The Windmill Blanket

Here's another project that I finished many moons ago...



Pattern: Solid and Reversible Afghan (free free free!)
Designer: Jane Wierowa
Source: Knitlist.com
Finished size: approx. 100cm x 190cm
Needles: 4.5mm addi turbos
Yarn details:

• Novita 7 Veljestä
• 75% wool, 25% nylon
• 150 grams = 300 metres
• 878 grams used (5.9 balls)

I had originally bought this yarn to make the Burridge Lake Aran Afghan, but after struggling with just a few rows, I remembered that I hate cables and so that got frogged. The next incarnation was the Diamond and Smocked Cover, which actually grew to a sizeable length before I got fed up with some parts of the pattern instructions that were unclear and I couldn't manage to make them look nice. This blanket was the third, and thankfully, the last installment.

If I remember correctly, this was the first project that I aimed to complete using the continental knitting method (aka 'picking', for the Yanks out there). I figured it was a big enough project that by the end of it, I would have my new knitting style under wraps (pun intended). And it worked! As of the beginning of 2009, almost all of my new projects have been made using continental style. Maintaining an even tension still requires concentration, though, so I haven't really made anything that needs perfect, even stitches. Soon, my pretties, soon.

This grew quite a bit during blocking, but really only length-wise, which resulted in a long-yet-narrowish blanket.

Siililapaset - Hedgehog Mittens

Oh dear me...let's not mention how long it has been since I blogged. I can't even blame it on my superbusy summer.

Down to business!

Check out these two little fellas! They've been keeping my grandmother's hands toasty during the southern hemisphere winter.



Apparently she gave them names, but I seem to have forgotten what she called them. Something starting with 'M'...Moritz and ... and ... something. Mum, help!


Pattern: Siililapaset - free free free! (in Finnish only)
Designer: tinttitintti (Ravelry link)
Source: www.novita.fi
Needles: 3.25mm and 4.0mm bamboo double-pointed needles
Yarn details:

• Hjertegarn Sock 4 (main mitten yarn)
  
• 75% wool, 25% nylon
• 50 grams = 210 metres
• colour #2300
• about 50 grams used (yarn held double throughout)

• Novita Tango Fani (eyelash fur yarn)
  
• 100% polyester
• 50 grams = 58 metres
• colour #328
• very small amount used, somewhere in the vacinity of 20-25 grams

I made a few small alterations to the pattern in that I made them in the round, I made the section before the thumb wider than the section after the thumb, and I made the fur section separately on very small needles (I can't remember the size; must have been around 2.5mm) and then sewed them on to the mittens. This last point took ages but it was absolutely worth it. Otherwise, the fur part pokes through to the inside of the mittens and isn't as thick on the back.

If you want to make these mitts but can't read Finnish, just find yourself a basic mitten pattern and stick some fun fur on the back of the finished mittens. Too easy, really.