NuttyIrishmanKnits

Mittens!

My friend Shelly Stilger, owner of my local yarn shop Twist, asked me to write the November pattern for our shop's mitten of the month club.  I haven't written a pattern in a long (!) time and thought this would be a great kick-in-the-pants deadline... something I haven't had in a seemingly much longer (!) time.  I knew I wanted to do something classic and traditional, and after mulling it over for a couple of days, I decided on Scandinavian Lovikka mittens.  Simple mittens that are felted for added warmth and fulled for added softness the Lovikka pattern dates back to turn of 19th century Sweden.  And I love the simplicity of the embroidered cuffs and trimming used in the embellishments.

I used Araucania Azapa yarn for these mitts, a great bulky Donegal tweed that felts well.  It also knits up amazing fast, both mittens taking less than 4 hours to complete.  The really fun part of this pattern is left in the details.  I felted mine to fit a child (7 inch width, 9 inch length), but changing felting time can result in a larger mitten.  Then using a pet grooming brush the fibers are combed and trimmed, resulting in a really soft and dense fabric.  Simple embroidery and a braid finish things off, and within a weekend you have a fun and traditional pair of Scandinavian mittens! 

The pattern is for sale online here and in my pattern store on Ravelry.  You can also swing by Twist if you're in the area and get your supplies for the November mitten.  I have more photos coming soon... and there will be a store sample at the shop for you to pet! 

I hope you all enjoy the mitten pattern!  Happy Knitting!

Lovikka Mitten Pattern: $3.00

Aye Aye Cap'n!

Cap'n Crunch by Jennifer Adams
Knitted using 1 skein Manos del Uruguay, #40 Goldenrod.
Knitted on US Size 10 Brittany Birch straight needles.
Ravelers queue it up here.

Hey guys!  Long time no see!  I can't believe it's been almost a month since my last post.  Ooi.  I guess things have been getting pretty busy around the Adams' house, including a move set for next weekend (insert Jennifer biting fingernails here).  But I've got to say I have been keeping up with all the great knitting going out there, and have really enjoyed some of the group discussions on Ravelry.  Alice introduced me to the group forums on Ravelry.  I've been blissfully unaware of so much of the "goings-on" in the knit-o-sphere, and now I'm trying to catch up on all I've missed.  I'm a member of a lot of groups on Ravelry but I guess I never paid much attention to the group discussions.  So, if we're in a group together and you notice me commenting a lot (!) just chalk it up to yours truly playing around with a new toy.  And goodness knows I have never been at a loss for words!

This month at our yarn shop we are celebrating Christmas in July, and we've got a lot coming up, including EZ classes and a mitten class featuring Fiddlehead.  And we also have quite a bit of Manos del Uruguay in stock as well.  I had originally planned to knit Shifting Sands using this colorway, Goldenrod, but the pattern just wasn't showing up as clearly as I had hoped.  So instead, I spent last Saturday knitting and frogging, frogging and knitting until I came up with something that could really show the texture of Manos. 

I began working with a simple basketweave pattern and discovered that it really worked best with the yarn held doubled.  Then I rummaged around in my grandmother's sewing box and found a couple of great green buttons to finish it off.  So from beginning to end this pidge took three hours (or three episodes of CSI).  Pretty good for last minute Christmas gifts! 

I also soaked this for a LONG time, okay... actually I forgot about it, so it softened up considerably.  I have also heard of soaking Manos in conditioner, and if you have tried this, let me know!  I'm interested in giving that ago, with proper instructions.  But overall, I think it turned out well.  I've been wearing it around all morning and it's not the least bit itchy. 

And then there was trying to come up with a name.  Andy came through and I asked him, "does this sort of look like barley to you?"  And he answered, "It looks like Cap'n Crunch.  I'm hungry."  So there you go.  Bon Appétit!

Rocky Mountain High

Juniper Mitts by Jennifer Adams
Knitted in O-Wool Balance, 120 yards, colorway 3125, Jade.
Knitted on US size 6 Crystal Palace 35" circular needles.
Ravelers queue them up here.

While the kids are visiting the grandparents for two weeks, Andy decided to surprise me with a little getaway of our own, to the mountains of Colorado.  And I couldn't dream of a better place than the tranquil ski village of Breckenridge to post a new pattern from.  My friend Shelly, and owner of our great yarn shop, Twist, recently gave me a single skein of yarn.  It was a sample from the yarn rep and since it was only 130 yards there wasn't really much to be done with it.  And this got me to thinking about stash busting.  In particular, stash busting with those lone left over skeins of great yarn from big projects.  So I gratefully took the skein (one never turns down yarn...) and started playing around with it over the next few days.  It didn't take long to come up with a quick fingerless mitt pattern, and thankfully, a pattern that comes in just shy of 120 yards.  Not bad.

