it’s my week

Posted on Posted in designing, projects

i had to chuckle when i turned the calendar page this morning and saw this.
because about a week ago i woke up one morning to this

not exactly the same chevron pattern, but the calendar seems to be right in step with me.
i wish i felt as much . . . i’ve been very lazy this week about everything except knitting. i don’t feel like being at my desk at all—i’ve been procrastinating on all things work-related in order to sneak over to the living room, curl up in my knitting chair, and knit by the glow of the christmas lights.
as if there is nothing else in the world to do. i know i’ll pay for this next week.

i love the new pavé mitts! so much so that i knit two last night

one in each of two sizes (there will be three all together).
i really get a charge out of the pattern . . . it looks just like the wobbly bike tracks that criss-cross the pavé once the peloton passes through. and it’s super-fun to knit—if you liked hot waffles, you will LOVE this one.
i’ll knit their mates today. i should be able to get both pair from one ball of the cascade 220 superwash i’m using. let’s look at them on my hand

above is the large size; it fits me well but still has enough room to fit a man’s (only slightly) larger hand (good, because they are a gift for our friend mark). the medium size fits me too—it’s a bit shorter and more snug

but still very comfortable. so it just depends on whatever fit i prefer, and what gauge my yarn will knit to. i could knit the largest size in a sport or fingering weight yarn and they would fit. or, i could knit the smallest size in a worsted weight yarn and they would fit too.

trying to decide whether i should write a pattern for a hat to go with, or just offer it as a mitt; what do you think—maybe an earflap hat? mark is an early-morning walker so i’m thinking that might be a nice partner with the mitts.

i also finished the hat to match the zig zag mitts. these will be a gift for our friend bil, who is mark’s partner (more men that appreciate handknits greatly). don’t judge the fit by how it looks here

i do have the smallest head you will probably find on a full-grown human—just a wee 20 inches around with proportionally shallow depth (any wonder that what’s inside it is all jumbled and crazy to get out?). the hat will fit bil just fine, and feel oh-so-comfy on his shaved head too.

the zig zag pattern is all written, tested and ready to go; i’m coordinating with lis at one planet yarn and fiber, who will be offering kits which include the cashmere yarn shown and the pattern for mitts, hat, and scarf. the yarn is just lovely . . . it knits up more like a sport weight than a DK, so it makes a particularly nice hat that feels warm without being bulky, and rides very lightly on the hair.

buyers will be able to purchase the yarn in amounts for each item or for the set. the pattern will also be available in my pattern shop. VERY soon, i promise—i know you’ve been waiting for this one.

lis also sent me some alternate yarn, a beautiful baby alpaca with which i will knit another pair of zig zags for myself. this makes a lovely alternative to the cashmere

and the company enthusiastically embraces fair employment practices and trade policies.

i want to also start a gift for david’s mom . . . each year i send her something handmade (as i do my own mom), and so far she has worn and enjoyed all of them and mentions often how much she likes them. there hasn’t been a big rush to get this underway because she doesn’t celebrate christmas, but i’d like to send it soon—a handmade gift can be very cheering on a gray winter day. i haven’t made her any mitts yet but i think she’d really like them, along with a knit hat, which i notice is her favorite type.

david is really fond of this coppery yarn which was sent by judy along with the yarn for oh! canada.

it the same artisan blend of merino and silk . . . and it will look awesome against mary’s skin—so yeah! at least one more set will be in the works soon. i only need to suss out just the right stitch pattern. i’ve been loving the knit/purl textures, but maybe cables? i dunno yet.

ok, i have one last FO for today. guess what?
more mitts.

don’t laugh. they really ARE different sizes. we have named them anne and debbieKnitter, because one looks like her tiny, dainty hand and one looks like a coal shovel mine.
i knit them on the same needles and from the same, one-size pattern. the only explanation is the handspun yarn. must’ve been a bit of variation between the beginning of the ball and the end, eh?
the same thing happened when i knit david’s tree scum socks—one came out wider and taller than the other, even though i knit the same number of repeats and decreases.

it’s ok though, i know the recipient will love them all the more for it.

now, i have lost count somewhat, but if i’m not mistaken the completed hat and SOC mitts puts my holiday gift knitting tally at 14. i’m pretty sure i will finish at least one more pair of mitts today, and possibly another item.

and i still have all day tomorrow. i just can’t stop.

