While awaiting the start of my next temporary assignment, I
mentally went through my list of to dos, which consists mainly of things whose
disorganization I find annoying.
Long wishing to organize my downloaded knitting patterns, I
started there. I kept the categories broad: tops, mittens (including gloves,
arm warmers, in short, anything related to hands), e-books, skirts, socks,
shawls, cowls, home (anything not wearable), etc. I also weeded. Anything I
knew stood no possibility of being knitted went to the Recycle Bin.
The rewards were immediate. New downloads are immediately saved
in a folder. During one of my stash dives, I came across one of a pair of
gloves I was knitting in Cascade 220. But what was the pattern? Scrolling
through my mitten folder, I discovered the pattern complete with the last row
knit highlighted in pink.
Gusset Adventures
One of the reasons I so desired to knit the 1861 Cottage
Mitts was the different gusset for the thumb. While the lifted increase
produces two nice rows of left and right slanting stiches outlining the V of
the thumb gusset, I found overtime these stitches are under strain. I wanted to
keep the nice gusset outline but eliminate the strain. I found solutions in
Beth Brown-Reinsel’s book Knitting Ganseys.
Using Lion Bran Fisherman’s Wool in
the Birch Tweed colorway is 78% wool and 13% Acrylic and 9% Rayon I cast on 40
stitches on size 3.5mm dpns and knit 27 rows in k1p1 rib. On row 28 I knit one
stitch, placed a marker, purled the next stitch and lifted one stitch from the
row below for the increase. Knitting one row between increases, I plan to
continue this until I have 12 stitches for the gusset before casting on
stitches for the fourchette and joining in the round.
What I learned from knitting a pair of convertible mittens
with this yarn on size 4.5mm needles is that it pays to knit mittens and gloves
a tighter gauge than recommended. The firmer fabric is warmer and keeps pilling
to a minimum.