The Juniper Mitts are a simple spiraling rib pattern that can easily be knitted up in a weekend.  I knitted this pair in O-wool, and really like the soft texture of the blended wool and cotton.  But they will work in any worsted weight yarn.  I've also knitted a pair in Lang Tweed and have a third started in Malabrigo.  Their only embellishment comes from the addition of two large or four medium sized buttons on the cuff.  Enjoy!

And as for other news, Julie from Little Cotton Rabbits has tagged me.  Apparently I have to tell you 6 things about myself, starting from what I was doing ten years ago?  Andy says I can't remember that far back.  I say he's crazy because I can remember that far back, my hands and feet swell just thinking about it.  I was very, very with child, specifically our firstborn, Benjamin.  As a matter of fact it was around this same time of year, 10 years ago, that I officially did my first beached whale flop on the bed and had to yell for help to get up. I'll never forget Andy standing at the end of the bed staring at me, asking "what did you dooooo?" I would have smacked him if I could have reached him without getting a full body cramp.  "Just pull me up!"  was my reply.  The fact that he grunted upon granting my request is something I still remember clearly.  Can't remember my foot...

Now, five things on my to-do list for today... this really isn't fair since I'm on vacation, but I'll do my best:

•run 4 miles along the Blue River that runs between Breckenridge and Frisco
•not fall out of the raft and need "bobbing" to be retrieved while white water rafting through Browns Canyon.
•buy sunscreen and bottled water
•email pictures back home to Dad of abandoned gold mines in Leadville
•take nap (you knew that was coming after the first two!)

and five snacks I enjoy:

•yogurt with blueberries and granola (I eat this every day, a couple of times a day)
•NUTELLA on a spoon (aka heaven on a spoon)
•Snickerdoodle cookies
•Mint Chocolate Chip Frappachinos from Starbucks, but I'm trying to quit after reading the nutritional facts at the Starbucks website... let's just say I'd be better off with a couple of BK Whoppers
•ripe tomatoes straight from the garden (salt shaker and lawn chair included)

and what would I do if I were a billionaire?

•probably mostly what I do now, only with a lot more yarn.

Where have I lived?

Just in the US, except for a stint in New Orleans.  Yeah I know, technically New Orleans is in the United States, but just barely... ;-)

Thanks for the tag Julie!  And I hope you guys enjoy the new pattern!  I doubt I'll post again while up here in the mountains.  I can't hardly get a signal for shoot and it has taken me nearly two hours to get this post finished!  But I'll be looking forward to catching up on all of my bloglines when I get home and see what everyone else has been up to.  Happy Knitting! 

Funny Valentines

Playtime Petit Fours by Jennifer Adams

While the boys are fishing today, Annabelle and I are making and wrapping valentines.  Ben's plan was to head out early this morning... his exact words were "Dad and I are getting up at 3:30, Mom."  Dad's spontaneous expression indicated I should add a couple hours to that proclamation.  And by the time they were officially out the door I had added more than a couple.   I  just wonder if they are really at the lake or at IHOP eating pancakes.

Yesterday was "errand day" as my Grandmother always called Saturday.  And I finally found some cute little "cake" boxes* for Annabelle's Petit Fours.  I think the sweetest thing about knitting these little valentines has been Annabelle's assertion early into each knit as to whom each petit four belongs to.  "This one is definitely Addison's... oh Mom, this just looks like Lanna..." I wish I had a picture of her expression as I would add beads, or leaves.  She is quite the micro-manager!

Today I plan on finishing up some unfinished knits.  I have a pair of booties lacking buttons and a bunny lacking its head.  So while Annabelle glues hearts to lollipop tags, I am going to station myself beside her at the table and knit away!

* I found small craft boxes at Michaels that are the exact size for the little petit fours.

Playtime Petit Fours

Playtime Petit Fours by Jennifer Adams
Nashua Handknits Creative Focus, cotton dk
Ravelers queue it here

I am so excited about this little pattern!  Growing up, I loved to have afternoon tea with all my stuffed buddies.  I would set the table, put on my prettiest dress with my mother's purse and shoes, and round up the gang for at least thirty minutes of uninterrupted "conversation."  Thankfully, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and Annabelle enjoys afternoon tea as much as I did!

And what afternoon tea is complete without something sweet?  For we Southern girls, that translates into Petit Fours.  Sweet little cakes that disappear with one bite (if your mouth is big enough).  Most tea-times were adorned with Oreos, or Chips Ahoy, but once in a blue moon... Petit Fours.

