Owl Gloves

A little bit of Eco Wool and size 10 dpn's and a few cable rows,...voila! Owl gloves! These are based on the "Owl Study Gloves" pattern off of Ravelry.

Prayers for Japan

Imagine my joy upon receiving this photo showing Hiroko, Izumi and Midori wearing the gloves I sent them across the miles. And they each chose the pair I had imagined they would choose! Hiroko chose the longer ones with the thumb, Izumi chose the chunky aqua, and Midori chose the darker blue variegated.

It brought  tears to my eyes. Apparently it is still cold there too and so they will still get use out of them this spring. And along my walk yesterday ...

I spotted this little cherry blossom bundle laying on the ground and rescued it to enjoy for a day.

Modified "Welted Fingerless" gloves. While cute in the pattern, with little buttons on the "welts", mine resemble some kind of Star Wars space gloves, maybe done on too large sized needles. I ripped out and began again using size 5's. Instead I did a k2, p2 rib at the wrist and then 8 rows of k2, p2 rib at the top. Done on size 5 dpn's in Manos del Uruguay (silk /wool),1 skein. I especially like the design of the gusset for the thumb. And if you knit the M1R and M1L the correct way, as in if the bar you lift up is twisted the right direction, you end up with no holes at the increases. And the second try resulted in the version below, which I like much better. A set of fingerless mitts for Hiroko, and another simplified version without a thumb for Midori and Izumi. They are our friends in Japan who we know through an exchange program we were involved with about 11 years ago through school. We've kept in touch all these years, and emailed messages back and forth so the father may practice his English. Thankfully, they are safe. Our prayers are with them, and with the people of Japan as they experience their time of turmoil, and sadness following the earthquake. I will, as soon as I feel it is reasonable and that the airplanes are making such flights, send these gloves across the miles to let them know how much I am thinking of them and praying for them. I knit these for them, because it is my way of giving them something that is tangible, something heartfelt, and personal, that comes from my own creativity from my hands to theirs. I knit them because I know the mother also appreciates handmade items of beauty. I hope they will be comforted wearing these somehow and in knowing someone on the other side of the world cares for them. I like to imagine that they will choose which pair suits them, and which color they like the best. I can imagine them wearing them about town, on the train, to and from school or work. It is one way I can send part of myself to be there with them. The cherry blossoms on my library book remind me of them also. May springtime arrive soon for them all.

Fast Fingerless Gloves

These lovely gloves "winged" their way all the way to my knitter friend in the UK, where I hope they will keep her toasty warm while they are experiencing quite a snow storm over the holidays.

This link here:

How to Knit Fingerless Gloves
is a video I found with a super easy "recipe" for fast fingerless gloves. I know you thought I'd never make any more after last year when I made like 10 pairs of Fetching. I have made alot of these easy pairs in the past few days. Easy because no cabling is required. And they don't have thumbs. But you could add them.Use bulky worsted weight yarn. Size 9 needles. Or 10. Cast on 24. K2 P2 in rib for 15 rows for cuff, then knit in stockinette for 12 rows (or more for longer gloves), K2 P2 rib for 4 more rows and cast off in rib. Sew the side seams leaving room for your thumb. Voila! A bit of leftover stash used up.

Two -toned gloves using a smaller gauge yarn, casting on 34 instead, and using a lighter grey on the trim.

And a few gifts are made!

Happy 75th Birthday, Dad!

And Dad got his own pair of Fingerless Fetchings (modified and made a bit longer in the hand and in the thumb to fit man hands, and without cables) for his Birthday! Now he can stop stealing Mom's gloves! Happy Birthday Dad! I love you!

Baby Alpaca Mitts and Scarf

I know... they LOOK like Fetching fingerless gloves again... don't they? Funny thing...they ARE.., well a modified version again with only one cable. On much bulkier yarn, using size 10 dpn's this time. Cast on with 30 sts. K4 P1 most of the way, except for the one cable row at the wrist. Thumb stitches picked up were 10 total. Much faster with the bulky yarn. This "Baby Alpaca Grande Hand Dye" yarn is a dream. Scarf was K1 P1 the whole way. Mindless knitting, but so cushy soft to wear. 2 skeins made the scarf and mitts with a tiny to spare. Not an inexpensive yarn, but was my Christmas treat. "Catbert", otherwise known as "Stupid", as my husband lovingly likes to call her...HAD to get in my picture.

My Mom informed me that my Dad has been borrowing her Fetchings. Even though they have cables and look like women's gloves. I must find some manly yarn and make him his own manly pair of fingerless gloves soon. Oh, that makes 16 pairs of Fetchings so far, if we are counting.

