Pinky Swear
Posted on | December 11, 2007 | 12 Comments
I pinky swear that I will NOT start another project, until I finish one. In this particular case, that would be both mitts. One mitt only counts as 50%. Even though I’ve suddenly lost my motivation as it’s near 80 degrees today. They tell me it will get cold again next week and I’ll be wishing I went ahead and finished them already.
I pinky swear that I will resist the temptation of some incredibly gorgeous yarn that showed up on my doorstep yesterday (even though I already took some pictures because it’s so lovely.)
I pinky swear that I will provide some much needed WIP updates in the coming days, thus reminding myself that I have plenty of irons in the fire already and I do not (DO NOT) need to start anything else. Somewhere along the way this fall, all my big talk of focussing on single projects until they’re complete went right out the window.
Ok, enough on what I’m NOT going to do – Here’s some detail about this project!
I’m working these mitts in The Sanguine Gryphon’s Eidos 100% merino sock yarn in color Meno. The technique I’m using is a modified version of Two Ended Knitting (or Tvaandsstickning), where one knits with two ends of yarn, sometimes and in this case, from the same ball of yarn. The ends are used alternately throughout, one stitch in the first end, one in the second, producing a soft, thick fabric. Traditionally, the two yarns are twisted as they are knit, but some modern knitters choose to work this method stranding each yarn in the same hand throughout the piece – this is the method that I am using here.
I love the way the technique distributes the colors of this lovely handpainted yarn giving it a more muted, speckled look. I think my enjoyment of the interplay of the colors will help with the finishing! I’ve been playing with this technique quite a bit lately, and ways to incorporate purl stitches and “embossed” type designs. These will be quite simple though, the Two Ended technique being the only defining feature of the glove – I think with this colorway, it’s enough.
The mitts don’t have a name yet… I was thinking about P&S Knitter’s Mitts as their intended purpose it to keep my hands warm while knitting – P&S for Plain&Simple or…. for Pinky Swear.
Hmm – there’s an awful lot of swearing and pledging going on around here…. Does anyone else find themselves doing this more and more as the end of the year approaches?
—————-
Now playing: Death Cab For Cutie – Blacking Out The Friction
via FoxyTunes
Comments
12 Responses to “Pinky Swear”
Leave a Reply
December 11th, 2007 @ 4:35 pm
Very pretty. I’ll have to try that technique…
Blessings!
December 11th, 2007 @ 5:57 pm
So, this method provides the same thickness as colorwork would, but with no floats? Cool!
December 11th, 2007 @ 6:05 pm
These are gorgeous — that technique sounds a bit scary to me, but what a lovely result! Also, I love Death Cab.
December 11th, 2007 @ 6:26 pm
i find myself doing this throughout the year…
“oh, just finish this… then start a new project” – “well, i’m ALMOST done with this. starting a new couldn’t be bad.” – “i just don’t feel like doing THIS now, but more like starting THAT!” …
endless story! ^-^
somehow good to know there are people with the same issue out there…
do you use the ends alternating in every other row/round or do you knit with both ends at the same time? (seems my english is too bad to understand that properly…*sigh*)
December 11th, 2007 @ 11:08 pm
Very nice results. I’m going to have to sit down and give that a try.
December 11th, 2007 @ 11:49 pm
I love the way that two ended knitting looks! It is a really wonderful way to work with varigated yarn. I hope it cools off enough to wear them.
I’ve been meaning to ask you, do you know of any good spinning teachers in your area? I’m thinking about giving my mom spinning lessons for Christmas. (She lives in Durham). I tried to teach her when she was here for Rhinebeck, but I’m not a skilled enough spinner to teach her. Thanks.
K
December 12th, 2007 @ 9:41 am
Lovely mitts, Mel. The yarn is beautiful, and the two-end knitting seems to bring out that beauty. Is this a pattern you’re working up? if so, I may have to buy it and give it a go. I love Gryphon’s yarn, so the temptation is strong!
December 12th, 2007 @ 2:17 pm
Oooooh, pretty! Members of the Sanguine Gryphon fan club, unite! ;^)
Do you find that Ravelry gives you intense caston-itis? I know I have been having a hard time focusing on single projects since I joined. So many neat NEW things to try!
P.S. – Thanks for your comment! I’m washing my swatch right now and crossing my fingers that I don’t have to tweak the gauge in my pattern.
December 17th, 2007 @ 5:13 pm
Aw, you’re all so nice! Almost as nice as those mitts. So, Mel… wanna do up that pattern for me??? I love love love it. You wouldn’t even need to make another pair, just take some of your purty pictures of those and jot down the pattern.
December 18th, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
What gorgeous mittens….when people refer to mittens here do they mean gloves? I always think of mittens as meaning only the thumb has it’s own separate tube (but I am from Scotland so I also refer to sweaters as jumpers)!
January 30th, 2008 @ 9:04 am
Such a beautiful color on those mitts! Suits you perfectly.
March 17th, 2008 @ 11:16 am
[...] and technique analysis will be forthcoming (There is a VERY brief intro to two-ended knitting here in the WIP post) – I intended to include more detail here but to do it justice, as with the pattern, I need a bit [...]