Friday, May 1, 2009

Knittin' mittens

This week has turned into a self-inflating kiddie pool of editing assignments. I realize this is a bizarre image but it's an accurate description of the way my brain is being contorted like a googly face pushed up against glass so we'll live with it. The bottom line: it's a mixed blessing because while I love editing and the learning therein, and love even more being able to finance all my yarny indiscretions, I get less time to knit.

However, I did start a mitten yesterday, and I couldn't be more thrilled. Yes, the pattern for which I had perfect gauge went horribly wrong within about two rows, but I was able to disengage immediately and head straight into making one of my own that seems to be working out just fine, and let's hope I didn't just jinx myself by typing that. True, I didn't get a chance to take any photographs while it was still light enough out for them to work and I don't have time now, but I can always post some another day. Let's get right to the thrill part:

5" Brittany Birch double pointed needles!

Omigosh, they are so cute to work with! How come I never knew how fun tiny needles can be? I guess I've only ever used 10" metal ones in the teeny sizes. This, by contrast, is tactile heaven, more fun even than the way longer Brittany Birch needles I bought for making hats. It's like playing with dollhouse toys. I will definitely need more sizes next time I'm in Stitch because I know I will want to be knitting socks while I'm knitting mittens, and I hate waiting for needles that are not so very prohibitive to buy in the first place.

Speaking of which, doesn't it just figure that yesterday was the very same day a new batch of yarn showed up at Twisted Fiber Art? So that in spite of my many, many recent knit-related purchases I just had to buy more for spinning and for socks?

I know, I know. Back to the editing so I can pay for all this. I'll post a pic of the mittens in a few days, and the first installment of Adventure Sweater instructions, too. Until then, we'll have to make do with this closeup of the green component of the green-and-natural checkerboard pattern:


You can actually see the crunchiness, can't you? It's the coolest yarn to work with - a bit of alpaca, a lot of wool, really nicely spun, with serious backbone. I'm so glad I got lots.

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