Guess who came to visit this weekend?

Dear Stuntmother,

My Mom's birthday is next week, and I gave her these Anemoi Mittens which should match her burgundy winter coat. Eunny is such a detail-oriented pattern writer. I appreciate that so much--she clearly has thought (obsessed) about each step of the knitting and chosen wisely so that the finished item is just beautiful. Specifically in these, the purl gutter in the pseud0-corrugated rib cuffs and the purl ditch along each edge are lovely. Using the three-needle bind off inside-out also gives you a purl-like tip which blends with the whole so nicely. I'd follow Eunny anywhere.



Pattern: Anemoi Mittens by Eunny Jang

Yarn: Louet Sales GEMS Pearl (fingering), in black and burgundy. The whole pair was made with one 50 g skein of each color, and there's lots left over. You could probably make three pairs of mittens from 200 g of yarn. (Since we sock knitters usually buy 100g of each color at a time). I do love this yarn...the stitches are so teeny and perfect. Seriously. Click on the photo above if you don't believe me.

Needles: KnitPicks Harmony 2.75 mm (smaller US #2) for the whole thing, Magic Loop.

Notes: Two checkerboardy thumbs up! If you haven't made these yet, you really must. Granted, the Italian tubular cast on was a pain, but I got it to work. I had tried it in a past project, but I really didn't understand the path of the yarn. That time, I had to move on to the standard tubular cast on in which you knit a few rows, then pick up the purl bumps and join it into the tube. I think that latter, futzy one actually looks a bit better than the Italian one, but it's a nifty trick...and I always like learning new knitting tricks.

So, what do you do when someone is so appreciative of handknits? Haul out an old and previously-unblogged handknit and give it away!


Project: Summer Shawlette, by Sandi Wiseheart


Yarn: My own handspun! From merino from Ashland Bay, and I'm sorry to say I've lost the yarn's specs. It's kind of a light worsted 2-ply, fairly woolen and fluffy. It's one of the first yarns I made on my wheel. The colors are lovely, soft and heathery.

Needles: US #10

Comments: I made this for myself, and the pattern is clever. I hate wearing triangular shawls, because I'm always redraping them and they seem too dramatic somehow for my plain, conservative look. The shoulder shaping on this one really works to keep it stable without futzing. I think it would be a good little garment for when you have on a summer dress, but the AC gets too draughty...

However, I have really broad shoulders. The spines which should fall over the line of the shoulder/arms lie too far back on me, and the front points don't hang down as far as they should.
It turns out that my Mom looks great in this shawlette! It's great when the right handknit finds the right recipient.

Love,
Eyeknit