Allison's Happy Dance Gloves

This is my first finished gift for one of my pay-it-forward friends.  I talked about this in my previous post..Secret Knitting.   I can now show it to you and she has already received them.

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I had decided to make a glove for Allison as I knew she liked to be outdoors and had dogs as well for daily walks   Everyone has a pair of mitt of sorts, but not fingerless gloves. I also had to mail the gift so this was great   Something chunky, not lacy and very warm for long outdoor walks.   I knew she liked home knit slippers, so I thought this came pretty close to one.     

I had worked with 2 other fingerless glove patterns, but I wanted to do something new.  After browsing through Ravelry I found this pattern I really liked  Axel Fingerless Gloves , it had cables, which I really like and it was chunky weight, which I thought was more in line for what Allison needed, no lacy weight.  The interesting part that I really liked of this pattern, was that you could wear the glove fully extended to almost your finger tips or rolled up, very versatile.

I did not have the yarn at home, so I went shopping at my local yarn storm. I purchased  Malabrigo Chunky , it's 100% merino wool, hand dyed in a reddy tone, which was one of  Allisons favourite colours   I had worked with Malabrigo Lace before and really liked the yarn, so I knew this was going to be a perfect choice.    The pattern was easy to follow , it knit up quickly with  larger size double pointed needles.   The colour and yarn were so perfect, it was such a great shade of red, not too bright, more like a warm tone.  The yarn was so springy , soft, and very warm.    

The best part of knitting this was that Allison, was very happy with her gloves.   The perfect pattern and yarn to make both the recipient and the knitter happy.    A picture does speak better than words :

Allison's Happy Gloves

Sometimes words are just as good at conveying a feeling, this is an email from Allison -Lucy is her dog:

" I took Lucy to the park to frolic in the snow she loves it. I throw snowballs, and Lucy tries to catch    them, her favorite game, the gloves once again were perfect. :) My hand were warm, but I had my fingers free to handle her leash, of course I give in and take her off leash, I'm a softie..sigh.. It's so great to have warm hands, but the freedom to use my fingers for zippers, texting, whatever I need to do, AND my bad hand doesn't seize up from being cold...priceless :)"

Alice xox



Around and Around We Go

I had  started a pair of socks for myself last year, I finished one sock, but somehow never got to the second.   I only own one other pair that made for myself, and I enjoy them so much, that I was motivated to finish this one.





.I began the  second sock last night  I had not written any notes, or posted on Ravelry, so I hoped I would get it right.  I started with the needles that were in the bag..2.0 mm, tiny..tiny needles.  I've only used one yarn for sock making so far and its called Trekking.

The only sock book I own is  "Getting Started Knitting Socks" by Ann Budd,  it's a great how- to, lots of step by step pictures.    Casted on in the right size, and so far it looks like it's the same as the first sock - what a relief.

 I find making socks so cool,  beginning is ok, but it's the home stretch when your doing the heel and then the foot and you can actually see a sock being formed.

 The way that I learnt how to knit socks is  from the  cuff  to the toes.   You can also make them toe up..but I haven't gone there yet.    I make a very simple, basic  sock.   The yarns by Trekkiing are so cool, it speaks for itself.

 I don't know if you can see the colours very well ...but i:ts very bright  and colourful.    Apple green tones and blues.   They are  fun to make and wear.  It's not as complicated as it looks.   You just have to try for yourself.

Alice xox

Wine & Roses

These are the finished Wine and Roses Fingerless Mitts that I posted earlier, but I had used the pattern photo on the post.  I had finished these a while back, but didn't get to take a picture of them.  Now, that picture is done and  I have been wearing them daily.  Our weather has been so mild, but they are light enough, but they are also very warm. I really loved this pattern, it looks alot harder than it is.   I want to work with this yarn again.     The colour is so much  prettier than in the picture.   So recommend this pattern and yarn.

PATTERN:  Wine & Roses Gloves
YARN:  SweetGeorgia Yarns Cash//Silk





They are so warm and light.

So delicate and feminine.

