Posted under Fair Isle
In which the obsession continues…
And, in which I have figured out how to knit the thumb! I knitted in a piece of scrap yarn where the pattern indicated.
Once I was through with knitting the main body of the mitten, I carefully picked out the scrap yarn and then picked up the stitches that were left onto some DPN’s. I used a DPN that was several smaller and that helped quite a bit. Then I just started knitting away!
I’m rather unhappy with the way there are these huge gaping holes left on each side of the thumb with this method, which Roseann says is the Afterthought Thumb. When I googled for the technique I got a myriad of hits, but nothing that really showed me how to do it. Just as well that I figured it out on my own. I hope I explained what I did a little better here, if not please let me know in the comments or email me (opal AT akamaiknitter DOT com) and I’ll go a little bit more in depth.
Another big helper with the project was my friend Lisa who showed me this tutorial* on two-handed Fair Isle knitting. This enabled me to weave in my floats as I knitted along so that the inside of my work looks more like this:
I’m not terribly proud of my insides, but I think it’s good enough. There aren’t any extra long floats for fingers to get caught in when pulling the mittens on. So with that I’m happy.
Here in Hawaii, people usually bring in the new year with lots of firecrackers and that usually entails a lot of smoke. Especially since for some odd and eerie reason New Year’s Eve typically has very light winds. This is great for firefighters but is not so great for those with respiratory problems like my mother. So my New Year’s celebration will be pretty quiet as I stay indoors with my mother and make sure that she doesn’t go into a full asthma attack.
It will ensure lots of knitting time so I hope to finish these mittens within the next couple of days. So Kung Hee Fat Choy everyone! I’m not planning on doing a year in review or anything like that, so I’ll see you next year and I wish you all safe and joyous New Year’s celebration!
*Note to Firefox users: For some reason I couldn’t get the plugin for the video to work on that page with Firefox, but I was able to get it to work in IE. JFYI.
Liz on 30 Dec 2006 at 5:37 pm #
WOW Looks Awesome!
Shell on 30 Dec 2006 at 5:37 pm #
I am so proud of you! The gloves looks great- isn’t fair Isle fun? I love working with colors…
Have a great New Years!!
Sue Johnson on 31 Dec 2006 at 12:49 am #
Happy New Year, Opal. The best to both you and your mom!
Sue J.
Jeanne on 31 Dec 2006 at 2:57 am #
The mitten looks great - congrats on figuring out the thumb. Happy New Year!
Alison on 31 Dec 2006 at 4:36 am #
Looking good, Opal. My first Fair Isle was mittens, too. I’m hooked and hope to make some more mittens someday (right after everything else I have to finish:).
Happy New Year!
Jane on 31 Dec 2006 at 8:35 am #
Wow! You are doing a wonderful job! I never do color knitting so I’m endlessly impressed that you take the time and make the effort. They look nice a warm too. an asset this time of year. Happy New Year!
Robbyn on 31 Dec 2006 at 11:13 am #
Happy New Year, Opal! We’re staying in and doing the quiet thing too _ I hate to be out on New Year’s Eve. That doesn’t preclude putting a little rum in my coffee though :)
Your mitten looks wonderful (the inside too!) and you have WAY more fortitude than I have for even trying it! Way to go!
Veronica on 31 Dec 2006 at 12:53 pm #
You either knit FAST or just knit a lot!!!! You’re already done with one. I’m impressed. I have a feeling when we start with the hat you may outknit me. No problem though, you can just be my pirate hat mentor. Have a Have a Happy New Year!