I have successfully completed my first PAIR of mittens. Actually I completed three mittens since I discovered that this pattern is actually easier to knit if you knit both mittens on the needle at the same time. I did have to separate the mittens to do the thumbs but then I put the pair back together for finishing the hand part. This technique made it really easy to keep them the same size. My son was so thrilled that he has worn them constantly. And it isn’t even cold here now. There will be no white Christmas for our family but that’s okay since I actually prefer the Bermuda shorts Christmas. I am hanging the spare mitten on the tree as an ornament.
Now on to socks!!
Happy Knitting

I completed my very first KAL (knit-a-long) today!!! Actually, I completed two at the same time – one in ecru and one in Evergreen. (I like the evergreen one better but the pic didn’t come out so I posted the ecru.)

This project was several “firsts” for me. It was my first KAL, it was the first time I have knitted two projects on the same needles ( a very useful technique for small projects) and it was my first picture knitting. I found all three to be great learning experiences. I can’t believe how much fun the KAL was.

The premise behind a KAL is that you receive 7 or so lines of the pattern at a time over a period of 5 days. After knitting all 5 days you have a dishcloth for keeping or giving. I like the fact that this was a low commitment project – it only required a few minutes a day and one ball of yarn. This is a great way to stock up on quick gifts.

I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy doing a KAL but I was like a kid at Christmas – couldn’t wait to get to the computer each morning to get my next pattern instructions. And I had a BLAST trying to guess what the pattern was – I figured it out on Day 3. I learned a lot in the process. I increased my pattern reading skills – unless you like frogging (rip-it, rip-it), you really have to pay attention to the instructions. They weren’t difficult, you just had to pay attention to what you were doing. It really helped increase my confidence in my knitting skills. Can’t wait for the next one!!!!!

If you have never tried a KAL I highly recommend it. You can sign up for the Dishcloth KAL at this link http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MonthlyDishcloths/
There are also others on the internet too. Just do a search and you will see what I mean. I am trying socks next!!!

Just keep Knitting, knitting, knitting!!!!

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Project details – Rocking horse pattern by Janet Nogle from Monthly Dishcloth KAL Yahoo group. Sugar and Creme cotton yarn – color ecru. Size 7 Clover bamboo needles.

I have only been seriously knitting for a few months . Though I find great joy in knitting, there are still many, many knitting techniques I have not learned. I can knit and purl but I am still struggling my way through learning to read a pattern and knitting more complicated patterns. My young son however, does not understand this. Consequently, he frequently asks me to knit things that I do yet have the skills to knit. Case in point, mittens. We were visiting the craft department recently and my little one picked up a lovely skein of yarn and informed me that he wanted mittens. Well, I had absolutely no idea how to knit mittens but, feeling rather adventurous that day, I decided that I would give it a try.

I went through dozens of mitten patterns until I found one that I thought looked simple enough to follow and we purchased a skein of Red Heart Strata yarn in the color Pogo. This is a self-striping yarn so I could make the mittens multi-color without all those pesky ends to weave. It has been a slow process with lots of frogging and re-knitting but I am happy to report that last night about midnight I finished my very, first mitten. Okay, so it isn’t perfect and I didn’t do a very good job of weaving my seam but it actually looks like a mitten and it was the size it was intended to be. (This is a great triumph for me as I tend to knit tightly so my projects are sometimes too small. My first hat ended up fitting my daughter’s doll – and only just barely.)

I am so encouraged by this small success that I will probably even make the other mitten. I will definitely have to lock them away somewhere safe though. The first thing my son mentioned when he tried them on was that he needed to go to the sandbox to play. He actually thinks I am going to let him get them dirty!!! Children are so funny.

This is the first time I have knitted with the Red Heart Strata yarn and I heartily recommend it. The color sections are fairly long so it makes a very pleasant patten in the knitting process. It forms stripes and checks in stockinette stitch. I would suggest a small project like a scarf, a hat, socks, mittens, or gloves as I don’t think the color repeat will produce as pleasing an effect in a wider project like a sweater or afghan. However, I haven’t tested this theory so you may want to give it a try.

I got the mitten off my son long enough to get a pic! The color didn’t come out right – could be because I am using a scanner since the camera is on the fritz. The colors are much brighter in the real version – the pink is hot pink, the green is bright lime and the blue is bright turquoise. When I get the pair made I will get a photo with a camera.

Happy Knitting!!

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Project Details
Pattern from Beginners Guide to Knit Stitches from Leisure Arts. Yarn Red Heart Strata – color Pogo. Size 6 and Size 8 needles.