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Madelinetosh :: Has a New Blog
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I heart wordpress!
knitted from this handspun:
spun from this roving:
4 ozs of Blue Faced Leicester
Specs:
Yarn: above, approx: sport weight, 188 yards
Needles: US size 3 Knit Picks circs and US size 6 Addis
Pattern: Mittens on a String by Erika Knight found in her book, Simple Knits for Little Cherubs
Size: 2-3 toddler
I like that this was a quick and simple pattern, knitted flat, and seamed along the back with mattress stitch. I made a few small changes for sizing really. After finishing the thumb tip you are instructed to pick up and knit the cast on stitches at the base of the thumb to close the gap. I picked up fewer stitches than required as I wanted the circumference of the palm to be a bit more narrow than the pattern called for.
The mittens seemed sized a bit large for a 2-3 toddlers hand to me and I was knitting at gauge. Who knows wee may have tiny hands? Who is to say what is average.
As for finishing the tip of the mitten, I wanted it to match the bind-off for the tip of the thumb. Instead of binding-off all the remaining stitches, I worked a few extra decrease rows, k2tog, ssk across, then breaking the yarn, drawing it through the remaining stitches and pulling to gather the tip, creating a star-point.
(What is the proper name for this type of bind-off? Anyone?)
I like the result and it seems to be holding up to wee's rejection quite well.
The only problem? Getting the wee one to keep them on!
Ah, warmth.
A cold front blew in and has placed us all very cozily by the fireplace. Long johns, zippy sleepers and sweaters and flannel sheets have been pulled out for the cool season to begin.
Burning Mesquite wood from the farm always make for a warm, slow burning flame.
Ornaments have been dancing through my head and has forced me to search Martha Stewart's collection this year. I love this yuletide tree skirt, and these Scandinavian ornaments. But none seem to be available for order and the closest K-mart is hundreds of miles away. Ah, the conundrum.
I have already bought a small pint of eggnog and I hear that the eggnog latte is out and about already.
As for my hands, they have been wrapped around this:
A sand cable Moebius a la Elizabeth Zimmerman.
I know, i know I have a million projects that I need to finish. Sorry, it is just so hard to focus on one... ya know what I mean.
Oh and I may or may not be listening to Burl, Bing , Ella and Nat already. And of course Charlie.
I know I'm bad, but it's just so very merry. Are you listening too?
Hand dyed seawool making its debut at the Jenning Street Yarns Trunk Show tomorrow.
Seawool Sock
Fiber Content: 70% superwash Merino 30% Seacell fiber
Somewhat Solids from left to right - Maize, Crimson, Eggplant and Wheat
Yardage: 380 yards
Gauge: 7 sts= 1 inch on US- size 1-2 needles
A few skeins of Luxury Sock
Luxury Sock
Fiber Content: 50% Superwash Merino 50% Tencel
Somewhat Solid colorways - ginger glazed with eggplant above.
Yardage: 400 yards
Gauge: 5-6 sts = 1" on US size 3 needles
And a few of these little babies.
Silk/Wool Lace
Fiber Content: 50% silk 50% Merino wool
Somewhat Solid colorways - malachite pictured above.
Yardage: 800 yards
Oh,
And I have been knitting up a new cable-man sock pattern.
Clarabell (the suspicious sock-inspector) seems to be giving her reluctant and hard to gain approval.
Pattern: Lettuce Leaf Scarf - graciously created by Janice Lynn
You can find the free pdf pattern including a nice little lace chart here or under freebie patterns above.
Yarn: approx 400 yards of fingering weight yarn – I used one skein of Madeline Tosh
sock in the Lettuce Leaf colorway
Size: 9.25” by 54.5” after blocking (there are also instructions for a full sized triangle shawl)
Gauge: 6.5 sts and 9 rows in stockinette to 1 inch
Needles: US size 1 (2.25 mm) or 2 (2.75 mm) or size to obtain gauge.
I have been wearing this scarf all week but have yet to get a good public display shot of it.
