Safe Return Mittens Finale

The lonely mitten from last week now has a mate!

Project: Safe Return Mittens
Pattern: Safe Return Mittens by Robin Hansen, Knitting Traditions Winter 2011
Yarn: Paton's Classic Wool
Yardage:  odd balls from assorted projects
Needles: Size 6 and 8
Cast on: September 16, 2011
Cast off: September 27, 2011
Cost: less than $5
Notes: The pattern was written for right hand, not a word about the left hand. It wasn't hard to figure it out but I wish there was recognition for my other hand.

I know how much everyone has missed the little Rascal, click on the picture to enjoy your full Rascal experience. This is his regular "sandwiching" pose. I intruded his privacy.

Happy Friday! Join the party on Andrea's blog, Tami's blog, and leave me a comment!

Safe Return Mittens

Project: Safe Return Mittens
Pattern: Safe Return Mittens by Robin Hansen, Knitting Traditions Winter 2011
Yarn: Paton's Classic Wool
Yardage:  odd balls from assorted projects
Needles: Size 6 and 8
Cast on: September 16, 2011

Notes: I've always wanted some fancy mittens for my walks in the winter. Yes, it's California, but we do have cold mornings, like in the 40s or 50s. I like my delicate fingers stay warm so I can keep on knitting and tapping the keyboard. The pattern is supposed to be waves in different shades of blue, but I'm too lazy for that. Even with two colors for the body and three color stripes on the cuff, I'm reminded why I never loved color work -- so many ends to weave in, so fidgety!  I'm also knitting at a much looser gauge than the pattern, so I'm using Child Large sizing for me.  The magazine Knitting Traditions is one of those once-in-a-while magazines from Interweave Knits, and it's more expensive than regular magazines, but it's full of good content and very worth keeping.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday! Join the party on Andrea's blog and leave me a comment!

Tappan Zee 大班老师

Project: Tappan Zee 大班老师
Pattern: Tappan Zee cardigan by Amy King, Knitty Spring + Summer 2010
Yarn: Knit Picks Merino Style, DK weight, 100% wool
Yardage:  6 skeins, 738 yards in stash
Needles: Size 6
Cast on: September 3, 2011
Notes: This is for Ravelry China group Fall knit-along. It's a relatively quick and easy top down cap sleeve cardigan. I'm right above the arm hole divide, and the rest is all stockinette. Depend on how much yarn I have left (and how bored I am with the plain knitting), I might add some sleeves too.


Happy Fiber Arts Friday! Join the party on Andrea's blog and leave me a comment!

Knotty Vest Finale 伦敦结

Project: Knotty Vest 伦敦结
Pattern: Knotty Vest by Ram Wools Yarn Co-op (free download on Ravelry)
Yarn: Passport Yarn Co. London, 80% wool, 13% acrylic, 7% rayon
Yardage: 770 yards in stash, used about 550 yards
Needles: Size 8
Cast on: July 17 2011
Cast off: September 3, 2011
Cost: estimate $20. The yarn was being discontinued and there was a big sale at Michael's.
Notes: Although the cables look complex, this was a quick knit. I made the front and back the same, and lowered the neckline to match the shape of the cables.


Happy Fiber Arts Friday! Join the party on Andrea's blog and leave me a comment!

Knotty Vest 伦敦结

Project: Knotty Vest 伦敦结
Pattern: Knotty Vest by Ram Wools Yarn Co-op (free download on Ravelry)
Yarn: Passport Yarn Co. London, 80% wool, 13% acrylic, 7% rayon
Yardage: 770 yards in stash
Needles: Size 8
Cast on: July 17 2011

Notes: After couple of simple projects, I was itchy for some complex texture action, so I started this right after casting on PepperMint Ginger. I love the way the cables are designed, how they are independent and yet connected. It's my first time to knit cables in the round, which proved to be more challenging than I anticipated. Instead of knitting the non-crossing rows back, now I have to either remember my rows, or be able to tell the crossing by their look and feel. The yarn, London, was discontinued a few years ago and I bought a big batch of it at Michael's on clearance. The Chinese name means London knots, a word play on the names of the yarn and pattern.