Secret Knitting

I have been knitting lately, but it's more like secret knitting.   I have joined a Pay-it-forward with some friends on my facebook,  It was a max of 5 people. I had 4 friends who committed to it . Those 4 friends will in turn commit to the first 5 people and etc.  You will receive one gift back to you not 5 as someone had questioned.  This is a pay-it-forward not a pay it back.   Great Idea !!!  The only criteria is that it is to be handmade, and you have the whole year to do it.   Lots of time right...but when it's winter you have way more ideas and yarn that you can have fun with.,  So all that said and done, I can not show you any pictures or discuss my patterns .    I did request from my  friends about their favourite and least favourite colours, as that is a  challenge in itself.  I don't believe anyone has any sensitivities,   so I've been searching through Ravelry,and checking out new samples at  my Local Yarn Store (LYS).   I'm narrowing it down.  I tend to find a pattern first and then find the yarn.  I've heard some people do it the other way around, I guess if you are in love a yarn that you must have, that can be another way.   I will go once again to the yarn store today and look at some yarn for my new patterns I found on Ravelry (which of course I can't tell you)   I'll keep you posted .

Alice xox

And More Gloves..

PATTERN:  Welted Fingerless Gloves

This is the last pair of gloves that I knit for Christmas.  Just received the picture from my sister-in-law.  Nice job with the picture taking.    It's hard to tell, but the colour is a soft grey with 5 tiny buttons along the cuff.  This is the same pattern and yarn I did on January 16th's post.   If you click under the picture you will have a link to the pattern details.     In case you can't wait that long..the pattern is Churchmouse, Welted Fingerless Gloves, and the yarn is  Malabrigo Yarn Silky Merino   This is a beautiful yarn to work with.  The pattern is so wonderful to follow, very simple.   Of course most knitters say that.  These gloves are so feminine, elegant....how you can tell I like these.  Maybe I should knit a pair for myself too.

New Project - Lacy Fingerless Gloves

Wine and Roses Fingerless Gloves

Had to show my new project I started in the new year. It's not my  picture, but from the pattern on Ravelry.   One of the ladies in my knit night,  was wearing a pair, done in black, so sexy and feminine.  Never done anything like that.  Bought the yarn, it's cashmere and silk, very fine and soft.  Tiny needle size 2.25mm in the round, seemless .  It's not a beginners pattern,you need to know how to read charts and not require detailed   instructions.   I usually do need  that.... lots of detail instructions and I have not worked off charts much.  But now I find I'm more confortable and do prefer the charts, not so much reading, but you do have to be meticulous on keeping track of where you are.  It's always a good idea to have a friend that you can call on, like my local yarn store, such incredible patient women.  Also had help from Angela, from my knit group, who made these gloves.      

It does not take long to knit them, but I prefer the daytime for seeing the chart more clearly and to catch any dropped stitches - oops !     Finished the first glove today, probably took me a week, but have not been working on them steadily.   I promised myself I would start the second, since everything is still fresh, and I won't curse the pattern, for not explaining more clearly - haha.    Will post a picture  as soon as I finish...more like start.

Alice xox





 

Knitting Updates

PATTERN: Welted Fingerless Gloves
YARN:   Malabrigo Yarn Silky Merino



PATTERN:  Shawl Collared Cowl
YARN:  Misty Alpaca Handpainted Worsted

 I had said I would post pictures of Christmas gifts, but somehow no pictures were taken. Luckily my mother-in-law did  take a picture of her gloves, posted above in the picture. 

 I am currently working on something new and finishing some older,  unfinished projects.  IThere was a time I didn't  understand how knitters  could start something new without finishing what they previously started....but now I know...I'm doing it too. LOL.      No large projects started like sweaters...but small items.  Started a pair of lacy fingerless gloves, in cashmere/silk, very delicate knitting and challenging at first, but now it's under control.    Still need to finish...oops..a childs scarf..started for Christmas,  Good thing our weather has been so mild.    Just finished a child's toque as a birthday gift, It's a pattern  called "Baby Bootah" . I've done this before, the mom liked  it so much, I changed the sizing a bit, so I'll I need to do now mail is mail it  off.  I think it's going to be a tad too large..oh well, it should fit him for a long time.    I've been posting my projects  on Ravelry, but I don't know if any of the  readers have access to it, so I'll put pictures as well .    Received a new camera for Christmas, so no excuses for not getting decent pictures taken now.  One of the gifts   that turned out beautifully was by "Churchmouse Classics, Welted Fingerless Gloves." as the above picture, in burgundy  and a
grey one   I have one picture taken by my mother-in-law.   The other picture I have here is from Alana Dacos, 'Shawl Collared Cowl", that's for me,  very quick knit. 
    
Wow, my writing is so scattered, but I'm getting things down as fast as I'm remembering.     I hope some of these projects may inspired you

Alice
xox