Get Thrummed!



When I grow up, I want to be thrummed!



Ok, so I've been bad and haven't done much knitting. I did start a shawl (a simple garter stitch) that I'm thinking of giving to one of the elderly ladies at church - that is if I get it finished before winter is over! I forgot to take a photo of it when I had the camera out a bit ago. I don't have much done on it though, so it would be pretty boring.

Remember in one of my earlier posts I had mentioned that I wanted to knit a pair of thrummed mittens? Well, the other day I made my way to an LYS and bought some yarn & fibre to start said pair of mittens (see photo to the right).

I bought 2 bags of the fibre - the emerald green (or is it kelly green?), and some saphire coloured blue. The yarn you see in the photo (with a pretty piece of green fibre to look like a bow) is Lett-Lopi. I've never used this kind of yarn before, so I hope it's a good one.

As you can see, I've just started the mittens - one row knitted so far. I'm not sure if these will be for me or if I'll gift them or donate them. I picked the green fibre just in case I decided to keep my first ever pair of thrummed mittens that I made. That way, they'd go with the new red winter coat I bought about a month ago.

Well, I'm in the knitting mood - I'm anxious to get thrumming! I'll try to post some photos along the way, unless I get them finished before pulling the camera out. Until then, happy knitting!



Newfoundland Mittens - Completed!

Finished Newfoundland Mittens

So, for about the last week, I've only had the thumb on the second of the Newfoundland mittens to finish. Every single day I would think about knitting that thumb. Every single day I would pull my knitting bag out and keep in the living room, handy, for when I had the urge to knit. And hoping Tinker Belle wouldn't get into the yarn or pull out a mitten to play with. She loves wool!



This past week, however, I didn't knit. I wanted to knit. But, I just didn't have the energy to do so - even for something as small and simple as finishing the thumb of a second mitten. Something that wouldn't take too long to do.



Tinker Belle & the mittens



I've been tired all week. That's because school started up last week - well, nine days ago now - and I've been getting up at 6:00 every morning, just in case I get a call to teach that day (I want to be prepared so that I won't have to rush and try to shower, dry my hair, and get make-up on with minimal amounts of time. I can't do it. I'm not wired to do it. And that's my story, and I'm stickin' to it). Typically in the run of the day I end up needing (yes, needing) a nap; and those naps can end up being two or two and a half hours! Already today, I've been up close to four hours, and I am dragging and need to go back to bed - and I will at some point.

Last night, while I watched the season premier of Survivor (only the second season I've every watched) with my mom, I pulled out the mittens, the pattern, the required yarn, scissors and tapestry needle, and I knit that thumb. And I finished that thumb! The mittens are now completed!

I used Patons Canadiana yarn in black (main colour) and...well, I'm not sure of the other colour as the wrapper seems to have been discarded. Anyway, that second colour is a nice jewel toned shade, with blue, green, purple, pink repeated. I went to the Patons website to see if I could find it, but didn't see it shown.  The pattern for these Newfoundland Mittens was very easy and quite quick to knit. I enjoyed the time spent knitting these, and will more than likely make more pairs in the future. The Ravelry link for them can be found here.


I really love how these turned out!

With the Patons yarn, I think I used 4.0mm needles (really need to measure them again so that I'll know), and the result was a nice snug fit. I adjusted the thumb a little by picking up stitches to total 22 (including the 7 that were on the holder), knit four rows, then decreased to 18 stitches and finished the thumb.

Up next? I'm not totally sure. I was thinking more mittens (for a child this time), or socks (again for a child - or even more baby/toddler socks). I was also thinking I should finish the scarf I'd started earlier this year, which will no doubt be for me know since I somehow managed to lose my favourite scarf I'd worn for a couple of winters (the one my Scarf Exchange Pal knit for me). I really have no idea where it went to. I had it at school one day in the spring when it was still cold, put it in my bag and by the time I got home, it was missing. I think it must have fallen out - either that or one of the kids stole it. I hate to say that, but with this particular school (a middle school), it's quite possible. So, I will need a new scarf to wear this winter. The pattern is easy, so if I stick to it and not lose my knitting mojo again, I should have it finished in no time. It's already half (or a little more than half) finished.

I'd love for you to leave me a comment and let me know what you are currently working on, or your most recent finished item. Feel free to leave a link to your blog so I can check out your FOs!

Things I Want To Make

I want to make thrummed mittens! I have thought about this type of mitten for a long while, and never felt like I'd be able to make them. Well, after surfing the web and Ravelry, and finding patterns and lots of pics of these mittens, I've decided to make some in the future - like maybe this fall.

