Mrs. G Knits

Things I am learning, #4759.34

Did you know that obsessively tracking my Knitpicks shipment is not actually making it come any quicker?  I know, it surprised and dismayed me, too.

I can feel spring fever starting to seep in around the edges these days.  Maybe it's because today is unusually warm (we've got a forecasted high of almost 60F today) or maybe it's because February is almost over, but I'm starting to feel a wee bit hopeful for spring.  Winter is my favorite season, but I like it when the seasons change all the same. 

Imagination - lost boys

It has occurred to me that this eensy bit of springy-feelingness may be responsible for this sudden need for brightly-colored fingerless gloves.  There's the picture of the yarn on the left, right from Knitpicks' website.  Isn't it just so wonderful?  And now that I look at it, it really is quite springy... blue for the sky, light green for the new grass, and brown and black for the inevitable mud we get here in the mid-Atlantic.

Amazing how much free time I get back once the holidays are over

Alligator Scarf

I finished the alligator scarf.  It came out at juuuust 6 feet long, and really I could have continued for another few pattern repeats, but I was just so done with that scale pattern.  I think the extra length is really good, though, so I think what I may do if I make another is insert an additional 2 rows of garter stitch between scale repeats; I don't think there would be any ill effect on the look of the scarf, and it might help me be a little more cheerful about knitting it.  ;)

I've gotten a wild hair to have a pair of crazy-colored fingerless gloves.  Why that is, I really couldn't tell you.  I just want a pair.  I've placed a Knitpicks order for some of their Imagination hand-painted sock yarn in the Lost Boys colorway because once I saw those colors, I couldn't get them out of my mind.  I've also bought a ball of Essential in black and one in Mermaid (to pick up that light, bright blue in the Lost Boys yarn) for accent colors; we'll see when the yarn gets here which one I think is better.  I'm leaning toward the Mermaid, figuring I'd best go big or go home, but we'll see.  Those who know me will know what a radical departure from the norm this is for me to begin with.  Generally, if it's not black, I won't wear it... but for some reason I want these crazy fingerless gloves in the worst way.

Raphael and his mittens

While waiting for the Knitpicks order to get here (I'm thinking it was sent via "slow boat to "China" courier method...) I started on (and finished!) a set of mittens for my middle son.  They're from Kate Gilbert's Gifted pattern, and the pattern is every bit as quick and easy as it promises it will be.  I finished these easily in two evenings, out of Noro Yoroi (a super bulky cotton, wool, and silk blend) on US size 10 1/2 needles.  Highly recommended if you're looking for a super-quick mittens pattern!

And since I am still waiting for the slow boat to China, I've continued work on the Muscari socks.  I'm nearing the toe area on the first sock, so there is a light at the end of the tunnel!  (Well, the first tunnel, anyway!)  In my Knitpicks order I also included a set of the nickel-plated double-point needles, and I'm thinking the second sock might be an excellent way to try them out.  I generally use bamboo double-pointed needles, but I'm growing weary of the bendiness.  All of my bamboo double-points are warped and bendy.

The next project

Alligator Scarf

I bought the kit for this alligator scarf from Morehouse Merino in August of 2007 and it was always "my next project".  After I got done with this, I was going to do the alligator scarf.  Then something else got in the way.  After I got done with that, I was going to do the alligator scarf.  And so on and so forth.

I finally started it.  I'm much further along now than the photo shows -- I've actually got the scarf to its intended length, but since Mr. G likes long scarves, I bought an extra ball of yarn to make it longer.  I have to admit, the scales were cool to knit for a while, but I'm kind of over them now.  They involve adjusting tension more than I like to do (I like to knit evenly, and these are not knit evenly) so it's a bit of a slog but I'm hanging in there.  I have the squid hat hanging over my head as a hibernating project; I don't need another...

And next will be Kate Gilbert's Gifted mittens for my 5 year old son.  He has lost just about every pair of gloves he has, and the poor kid's hands are cold.  This looks like a quick pattern I can use with some stash yarn, so if he loses these ones, too, it won't be the end of the world.