Final 15th Fetching?

Fetching gloves for the nieces and my daughter on Christmas eve. They listed all the uses for fingerless gloves. So far they came up with using them for: computer, piano playing, opening your stocking, recycling Christmas wrap, texting, driving, keeping warm in the art studio and playing Probe! The quilt on the wall was done by my lovely and talented mother! And the 15th, and possibly the FINAL Fetching?...........Stay tuned...I can do this pattern in my sleep!

"Catching" Again

"Fetching" is still very "Catching" around here too. See what I started? The really altered version for my artsy daughter, which no longer resembles the original "Fetching" at all since it is now "sans" the cables altogether, at her request. She wanted simple, no cables and that's what she got. Using RYC Cashcroft DK, one skein. Lightweight and soft.

And I got the homemade mocha with the candycane!

My niece's version was done with O-Wool Classic and turns out it is a very sturdy yarn, holds definition, doesn't split, however doesn't stretch or give much either. The verdict is still out on this yarn choice for this project. She wanted the plum color and that was right on. How many more of these can I do, you ask? As many as relatives ask for them I guess! Until I am sick of the pattern!

Fetching Revisited...Again and Again!

Shown here are the ones made for my Mom in the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, with added length in body and thumb, and ribbing modifications: My happy sis in law, sister and Mom were all the recipients of the Fetching gloves at the family Bday party tonight!

Visit my new friend Sheila's blog, Material Thoughts for another great idea for altering the Fetching Fingerless gloves bind off to avoid the "curling" issue, as well as a wrist cast on alteration to make the wrist more snug.
Also, see her beautiful weaving projects in progress and enjoy her book discussions. She is one crafty lady!

Here's another pair in a Queensland Rustic Wool DK weight for a Christmas gift for my friend. Added 3 rows of K1P1 rib at the end of the glove so it won't curl, casting off in K1P1.

My Mom wanted her own pair, but with more of her smart modifications: Adding 4 more rows of the ribbing to the body of the glove to increase length. Then adding the extra K1P1 rib for 3 rows before binding off the hand. Another modification was adding a few more rounds on the thumb. These will serve her well on playground duty days at the school or on the computer.

It's too COLD here in Seattle this week, though to wear fingerless gloves outside. We need "fingered" gloves in these 20 - 30 degree temps! Although you can wear them in the house, and they make great driving gloves. My daughters are getting some for Christmas. Artsy daughter wants hers with no cables. Just ribbing, and very simple so she can wear them in the art studio and stay warm. Eventually I will branch out and do other patterns, but I have gotten fixated on these! Maybe instead of being called "Fetching" they should be called "Catching"! I have gotten so I can whip them out in a few days if I have some concentrated time. Stay warm!

Fetching "Erin" gloves

Yet, another pair for my sis-in-law, using the Diana Collection-a wool/silk blend, 120 yd/skein. One skein provided enough yardage for both gloves. This yarn had a bit of variation in the thickness at times, but had a nice feel to it and end result was pleasing. Onward I go to the next pair of gloves. Can you tell this is my Christmas gift idea for the year?

Fetching "Latte" and "Wendy"

More Fetching fingerless gloves. Here are my "Latte" ones in a Debbie Bliss Cashmerino dk weight. It's a smaller gauge merino wool/microfibre/cashmere blend. One skein made both gloves. Photo taken at Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill. (Seattle, WA) My gloves also got to visit the North End Bakery on Capitol Hill today...and they enjoyed the cinnamon roll and latte very much.

And they especially enjoyed their visit to the plant conservatory as well!

Below, are the Fetching "Wendy" gloves for my sister, who requested the plum color. Done in the Diana Collection in a silk/merino blend. One skein did both gloves.

This pattern is so great! It is free on Ravelry and uses size 6 double pointed needles. I am bound to make more for gifts, as they are so "fetching" and sort of "catching"!

Quite Fetching

Love them, and wore them to work. They were a big hit! Going to make more!

Fetching Fingerless Gloves. Free pattern on Ravelry. Used a bit more than 1 skein of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran with size 6 dpns. Will try making more with DK weight which has more yardage, a bit smaller gauge, and experiment. Nice photos by hubby...though I somehow got them on here sideways.

Fingerless Glove Shortage

This pattern was supposed to make two gloves with one skein as long as you didn't do a gauge swatch first. Alas, I am still short several rows worth of yardage, as well as one thumb! Must be the yarn I chose has less yardage per skein. Bummer...I have to get another skein of it. I did not like the way the former picot bind off appeared, so I ripped back and did a regular bind off, but did it from the inside edge of the glove. Now it looks like this: