knit along with me!

KFI: Basic Crocheted Fingerless Mitts

Why should crocheters be excluded from the fun of making and wearing fingerless mitts?

After all, they can fold a square in half and seam it shut just as well as any knitter can. Better, maybe, since crocheting a seam shut is so much easier than mattress stitch.

I would take a moment to mention that I've been crocheting since I was a child. I was so young when I learned that I don't remember being taught! Although I remember my grandmother teaching me the double crochet stitch, which leads me to believe she taught me in the first place.

Anyway, you don't see me crocheting much because extended crochet sessions hurt my wrists. booo! Knitting does not, unless I really, really over do it.

Happily, these little mitts only took a few hours to work up so I think I escaped unscathed.

Sizing
Let's put the sizing discussion up front today, shall we?

This finished mitt has a circumference of 8". My hand, as we established yesterday, is 7.25" around. That's a lot more ease than I like in my mitts, but if your hands are bigger than mine you might be fine.

Single crochet fabric isn't elastic in the way knit ribbing is. These mitts aren't going to cling for me.

To size for yourself you might want to do a little math. I got a gauge of 4.5 sc per inch. Multiply that by my 7" hand and I get 31.5. So I should have gone with either 31 or 32 sts for fit consistent with what I prefer (i.e., snug).

Clear as mud? Excellent.

Yarn Quantity
Then next thing to consider is that crochet takes 1/3 more yarn than knitting does. While the knit mitts yesterday only took around 11 grams of yarn each, leaving wiggle room for resizing with a single ball, this single mitt took 22 grams out of a 50 gram ball.

These mitts, at these dimensions, will very likely use up the entire ball of yarn. If you will be resizing at all you'll want a second ball. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Let's get down to business! I think this pattern will be suitable for a beginner. You just need to know how to chain, single crochet, and slip stitch.

Actually, the concept is suitable for beginners, hopefully my directions are as well.

Basic Crocheted Fingerless Mitts
Materials: Louisa Harding Kashmir Baby (55% Merino Wool, 35% Microfibre, 10% Cashmere; 143 yards) 1 or 2 balls.
Hook: F/5/3.75 mm (or size necessary to obtain gauge)
Gauge: 4.5 single crochet per inch
Size: Finished mitt is 8" around and 6" long

Note: The mitts as written will very likely use all the yarn. I suggest you divide the ball before starting to ensure you have enough for both mitts, or buy a second ball.

Note: US crochet terms used throughout.

Abbreviations: ch=chain. sc=single crochet

Pattern:
Chain 38
Sc in 2nd chain from hook and in each ch across, turn (36 sc)

Ch 1 (does not count as stitch), working under both loops sc in each sc across, turn.

Repeat this row until piece measures 6" from beginning, or desired length.

Finishing:
Secure last loop, but don't break.

Lay fabric on a flat, firm surface. Lay your hand and wrist on the fabric positioned the way you want the finished mitt to fit. Attach markers above and below your thumb to designate the thumb hole.

Fold fabric in half long-wise. Beginning with last loop, seam the mitt shut by working single crochet down the open long edge to the first thumb hole marker. Break yarn.

Reattach yarn at the other end of the mitt and work single crochet up to the second thumb hole marker. Working through one thickness of fabric, slip stitch up one side of the thumb opening, slip stitch or single crochet across break of first seam, slip stitch down the other side of the thumb opening. Break yarn, weave in ends.

Turn mitt inside out before wearing.

Embellishing
In the pattern I have you work under both loops, which gives you a smooth fabric. Another option is to work under just the back loop, which will give you a little ridge on every other row. Personally, I like the ridge usually, but I wasn't in the mood for it this time.

The smooth surface of the fabric lends itself to embellishment. If you are very clever you could embroider flowers or some other design on them. (I am not clever in that way and know it would probably be a train wreck if I attempted it.)

Another option is to attach cute buttons or flower or some such. Really, the possabilities are practically endless.

KFI: Basic Ribbed Fingerless Mitts

Fingerless mitts are very useful garments.

They are good for wearing indoors in the summer when the air conditioning is a little to enthusiastic and in the winter when the air is nippy because you keep the heat low to save money.

They can also be nice when driving to protect your hands from either a very cold or very hot steering wheel.

An advantage they have over full gloves or mittens is they leave your fingers free for tasks like typing or picking up change.

Fingerless mitts can range from very simple to very complicated, which makes them a good project for all skills levels. They work up quickly since they are small, which makes them a good option for gifts. Their small size also make them a good pallet for testing out new stitches.

But you probably already know or suspect all that. So let's get down to business and magically transform that wee bit of fabric pictured at the top of the post into a mitt.

This pattern is suitable for a beginner who knows how to cast on, knit, purl, cast off, and seam.

Basic Ribbed Fingerless Mitts
Materials: Louisa Harding Kashmir Baby (55% Merino Wool, 35% Microfibre, 10% Cashmere; 143 yards) 1 ball.
Needles: US5 (or size needed to obtain gauge)
Gauge: 8 sts per inch in K2, P2 rib stretched and allowed to snap back [5.5 sts/inch in stockinette]
Size: To fit a hand 7.25" around at the knuckles with zero or negative ease. [See resizing notes at end of pattern]

Note: I suggest you divide the ball of yarn in half before you begin knitting to ensure you have enough for both mitts.