For the last two weeks my email has been flooded with busy moms planning the Valentine's party for our kiddos.  And with the flurry of activity and correspondence, I decided to do something a bit different.  Something that would last longer than the time it took for my daughter to pull off the wrapper and inhale whatever sweet was inside.  Hence, Playtime Petit Fours.  I knitted these using Nashua Creative Focus cotton dk and US 3 DPN's.  These little treats are so quick and easy to knit you could knit them in any number of colors or patterns of colors.  I chose to knit several wrappers first, and the embellishments whenever I had a spare moment.  Then, when I was ready to complete a petit four, all I had to do was knit the icing top and assemble the different parts.

I hope you enjoy Playtime Petit Fours.  Annabelle is gifting hers in little boxes with pretty ribbons.  And thankfully I have several prototypes on the shelf for she and her stuffed buddies to devour at tea tomorrow.  So as long as Annabelle wants to assemble her friends for afternoon tea, Mom will have Petit Fours to go around!

Sneak Peek

Playtime Petit Fours by Jennifer Adams
Nashua Handknits Creative Focus, cotton dk
Ravelers queue it here

Remember how I said I've been knitting a lot lately, but with little to show for it?  Meet "little."  I wanted to give you a sneak peek of my new pattern, Playtime Petit Fours,  that will be available on NIK tomorrow.  With Valentine's Day just a few days away, I wanted Annabelle to be able to give her Valentines' something special and yummy that wouldn't require a trip to the dentist!  Of course, we will have a few suckers tucked in with our Valentines this year, but this little treat with it's raspberry and mint leaves, will last longer than the tearing off of the wrapper! 

So check back tomorrow for complete pattern instructions for Playtime Petit Fours.  And in the meantime, I hope you enjoy this little sneak peek! 

One More 'Gain*

It's still January right? For a few more days anyway. Although I don't think the temperature on the prairie has any intentions of rising much. This week we've seen mornings dipping below zero, so I believe another January Hat is in order! Actually, this one is going to hang out at our LYS, Twist, so it's going to be pampered a bit, unlike it's much worn first-cousin.

This one is an adult-small, knitted on US 3 and 5's using Cascade220 wool. The only thing to watch for in knitting this hat is making sure your tension is not too tight between snowflakes. Because they are spaced a bit, it could be easy to pull too much between each, which, on circulars, can be hard to gauge. If I find that my my yarn between flakes is straight, or stretched, I know I need to loosen up a bit, allowing for a bit of "droop." Tension with stranded colorwork can sometimes be tricky, especially if you tend to be a tight knitter (like me). There's nothing worse than finishing a great hat to discover that it won't fit on your head. Even with blocking!

And speaking of blocking, here we are before...

and after...

Now I'm thinking the only thing left to do for the January Hat is to come up with a pair of January Mittens. I'm not usually so matchy-matchy (like Miss Priss), but this hat just seems lonely without a matching pair. So we'll see if I have enough time before winter's over to come up with something! A little lagniappe!**

*one more 'gain is New Orleans speak for "one more time..."
**a lagniappe is New Orleans for "a little something extra..." ;-)
Ravelers queue it up here

The January Hat

Well, it's January on the prairie, and things are getting downright cold. Yesterday morning's temperature gauge read 11 degrees. Ouch. Not to mention the ever-present wind. And inevitably the colder it gets the more my children want to be outside. With snow still on the ground from from last week's snow, there are forts to build, snowballs to make, and "backyard wars" to be had. Which means this mama stations herself at the window over the kitchen sink tapping the pane constantly... "put the gloves back on... back on, now. Thank you."

And it's with our continuing adjustment to a mid-west winter that I came up with the idea for a snowflake hat for Lulu. I've been mulling it over for several weeks now, since I picked up some white Cascade 220 wool. I knew I wanted to knit something fun and bright, much like the personality of Miss Priss. And it hit me as I walked past the hall tree last week, covered up with a pea coat, two down jackets, numerous hats and scarves, and Lu's bright pink vest, that I would knit the snowflake hat to match her vest.

Well, Lu was all about it, especially when I told her it would match her favorite vest. To match is that child's main concern. Always. We've had complete meltdowns in the closet picking out clothes for PRE-school. Did I mention she's four?

So with the permission of it's owner, I give you the January Hat. A warm hat for a cold month. The pattern download is available here,
and I do hope you enjoy! It's such a happy little hat, I'm really looking forward to knitting a couple more in bright Crayola colorways and gifting them. The pattern is repeated five times over 120 stitches, and is knit on US size 3 circulars. So for a small adult I would use size 3 and 5 needles, and for a medium/large I would knit one more pattern repeat (cast on 144 sts.) using size 3 and 5's. For a baby, I would cut out one pattern repeat, and cast on 96 stitches on size 3's.