Sunday, September 26, 2010

Knitting! Huzzah!

Excuse me all - may I have your attention please? I have an important announcement to make!

I FINALLY have knitting to show you!!!!

I've had a weekend chock full of knitting and it's been so nice!

First, I finished up my secret knitting.That's all I can show you for now. The recipient won't get it until tomorrow, so I'll post more details then.

Once I cast off that project I was just itching to cast on for something else. I really should have gotten back to Fable, but the call of cracking open a new skein of yarn was too strong. I considered socks, but Dave was hogging the computer and I hadn't yet printed out the pattern I had saved for the socks I wanted to knit next.

So I knit a few more rows on Starry Zetor while I considered it, and eventually decided on Veyla.
I've loved this pattern since I first saw it - it's at once bold and feminine. And as I sit directly under the ventilation system at work and my hands tend to get quite cold, it's a practical choice too.
For yarn I chose my Alley Cat in "Opium Den". I had set this aside to make a pair of Rivendell socks, but I needed something neutral that would go with almost everything I wear to work. I love this colour. As the name suggests, it's a smokey grey, but what the picture doesn't show are the undertones of purple, blue, and green.

I went down to a 3mm needle as I tend to knit loose. I also have smaller than average hands. I knit both the right and left cuff up last night. The pattern doesn't say to block them, but I really think lace needs to be blocked. Once I got them pinned down I realized I'd lost my spray bottle of water. I could have unpinned them and soaked them then pinned them down again, but that was too much work - so I got out my bottle of Febreze. It worked pretty well and they smell lovely, but it did make it a little stiff, almost like starch, but they lose that stiffness as you handle them.

I have to redo the left cuff, because I realized I messed it up. But this afternoon I forged ahead with finishing up the right hand.
I love the little details in this pattern. Especially the thumb.

(It's really hard to take a picture of your own hand, let me tell you)

I still need buttons. My first thought were for pearl buttons, but after going through my stash, I think some nice pewter ones would work too. I have some perfect ones, unfortunately they are much too big, so I'll have to keep looking.

And once, I get these finished, I will go back to Fable. Autumn is definitely here and I'm in the mood for sweaters!

7 comments:

Monika said...

Oh, that's a lovely shot of your cat!
Isn't Alley Cat a sock yarn? What needle do you usually use with it, when you say you had to use 3mm for this pattern? I find I get a loose knit fabric whenever I use 2.5mm for it. They are lovely mitts, and I loved Opium den for my mittens. Mine have some pink, green and blue in them, and of course grey, really lovely yarn!

Unknown said...

Love the mitts and the pattern of the secret knitting.

Anonymous said...

they are just gorgeous!!!!!
Glad Tux is doing ok.

Frieda said...

Beautiful mitts! The yarn is perfect for the pattern .Good luck with the search for buttons .

Minding My Own Stitches said...

Knitting! And lots of nice knitting! Now that's the way to relax!

Lee said...

I love those very airy and light.

Jeanne said...

I really love the colorway Opium Den - I hope you post some in the shop! Love the mitts - just so pretty!