Monday, December 23, 2013

Mittens

Almost done just have to work in the loose ends.  These were fun to knit.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Mittens pattern

Cast on 40 sts 
K2, P2 cuff 12 rows
Knit row
P2 rows
Knit row
10 row pattern
Knit row
P 2 rows
Knit row
Increase 4  stitches knit 10 M1 (44sts)
Thumb gusset place 2 markers increase after and before  the markers every third row till you have 14 sts between markers
See photo below
Put these stitches on a holder or string to finish thumb later
Continue the mitten to length you need and decrease use heart of the blossom decrease and finish pulling stitches together.


Saturday, December 14, 2013

Perfect cabled tam


Needles 16" circular #9 ndls and #7 Double points 

Bulky wool and alpaca yarn, natural color
Cast on 44 sts
K2, P2 around 4 rows

Increase
K2 , increase two sts between so pattern becomes k2 p4
Decrease p2 tog.    Till you have k2, P1, cable k4, P1,  decrease k2 tog . Till you have k3 , P1, then decrease quickly to K3 tog. Finish with K1, P1 two rows then pull tog

Monday, December 09, 2013

Mercer County Spinners and Weavers Meeting Dec.12, 2013


The Mercer County Spinners and Weavers meeting is this Thursday, below is the email from Bonnie Massing about our meeting.  I hope we have a break in the weather for the meeting. The forcast looks ok. It will be cold but with a high of only 17 so dress warm, it takes a while for our little building to warm up.  The warm soup will also help.   I am looking forward to seeing everyone.   nancy


Hi All,  To remind you that this Thursday, December 12 is our annual soup (crock pot)and dessert tureen luncheon at Munnell Run Farm.  Everyone doesn’t have to bring both.  It’s worked out fine to leave it to chance in the past.
Remember your bowl and spoon and cup for the beverage of your choice and whatever project you’re working on at the present – socks, spinning, other knitting.....
 
See you there.  Bonnie


Thursday, December 05, 2013

Mittens

I try to take notes and photos as I knit mittens so I can make a matching pair. I do not work from a pattern, so the notes are critical to making the second mitt. 
How long does it take?  I honestly do not know. My best guess might be at least 10 hours to knit a pair of mittens. I rarely knit them straight thru, rather allowing them to develope over a few days and sometimes weeks knitting in short periods of time.
 I sell them for $30.00 if I can find a buyer. The yarn cost in a shop, $10-20.00 depending on sources. The Alpaca wool blend I am using in project is expensive to buy.  I am using left overs so materials cost is not a factor in my priceing. However, knitting mittens cannot be about earning a living wage, it is about love, love for the person you intend them for or love for the creative process. 
It cannot be about selling Mittens for $$. People often ask how long it takes to make these mittens. I often say I do not know or care to think about my time. They find this disturbing. The idea of knitting for pleasure and creative fulfillment is so foreign to most people.  They scoff at my $30.00 price, do they think it too expensive? Do they think I am a fool to sell them so cheap?
Do they not respect my efforts because I do not charge more for my time? I will never understand them and they cannot understand me unless they knit a pair of mittens.

Sunday, December 01, 2013

Dragon Fly Studio Slippery Rock, PA

My new collection of Hats are on display Dec.1. From 1 - 4. That's today
Annual holiday show includes work by 
Nancy Kneupper
Diane Bowser
Barbara Wukich
Toni and Jay Mann
Trish Grabteski
Nancy Griffin