Pattern:
Cast On 33 sts

Row 1: K1, *P2, K2, rep from * across
Row 2: *P2, K2, rep from * across, end P1

Repeat these two rows until piece measures 6" from cast on edge.
Bind off in rib.

Finishing
Mark for thumb hole: Place the fabric flat on the table. Lay your hand and wrist flat on the fabric so it is lined up in the way the finished mitt with fit. Clip markers above and below your thumb.

Fold fabric in half and seam open long edge using mattress stitch. Break yarn when you reach the first thumb hole marker. Reattach yarn at the second thumb hole marker and finish seaming.

Repeat for the second mitt. Wear with pride while enjoying warm hands.

Resizing
Now you're probably saying to yourself, "Holy Smokes! A little 4" x 6" piece of fabric isn't going to cover my hand." Or maybe, "My hand is much larger than your little, bitty 7" hand. This will never work."
Well, don't panic. You can make these mitts with a little extra thought.

My finished mitt took 11 grams out of a 50 gram ball. The pair will take about half a ball. That leaves plenty of yarn for up-sizing.

First, remember that ribbing is very stretchy. My finished mitt has some give to it so it could fit a larger hand. However, if you want to be on the safe side you can add a few more stitches. Add them in groups of 4 to maintain the ribbing. (37, 41, etc.) Also, remember the extra stitch is for the seam so the ribbing will appear continuous.

To make them longer, just keep knitting. I'd suggest knitting an inch more at a time and then measuring your progress by laying your hand on the fabric on a firm, flat surface. Position the top edge so it is under where you want it to be on your fingers and judge the cuff length based on that.

If you do make the mitts wider or longer I suggest you either split the ball before you start knitting OR get a second ball. Consider how much bigger you are going to make yours to help you decide.

Yummy Yarn
I like light weight yarns for my fingerless mitts. I mainly use them for indoor wear so I don't want a lot of bulk hindering my movements.

Louisa Harding Kashmir Baby is a great choice for mitts because it is light weight but warm, soft, and machine washable. As you can imagine, it's easy to get mitts dirty so easy care yarn is important.

This yarn has a chainette construction. Instead of being plied in the traditional manner the strands have been knit into a little tube. It made a nice, springy fabric in the rib stitch. It is also cabling very nicely, but that is for another day.

I Have Been That Busy

That I've barely had time to knit.

And if I didn't have time to knit I definitely didn't have time to blog.

Appalling on both fronts, I know. I have to rebalance that whole work/life thing.

But all was not lost!

Done: Hubby's Rouge Socks
I finally finished Hubby's Rouge Step socks on Saturday. I've been working on them for like two months, which is entirely too much time to be knitting a pair of socks.

He must have forgotten they were for him as he has not been campaigning for them. Also, as I was working the last few rows of the toe decreases I held the sock up in a meaningful way and he said, "Those are for me? They're cool."

He hasn't worn them yet. Probably because after I finished them he put them on the end table and never took them upstairs. Fortunately he doesn't get dressed in the living room in the morning so they missed their chance this weekend.

Recap
Standard Hubby sock pattern.
I did mess up calculating my gauge, started with too few stitches, ripped out, and started over.
Heel stitch with garter edge flap.
Austermann Step in Colorway 08.
US 1 needles.


Green Fingerless Mitts Progress
Have I mentioned it's hard to take a picture of your own hand?

Well, it is.

Anyway. I worked a third repeat of the Triple Leaf Lace pattern. I has really grown on me (no pun intended). And I thought I should just go with it. And I thought if I'd decided to use it from the get-go the mitts would practically be done by now. Well, aside from all that stockinette stuff flapping around at the beginning.

Still, I can't leave well enough alone. I swatched one of the, uh, mini leaf patterns. Drat, I don't have the book with me. I think its in the first Walker Treasury. There are like three different versions listed together.

Anyway. It's very nice and actually more along the lines of what I had in mind.

But I really liked the first pattern. Hubby also preferred the first pattern.

Of course, I had to take it into Westport Yarns on Sunday for even more votes. As you might expect everyone voted for the first pattern, although one customer did give a half hearted plug for the second pattern, but agreed the first was very nice.

So there you are, the first pattern wins. I worked out my stitch count Sunday night and I've already cast on and knit two rows. It's just a matter of knitting them now since I know what I plan to do.

I had better knit fast. Danni, at least , is going to be stalking these gloves. Possibly Pam as well.

Turns out they both have skeins of Ella Rae Lace Merino at home that they haven't assigned to a project.

This surprised me since we don't carry it at WY. However, it confirms your suspicions that even LYS staff shop at other stores on occasion.

Green Fingerless Mitts: Swatch 1

Here is the first pattern I'm considering for the mitts.

I think I have four to test all together.

Actually, there's quite a bit going on in this picture.

At the top you see my plain stockinette stitch portion when I was just getting a feel for the yarn and a baseline gauge.

Then there is some smocking. I do like the smocking stitch. My idea is to have the lace framed by the smocking stitch.

Then finally the lace. It's the Triple Leaf Lace from the second Barbara Walker book.

I only worked two repeats. And I made a mistake in the first one. sigh. I'm thinking I should work a third repeat to get a better idea of how it looks.

I'm also thinking I shouldn't try to take pictures inside on rainy days as they just come out looking icky.

Looks like tonight's knitting will be this pattern again. Must give them a fair shake and all.