Thanks for all the love during my Michael Jackson flashback. For those of you waging bets, the left thumb won out π After that post I quickly went on to finish up the two thumbs which were not that hard at all. And while admiring my handy work I quickly realized that I obviously have a thing for this fuchsia/purply color, as evidenced here, here, and here. So I decided to TRY and branch out into more everyday wear colors – gray, tan, brown – since I already have an outfit or two to match these gloves π
Yarn: Rowan RYC Cashsoft 4 Ply
Inspiration: Eunny Jang Anemoi Mittens
Size: Large (8.5β³) Hand Circumference
Needles: Size 0 and Size 2.75mm
Yardage: 140 yards of Purple (3/4 ball) and 140 yards of Apricot (1/2 ball)
Modifications: None
Enjoyment Factor: 8
Knit Time: November 2007 – January 2008
The Good
- The pattern was EX-CELLENT!! I don’t think you can find a more detailed pattern that really gets you from A to B, holding your hand the entire way.
- The yarn is dreamy! I liked it in the ball, I liked it while I knit it up, but I LOVE it now that it is washed and smells like Soak Flora. Mmmmm…. I guess the Cashmere in the yarn really paid off.
- I love the design. It is so simply and elegant. Reminds me a lot of Japanese style paintings. The corrugated cuff is also a very nice touch.
The Bad
- The mittens are a little bigger than I would have liked. They are longer .5″ to .75″ too long in the hand. Guess I have stubby, fat hands because they fit just fine in the circumference. Uhhh…or I guess it could be gauge issues. Of course I wouldn’t know because I did not do a swatch….Opps!
- Not knowing how to properly tell which color is going to be brighter or more dominant resulted in me knitting half a mitten and then finding that I had the color choices backwards. I am very glad I went back though or I would have been very disappointed. I think the pattern is much more apparent now.
- The thumbs were a pain in the a$%. I always hold my breath when doing this because it feels as though picking up thumb stitches to make a perfect thumb connection is the luck of the draw. Unfortunately, lady luck was not with me because it seems the stranded knitting around the thumb hole was just too loose and really stretched the stitches when I tried to pick them up. I ended it remedying the problem by sewing up the holes during the weaving in process, but I wish it had been perfect from the get go. However, I do have to give Eunny props for such a cute thumb tip pattern.
- I live in California so these gloves will not see the light of day for some time. It was 19 degrees in Oakland last week, so maybe I will get some use out of them during Stitches in February. We shall see.
The Ugly
- I messed up on the palm about half way so the pattern is a little wonky (click on the picture above to see it better). However, I did get it together and started anticipating the pattern instead of just plodding through . Note to self… be proactive not reactive in both life and knitting.
Will you be bringing them along if you come to SnB tomorrow? I’d love to see them in real life.
Beautiful colour combination and FO! If they feel waay too long, you could always frog the top and start the decreases a couple of rows earlier…
Your pictures are killing me! Too funny (and the mitts are, of course, beautiful! The colors!).
I love your HONEST reviews!
And your life lesson “Ah ha” we are all consistently trying to remember! :o)
Great work!!
Thanks for breaking down how the mittens worked & didn’t work.
I think it’s time that I make some fair isle mittens.
I love the mittens and I love your photos. I need to make mittens before winter is over and, more importantly, before my fingers fall off from the sub-zero chill.
Beautiful! And great color combos.
Such cute photos!! Your Anemoi came out really well! Love the colors!
They look great! Love the photos, too.
If the mitts are too big, you could always consider knitting a lining for each one. It’s sort of a pain to knit effectively FOUR mittens to make only ONE pair, but if you’re so inclined the lining will probably snug them up to fit your hands.
Those turned out just fabulous! I love those colors together… your second take really was worth it for the contrast.
They are gorgeous! I don’t think anyone will notice the palm issue if you don’t point it out… fabulous!
ha! these pics are the GREATEST! love the mittens
Love the mitts, I’m definetely looking into this, I haven’t used my trhum mittens in a while because I find them too bulky.
i love them!! great colors and, you know “mistakes” are really what I like to call “personalizing” you pattern! π
Your “see no evil” photo shoot is just too cute.
If you’re feeling brave you can toss those mittens in the dryer–might get a little length shrinkage that way.
Your mittens look great! Bet you’re glad you didn’t break down and buy mittens for New Mexico after all. π
You have the best reviews, Mo. Lovely mittens.
Your photos are as cute as can be! I do love that pattern, I was thisclose to knitting it at one time and then used the yarn for something else. Someday…
I love how they turned out. Oh, if I could be so brave as to tackle color work. So far I’ve only done simple projects over the last 2 years. You are an inspiration to my knitting mind.
Gorgeous! Beautiful work!
I love them! I like that you chose brighter colors, too.
I always seem to have the same thumb difficulties as you. They always turn out okay, but JUST okay.
Your pics make me laugh! They are so silly!
Beautious! They came out great (and I little secret….mine are too long also).