The garter ribbing at the ends of the scarf was added as I could not get the swatch to block and lay properly without the ends curling under. I have admired the clapotis patterning from afar for so long for it's bias patterning and this eyelet pattern seemed to be a nice lace alternative and a perfect use for sock yarn. The chart was easy to memorize and made for very cozy netflix knitting.
Enjoy.
So the collection of handspun below has now become a raglan sweater for the wee one.
The colors just asked to be knitted together and conjoined like happy twins. The fibers include everything from Blue Faced Leicester and Merino to some mottled Jacob farm wool pictured below which I over dyed with rusty, reds and oranges.
The sweater is based on Elizabeth Zimmerman's EPS system. I added a hemmed edge to the bottom and have already tacked it down as it kept rolling up under my fingers as I knit around, minor annoyances.
I am so in love with the entire theory behind the magic loop method. Magic loop sleeves are just another plus!
As this sits in the knitting basket. I may just have found another addiction which might include color-work swatches. Colorwork I declare highly addictive - dangerous, definitely dangerous!
My amazon queue is now full of colorwork books and each book posted at schoolhouse press really should be mine, honestly.
Oh, and by the way, colorwork addicts I need some advice. How should I hold my yarn? EZ's idea seems the best thus far. I will learn the continental method yet.
Oh my goodness you guys are so very kind, it seems unreal at times. I will not write some long diatribe, but rather thank you all for your kindness and sincerity from the bottom of my heart. Your well wishes made my mother's day.
Oh, and here is her present as promised.
Simple, pretty and functional - so very like her.
mom's b-day hat.
pattern: robin's egg blue hat. a free pattern found via ravelry and posted on her blog here
needles: size 10 addis
yarn: my hand dyed worsted in cape cod cranberry
buttons: vintage shell button from my grandmother treva's button jar.
xo,
everyone.
All finished.
Pattern: Tomten by Elizabeth Zimmerman as in "The Opinionated Knitter"
Needles: US size 7 addis
For: the wee so toddler size 3T or so.
Yarn: lots
some of my handspun;
Marr Haven Merino-Ramboillet Wool worsted yarn in medium grey and natural;
Beaverslide Dry Goods Mc Taggart Tweed in Bison, Arrowleaf Balsamroot and Big Sky Heather
Mods: I opted for a hoodless version and I added a single crochet seam around the front and neck openings instead of EZ's i-cord.
As for the pattern, I loved it. So simple and perfectly logical. Nothing fussy or quirky which made for the perfect knit to watch with a pile of netflix each evening. I watch all of Masterpiece Theatre's Jane Eyre and even began The Forsyth Saga, both of which I highly recommend.
I loved knitting a sweater in the round. I had quite a few ends to weave in as I changed colors in some cases on every row, but it was worth it as I think it added to the rustic charm of the sweater.
I loved the Zimmerman pattern so, I have already cast on for a yoke neck sweater for the wee in my handspun yarn. I am using EZ's eps system so wish me luck.
And I loved this pic just prior to finishing sleeve number two.
New patterns I am so happy to say!
Daisy Mitts by Mary Kay Bishop for Madelinetosh. Modeled and photographed by the delovely MK.
Pattern specs:
Pattern: Daisy Mitts by Mary Kay Bishop for Madelinetosh
Yarn: 2 skeins of madtosh sock in bark and ginsing
Needles: US size 2 dpn
Simply Mittens by Janice Lynn for Madelinetosh. This is a wonderfully simple but perfectly fitting mitten pattern, ranging from XS to XL.
And of course the requisit shot for any job well done.
Pattern Specs:
Yarn: 1 skein of Madtosh sock in Sigrid
Pattern: Simply Mittens designed by Janice Lynn for Madelinetosh
Needles: US size 2 dpns
All available here.
Bye the way I love this sweater over at Anthropologie and this and this.
These pants are wonderful too! I might have to give the Amy Butler version a go!
xo,
Amy
