Thanks so much for all your nice comments on my recent knitted stuff. I’m glad you all enjoyed seeing my family modeling stuff but there have been repercussions. You see, Dale’s head has swelled beyond belief after reading all your comments, Hannah is still annoyed that I posted ugly (i.e. cold) photos of her last week, and I’m wishing I had invited photographer extraordinaire Cheryl down to take those photos of me. Ahem. It does feel good to finally be caught up on posting all my recently finished knitted things, though. And that means now I can go on to show you the stuff that’s currently coming off the needles.
January is officially Knit More Mittens month for me. I joined NaKniMitMo and it has really given me the incentive to get cracking on the various mittens I’ve been wanting to knit. First up are these Bird in Hand Mittens. I’ve had these in my queue since Kate released the pattern. I’ve seen my friends knit these and loved them and I’m so glad I finally knit a pair of my own.
The yarn is Botanical Shades 2 Ply Sportweight in the shades of spruce and khaki. I bought it at Rhinebeck last October and got the stamp of approval from Margene and Marcy so you know it’s got to be good. Despite what I said last week about mohair, I don’t mind mohair blends, and this yarn is a nice blend of wool and mohair. It’s got a bit of a fuzz but I actually think some fuzz is a good thing in a mitten.
I love the braided cuff although it did confuse me at first. It’s really not difficult but, like any new technique, I had to slow down and read the directions carefully. Once I’d done it correctly it was easy to repeat and I think it makes for some really special detailing.
Speaking of detailing, I decided to make my mittens truly unique – I knit the bird in red. I was hoping it would look like a cardinal but it looks more like a red chicken to me. Oh well. I guess when I want to see a cardinal I’ll just look at this photo I took the other day for my Project 365 set on Flickr.
Now that’s a cardinal.
Nora Said,
What beautiful mittens, and what a gorgeous cardinal!
Julie Said,
Beautiful mittens, and that picture of the cardinal is fantastic!
Kate/Massachusetts Said,
Your mittens are absolutely gorgeous! Have you sent Kate a picture? Your comment about the red chicken made me laugh, too!
Tonni Said,
Chicken in Hand Mittens
LOL!
Ruth Said,
The cardinal picture is amazing.
I love the red bird on your mittens. Funny, I was thinking of making a blue bird on my next pair (because there will be a “next pair”).
margene Said,
I love the little red bird on your thumb! Cute idea. Nice picture, too.
LittleWit Said,
I am always amazed by other people’s ability to do colorwork in mittens. Some day I really will have to give intarsia/fair isle another go.
Manise Said,
Awesome mittens and love your cardinal modification on the thumb!
sue Said,
Pretty mittens. I thought ‘cardinal’ when I saw the thumb. It’s a winter bird so it’s a good choice.
Wool Winder Said,
Knitting the bird in red was a great idea. I love it! Nice photos in your P.365 set, too.
Karen Said,
I really like the bird knit in red! It looks like a cardinal to me. Those mittens have been in my queue for a really long time too. Enjoy yours!
Knitnana Said,
I love cardinals against the snow – that photo is gorgeous!
And the mittens are good…okay you think he looks like a chicken, but I disagree. He looks like a songbird!
(((Hugs)))
ann Said,
I love the little red bird!! what a great idea – love the mittens!
Chris Said,
The red bird is a great touch! And that cardinal picture you got is amazing.
gale (she shoots sheep shots) Said,
The red bird makes those mittens transcend. Perfect week for new mittens! I was just remembering that I bought some of that yarn, I was thinking of socks with it.
Marcia Said,
When I grow up and get good at this knitting thing, I want to make those mittens! Beautiful job….and if you squint, the bird does look like a cardinal. The cardinal photo is spectacular…..you should make notecards out of that one.
Beth Said,
Your mittens are so beautiful that I’d be afraid to wear them. They’re more of a work of art! I do like that braided cuff.
Kim Said,
Your mittens are beautifully done! That pattern is in my lineup as well
Beautiful cardinal shot!
Mackenzie Said,
oooh…I must get my knitting to the point where I can make a pair of those–I just love the colors you used too!
jessica~ Said,
Beautiful mittens! I love that you did your bird in red. That cardinal picture is so pretty!
Norma Said,
A little bit of fuzzy mohair in mittens is highly desirable for so many reasons.
Katie K Said,
Your red bird reminds me of the special bluebird my mother embroidered in a cross stitch sampler at my request which she made when I was little. Kudos!
Bridget Said,
Well, when I saw the first picture, I thought – Oh cool, she put a cardinal on the thumb!
Cardinal or chicken, nice job on the mittens.
Kassia Said,
Beautiful mittens!! I love the colors you chose…and the cardinal on the thumb looks perfect! What a great idea, doing the bird in a different color to make it pop.
elizabeth Said,
THAT is a beautiful photograph! I love how a few branches look green, and of course, how bright the cardinal is. I definitely see the cardinal on your mittens – great work (as always)!
Liz U. Said,
The cardinal just makes me smile.
Hillary Said,
Your mittens are lovely. I especially like the red birds. They add a nice touch.
claudia Said,
The mittens are great, as was the cardinal picture. So thematically correct here today!
Michelle Said,
You make such nice knitted things! I love the mittens (and all the beautiful things you showed yesterday).
Joy Said,
Great mittens – the redbird is wonderful, both on the thumb and in the photo!
Becky Said,
Oh My!! That Cardinal Photo is beautiful! What a focal point in the snow! I will go back and look again as it has captivated me!
And yes the mittens are very nice as well.
Cheryl S. Said,
The mittens are lovely! I wish we had cardinals here – I really miss them.
Kat Said,
The red bird is the perfect touch!
Kim Said,
Your mittens came out beautifully! I have this pattern to try too.
Lovely cardinal picture!
Ruth Said,
When I first saw the ‘red’ bird my first impression was a Cardinal – - – not a chicken. I have a Cardinal family living in my small back yard year round. I wondered if they posed for you. Did your model fly in from Houston for the photo shoot ?
Jenny Bennett Said,
Your work is always so inspirational!!! I’ve also had the bird in hand pattern in my line up of things to do (only, it takes me forrrrever to get things done!!!). Good job on the mittens!!!
deb Said,
Great job with your BIH! I think having a little fuzz is really nice in color work – something extra for that stranded yarn to grab onto! Changing the bird to a differnt color is a great idea. If I do them again, I’ll remember that!
Teyani Said,
oh – I love them! And I hope that my fair isle knitting comes out as great as yours.
I would have known that was a cardinal (grins)!
Julia Said,
Really pretty Carole! Love the red bird, and I’m totally with you on the Mohair v. Mohair blends thing.
Lucia Said,
Lovely mittens! And lovely picture, too.
Sara Said,
The cardinal is beautiful…and the mittens are beautiful! One day I plan to try something like that…expand my horizons a bit.
Cookie Said,
Beautiful mittens and what a lovely photo of a cardinal.
Carol Said,
Hurrah! You finished! They are beautiful and the red bird is something I may have to steal for mine. Just thumbs to do tonight! So which mittens are next for you??
Karen Said,
The mittens are beautiful, I love the red bird on the thumb. It’s so unexpected. The cardinal photo is excellent.
jill Said,
The color work is fantastic. I appreciate your skill so much.
Suzanne Said,
The cardinal picture is gorgeous. I can never find my camera quick enough to snap one.
Love the mittens, I have to get the pattern and make a pair sometime soon.
Leah Said,
Ha! Your are so funny! Chicken, cardinal, a rose by any other name….They look great!
Leslie Said,
Well, I love the red chicken! It’s adorable.
Ina Said,
I love the red chicken, too. Great job!
Jean Said,
Really nice mittens, the red bird did give me a giggle – (when you brought up that it looked like a chicken). The vivid red of the cardinal against the snow is visually stunning.
Robin in VA Said,
I LOVE your mittens! I have these queued…I guess I’d better get busy. I love the little red bird.
JessaLu Said,
Very pretty mittens!
Laurie Said,
Truly, it’s a cardinal. And I love the mittens.
Stephanie Said,
Gorgeous mittens and your stranded knitting looks fabulous!
Sarah Said,
I love your mittens. My hands are wishing for a pair right now.
ali Said,
I love those mittens! They have been on my to knit list for a while…
Beautiful cardinal pic- they are so fun to spot this time of year.
Happy knitting!
joy williams Said,
I love the mittens and the red bird looks great-It really draws your eye.
I have these somewhere on my never ending knit list