I need to wait until I start working again (supply teaching) to get some money as I need to get roving for them. I have one day of teaching booked so far - the second day of school! From what I've been told in the past, the first few weeks of school are pretty slow for supply teachers...not much work. Hopefully I'll get more soon as I am getting low in funds!

Inside of thrummed mitten

Both of the photos on this post were taken from this Ravelry link from the Yarn Harlot. Stephanie's pattern for these cool...or should I say warm...mittens can be found on her blog (scroll down for the pattern).


I will be knitting up some mittens soon, possibly for myself, but we'll see. I'll be doing Newfoundland Mitts by Creative Whimsy. I've go the yarn ready and waiting, now just need to cast on - hopefully later today!

Baby Mittens

I knit these thumbless baby mittens up over the weekend.  I used the same yarn & needles as I did for the mittens in the previous post.  The pattern can be found here, and instead of an i cord, I just crochet a long chain (maybe a little too long, but at least it can be tied to shorten it - better too long than too short) so the mittens won't be lost.  Hopefully the chain will stay attached!

This pattern is done on two needles and sewn up the sides, however I just used my DPNs.  Wherever the pattern called for purling, I just did knitting.  These are a quick knit and I will be making more - especially since I still have more of this yarn left!

Toasty Hands

I finally finished the kids mittens I had been working on.  It's not that the pattern is difficult or anything like that, I just kept putting it off or when I wanted to knit, I would get a call to go in and teach that morning for a full day.  I could have taken them with me to work on at lunch or recess, but to be honest, when I'd get a call in the morning while getting ready "just in case", taking my knitting along was the last thing on my mind.

At any rate, these are finally finished - hooray!  In the photo I used the flash, so the colour appears lighter/brighter than they actually are.  They are more darker in reality (the flashless photo didn't turn out too well).  I used 4.0mm DPN needles (or are they 4.5?), and the yarn is Phentex Dynasty (100% acrylic), worsted weight, in the Dark Aqua colourway.  This yarn was something I had in my stash from some time back, and I wanted to get it used up.

These are going on the mitten tree at the church.  So far it's the only pair of mittens I have knit up for the tree, but I do have the other scarves and hats I made as well.  I've just printed out another pattern from Ravelry that has some baby, toddler and other size mittens as well, and since I've got more yarn left over, thought I might make some of the infant/toddler size for the mitten tree as well.  Hopefully I'll finish these ones quicker than I did the ones in the photo!

Happy knitting!

Little Update

Sorry guys, no pics this time. I've been somewhat busy with school work and haven't had much time to take pics or even do a lot of knitting.

I've been working on Get Ziggy, and have the majority of it finished (it's a quick knit), but I need to finish it completely before the 30th. The sweater is for my best friend's sister who is having a baby in December, and her babyshower is on the 30th. I have no doubts in my mind that it will be finished before then - possibly even by this weekend.

Today we had our first snow of the season. There wasn't much at first and it was only sticking on the grass. However, it was windy and cold too. The snow was a wet sticky one, so it wasn't the nicest really. The day was quite blustery, and even tonight it's the same. I have a feeling the roads are probably somewhat slippery out there. The salt trucks haven't been around yet, but I'm sure they will be by morning. Thankfully we have someone come and plow out our driveway, so we just have to do the front step (2 steps) and the walkway...and the end of the driveway if the plow goes by after buddy has already plowed the driveway.

So, I realized I needed some protection on my hands. It was mightly cold cleaning off the car - even though it didn't take too long. I started a pair of mittens for myself using sock yarn. I know they might not be the warmest, but they will suffice for now. I only got a few rows knit on the first one this morning, however. Then I had to go to class. Hopefully it won't take me long to make these puppies!

Well, it's been a bit since I've posted and just wanted to d o a little update. Hope to have some pics of my WIPs to show you soon!

Happy knitting!

More Mittens

The other day I finished the mittens I was making for my nephew. They are made from Paton's Classic Merino with size 4.0mm dpns.

I am going to start another pair (hopefully this weekend) in a Fair Isle pattern for Fair Isle February (button including link is in my sidebar for anyone interested).

I've also started my first toe-up socks for the Falling In Love Socks over at MagKnits. I don't have very much completed of it yet - really not worth picture taking at the moment. When I get a little more progress done I'll show you how I'm doing with it. I'm using the yarn (Bernat Sox) that my best friend Kristina got me for my birthday for this pair.

Off to do a little knitting before my morning class (ok, technically it starts at 11:50am so it's more of an early afternoon class since it's so close to noon...). I have another class this evening (from 6:30 til around 9:00/9:15ish) and then I'm off for the weekend. Happy Knitting!