18 thoughts on “it’s my week

  1. Loving the Hot Waffles so I am looking forward to the new patterns. I am just finishing the thumb on my second set. I was able to get 2 pairs out of 3 balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmero(?) Chunky with a few tweeks – some planned and some not. I will send pictures shortly.

  2. Hi Anne, know it’s been a while since I commented…but, the mitts are really nice. Like the set – it looks great.

    Both of those yarns are beautiful…the coppery one is pretty – but the one with the blue running through it is awesome!!!

    Still haven’t begun to knit the pattern I won from you this past year – but, at least the yarn is there – and I intend to do it this coming year. Can’t believe it will be 2008!

    Have a great new year!!!

  3. Youd better hurry on the pave mitts. I’m thinking of knitting yet another pair of the Hot Waffles. I seem to be unable to knit anything except mitts & mittens — all Hot Waffles. I’ve cast on and frogged 3 projects in the past week. 2 of the projects were frogged 3 times before I gave up. The 3rd one is back on the neeldes — its a hat so maybe this one will survive until the end.

  4. Woohoo! Look at all the goodies you have to give us!! I can’t wait! I love mitts. I’ve knit a few this season. I love to wear them when I read in bed. I definitely would love a hat pattern with the mitts, and one with ear flaps would be cool! I can’t believe you made two mitts last night! Amazing Anne!

  5. I think it’s hilarious that you’re so in sync with that calendar.

    I’m loving the textures in your knits. I’m thinking ahead for Christmas 2008 and those will make wonderful gifts. (Seeing as how I would not be able to make use of any of those lovely knits. *sigh*)

  6. Hee. Love the pave mitts. Perhaps I should adopt the pattern stitch for socks for John, who has said “no thanks” to mitts, but loves my socks and curls up with the cats for about 80% of the Tour de France every year (I keep lobbying for us to go to the Paris-Nice, because spending some time at each end of that route would make a truly nice vaca).

  7. OH how I am sharing your ailment! I have been granted 2 glorious weeks off (of school/not work) and am supposed to be using it to write experiential essays… well as of today one week is completely gone and what have I been up to? knitting “that little scarf” and reading knitting blogs… This is going to come back and bite me I am sure but I am loving my knitting so much at the moment that it seems to be calling my name 🙂

  8. How do you knit so fast! *wails!* Work has left me so drained I’ve barely been able to do much besides sit and read and take a nap every couple of hours for the past 10 days or so. I see all the lovelies you produce so freakin’ quickly and I want to weep even as I make lists and plans to acquire more. I’d be lucky to knit even 1/100th of what you’re able to get done in the year. Geez. 😀

  9. I love all the mitts and matching hats are really a great idea. The copper yarn is gorgeous and you are just racing through all the holiday knitting. I still marvel at the speed at which you knit. I am going off to spin!

  10. I vote for the coppery one as well. I think it will be beautiful. Glad you are having such fun with all your knitting projects!

  11. Another one who can’t stop knitting and isn’t motivated to do anything else! I think it is a reaction against weeks of holiday preparations and stress. I just keep on telling myself that there are TWELVE days of Christmas.

    I know the term “pave” means something else, but you made me want something knitted in a cobblestone fish scale design, like so: http://picasaweb.google.com/msamsonite27/NorrkPing/photo#5104264627461501170
    (not quite like the dragon scale pattern…) Hmm!

  12. Ok, I think I will give you ALL the answer you have been DYING to know…..Anne knits so fast because *drum roll please* we have found that she somehow taught her toes how to knit (or spin as we discussed) and so she has her feet knitting AND her hands knitting. Therefore she completes TWO projects to your one. Freakishly odd I know, BUT also a great talent;) We plan on video taping her and putting her on the A&E channel’s “UNEXPLAINED MYSTERIES” be sure to watch it, I think she will also be coming out with a new pattern on that segment;)

  13. I’m waiting for the mitts too.
    Winter is about to hit in the UK (allegedly in a big way) so hats and mitts are needed soon.

  14. You come up with such fun and lovely patterns.

    I can’t believe that you finished 2 mitts in one evening. How fast do you knit? 🙂

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