Align mitts

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Focusing on something other than itching, burning, and general discomfort is great pain therapy!

The Align Mitts are finished and on their way.

This was a fun pattern and used less than a ball of Knit Picks Stroll fingering weight yarn.  This Duchess Heather is a rich, royal heathery purple.  I probably used a bit more than half.  (I so need a scale!)

The finished mitts look rather nondescript until on the hand.  The ribbing adds a nice vertical detail. 

Since both mitts are the same (no difference between the left and right ones), it’s quite easy to get into the rhythm and finish them quickly.

Deep breath

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What do the roof and I have in common?

Shingles.

This is the second time I’ve had to deal with this nastiness.  The first time it was a mild outbreak on my face and scalp.

This time it’s on my side/back right around the center of my torso.  A certain undergarment is impossible to wear at the moment so I’m staying home wearing very loose-fitting, soft cotton t-shirts.  When I move, my left arm is held away from my side to keep anything from touching the red, itching/burning, blistered, extremely painful, angry skin.

To keep my mind off the discomfort, I am knitting a pair of Align Mitts commissioned by a friend. I began the first one on Friday and I just need to bind off the top and finish the thumb.  

I usually do  the Elizabeth Zimmerman’s sewn bind-off or the JSSBO.  But this time I’m learning a new bind-off that is stretchy and doesn’t flare out: The Invisible Ribbed Bind Off for 1×1 Rib by Liat Gat.  I just need to take a deep breath….watch the video and and read the directions.

Q and A time

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I don’t think I’ve ever snagged a Q and A before but I couldn’t help it when I read this post by Karen from NothingButKnit.

Her knitting mojo (and mine) is on vacation and she thought this Q and A might help find it.  Feel free to answer* regardless of your craft: knitting, crocheting, sewing, painting, photography, or whatever you enjoy…

  1. What technique were you surprised that you enjoyed?
  2. What technique do you want to love but don’t?
  3. What is your favorite item to make?
  4. You’re only allowed to knit with one yarn weight forever. What weight is it and why?
  5. What item that you made is your all time favorite?

My answers:

  1. Colorwork.  My first colorwork project was the Traveler’s Pocket by Nancy Bush.  I LOVED doing colorwork so much that I designed my own pattern based on her design.
  2. Hmmm.  I’m weird in that I’m not a fan of knitting with circular needles but I use them.  In fact I’ll be trying the 2-at-a-time sock technique soon.
  3. Socks.  And shawls are a close second.
  4. Fingering weight as it is so versatile.  It can be held double or triple to make a different weight.
  5. My Dots and Stripes purse is my all time favorite.  My first pair of socks is my second.

*Answer in the comments or link to your blog.  Thanks!

 

Vacation yarn

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One of my vacation goals was to purchase a souvenir yarn from each state that we visited.  That didn’t quite work out as the only yarn I bought was from The Joy of Knitting in Franklin, Tennessee.

Lana Grossa Lace Lux.  One skein – 50g – 339 yards (310m), color 42 which is a silvery dark grey. 

The label was a bit shopworn but I couldn’t resist the color.

I’m thinking it will become Maluka.