Finally finished last week! And I L.O.V.E. it!
The zigzags remind me of tire treads so I decided to name my purse “Don’t Tread on Me.”
The treads felted flat into the knitted body but are slightly visible in the lower section in certain lighting. Perhaps less felting would have retained the raised texture.
The ombre effect turned out well.
Love the swivel hook and triangle ring.
Fully lined.
All the stuff I carry…
…has a place.
Project details later.
Fingerless mitts were on the needles of knitted gifts for my granddaughters this year.
The twins wanted mitts just like the ones I knit for their mother. I used some stash yarn I purchased years ago for sweaters for them (that didn’t get made). The difference is the edging color so they can tell them apart. Easy care acrylic yarn that is machine washable and dryable.
Shirl’s Mitts. Using worsted weight yarn and dropped down to size US 5 needle so they would be smaller.
I understand that as soon as these were unwrapped on Christmas morning, the girls put them on and wore them all day!
My other granddaughter wanted fingerless mitts as well. I decided to use a more complicated pattern since I only had to make one pair.
Point Reyes Mitts from Classic Elite. The pattern called for a wool/bamboo yarn but once again, I shopped from my stash. The color was the important part along with easy care so I used Cleckheaton Country 8 ply yarn, 100% washable wool. I also went down one size needle to US 3 to make them smaller.
Fun pattern that is both written and charted.
They fit her perfectly.
A few years ago the choir members at Mr. Aitch’s church gifted him with a beautiful sweater, tie and dress shirt. The dress shirt is 100% cotton and not the wrinkle-resistant kind of cotton.
Though I appreciate the gesture, I do not like the extra work involved. I have a love-hate relationship with that shirt. It takes me twice as long to iron it than any of the other shirts. And I don’t mean a quick press or touch-up. I mean IRON. As in dampening the shirt and using spray starch. I really dislike the care and feeding of that shirt but it does look so nice when I’m finished with it and Mr. Aitch wears it.
Finding the right yarn for a project also means looking at the care and feeding of the finished item. Acrylic? No problem. Cotton? “Most” of the time it can be machine washed BUT dried flat after reshaping. Wool? Depends on if it is superwash or not. Superwash can be machine washed and dried but best to dry flat after shaping. Not superwash wool? Hand wash gently in cool water, roll in a towel to get as much water out, reshape and dry flat. Of course ALWAYS check the label to see how to take care of the finished item(s).
So when I needed a superwash wool yarn for my special project, I had to go out and buy some as I know the recipient (and his wife) would appreciate an easy care item over a handwash item.
I always include care and feeding instructions with my handmade things be them knitted or sewn.
Do you take those into consideration when gifting something you’ve made?
The Shaadi Mitts got the better of me so I decided to knit another pair of Shirl’s Mitts for my daughter.
I started them while waiting for our plane to take off on our way to visit her and finished them a few days later. It’s hard to knit with three grandkids all wanting one’s attention.
Cleckheaton Country 8 ply yarn in color 2250. They call it light green but I’d call it pistachio. I believe this color has been discontinued.
Knitting In Flashes 