Where's Waldo Fingerless Mittens

They are complete!  Waldo and the Wizard would be proud! (I hope)

Pattern will follow soon!

Designing Woman

I think I really am on a designing kick. I recently have been working on this hat (here's a better picture to show the colour of it!) and plan to publish a pattern for it really soon! I like how its' simple, but feminine! Worked in either worsted or DK weight yarn, it will be something many can make from your stash! (I know I can!) This exact one will be for sale on my Etsy shop ThisgirlknitsUK as soon as I can take better pictures and start another hat!

I have been home sick from work and have always wanted to make red and white striped mittens, so for the past day I have been working on these!    After starting a few different ways, with a few different stitch counts on various needles I finally settled on a curled purled edge and 3 row stripes. They remind me of Where's Waldo so I think that will be the name of these beauties. I still have to make the second one and then I will work on making a pattern available for them as well. I will be posting the patterns for both on here when they are ready. 

Men's Massive and Chunky Mittens

Here is my pattern for my Men's Chunky and Simple Mittens. 



I made these last year, but as I found it hard to find a mitten pattern that was this simple for men I thought I should share it! 


This uses half a skein, or 50m of chunky yarn, I used Wool Ease Thick and Quick. You could use any similar weight yarn. 

Cast on 26 stitches and join to knit in the round. A simple way of joining seamlessly is to bring together and switch your first cast on stitch with the last one you made.

Knit 1, Purl 1 for ribbing for 8 rows.
Knit two rows then increase at first stitch and increase before last stitch of the row.
Knit another 2 rows. Increase same again.
Knit 10 rows. Increasing the same every two rows.
Knit 4 rows plain.
Hold the first 5 and the last 5 stitches for thumb on scrap yarn. Cast on 2 and continue to knit the hand part of the mitten. Knit 10 rows. Cast off knitwise.

Place thumb stitches back on your circular needle and add two stitches. Knit for 5 rows, then cast off knitwise.

Grand Designs

So when I first forrayed into knitting I designed some slippers. Basic, simple, Hey Look at Me Knitting Slippers. 

Now, I have designed a HAT! Yes, not just purl rib, but an actual pattern. That if I can say so myself its' quite girly and pretty, but easy enough for a beginner (who wants to learn the basics of lacework) to do! 

I need a better picture, but here it is last night, blocking on the plate! Pattern coming soon!

Spring Cleaning

Did I tell you I bought a chest of drawers?

To hold all my knitting supplies and stash?

This is true. I have decided to sell off the rest of my finished items in my Etsy shop and make room for new ideas! I lowered the prices... it is spring after all! Time to celebrate!

And finished that purple and green hot water bottle. I love it, really really. If I hadn't made myself one that's a bit bigger I'd be keeping this one! 

New Toys

I just bought an item on ebay.... some Symphonie interchangeable needles! I can't wait until they arrive!!!


I hope mine are really pretty like the ones in this picture!

Imagine all the things I can knit once they arrive???? 

Hiatus

I took a break from knitting over the weekend. I don't think I've actually knit since our Knit Group on Tuesday, where we did spend more time eating pancakes and fruit than we did knitting!

The problem with this is that I have nothing to show for it. Sure, I've been out and about, and read 3.5 books but that's all in my head and so I feel like I have nothing to show!

I think that's the best part about knitting. Sure, its fun to mix colours and make presents that someone really loves, and there's that surge of pride when others compliment your work, but really it's that there is something concrete to show for your time. You aren't just sitting and watching TV, you've been BUSY! There must be something every human needs, to show fruits of your efforts from years of foraging, building, hunting, cooking, to the lives we have now. Even when I finish work I shut down my computer and I haven't felt like I've created anything. The screen goes black and my work disappears.  Enter knitting and I've become a happy bunny!

What makes you happiest about knitting?