Snow Day!
That's right - I got a day off yesterday! I woke up from a lovely dream where the University was closed due to inclement weather, got on my laptop, checked the university website, and found that the University WAS closed due to "deteriorating weather conditions." Now. I know there are a lot of Northerners out there who are snickering at us behind their hands, and that's okay. Because I had the day off, and so did Jacob. yayayayayayayayayay! (Admittedly, everything was melted by 8:30, but who am I to question the University's authority? SNOW. DAY.)
I slept until 11:30, had a lovely breakfast, and then settled into the couch for a long day of knitting. I finished this:
One Anemoi Down. One to Go.
I love, love my mitten. The top isn't as crisp as I wanted it to be -- my three needle bind off leaves a little to be desired -- and there are definitely some iffy areas in terms of gauge consistency. But it looks good, and it's warm. These are intended for a gift, but I'm still deciding if I should finish this first pair as practice and then gift the second pair because they will probably look better. What do you think?
After I finished that, I decided to work for a while on this lovely sweater. Oh, how I love to knit with Rowan Wool Cotton. It's so soft and squishy and yummy delicious. I finished one sleeve (gauge swatch), and then I immediately cast on for the back:
Picot edging + garter stitch = cute.
I'm loving this pattern. I think, once finished, it will be my most wearable knit to date (that I've kept for myself.) My most wearable finished knit currently would definitely be my Central Park Hoodie, but it went to my sister. This one is all for me!
I also ventured into the stash yesterday to try and match up stash yarn with future projects. I know, I know -- it sounds insane. But, I think I succeeded! I have plans to knit Stefanie Japel's Simple Knitted Bodice next (long sleeved), and so I dove into the stash to find a suitable yarn. I came up with two options: some worsted weight organic cotton that I bought at Rhinebeck (in a creamy natural color, it's super soft), or this Elann Baby Silk (with two strands held together) in Salmon. I'm leaning towards the Baby Silk, but I'm not sure. I guess I COULD knit up a swatch in each and see which one I like better...but that's more crazy talk.
The second Anemoi will be on hold for just a bit -- I'd like to make some headway with my Maggie. But I can't wait for too long -- the colorwork is addictive. I WANT MORE.
Comments (29)
Oooh, lovely mitten! I want a snow day...
Posted by Kat with a K | February 7, 2007 12:26 PM
The sleeve was your gauge swatch? How daring! I don't have the balls for that.
Posted by Jomy | February 6, 2007 12:33 PM
Definitely keep the mittens - why do you think they're called ane-MOI?!!!
Posted by Anne-Caroline | February 6, 2007 11:15 AM
Great job, as always! We haven't gotten any reall snow yet up here... I'd love to have a snow day.
Posted by frecklegirl jess | February 5, 2007 9:45 PM
did the central park hoodie pattern have button bands? or did you make those up on your own? don't you love random comments that do not relate to your post?
Posted by carolyn | February 5, 2007 6:32 PM
i am going to attempt to start my anemois tonight. my fingers were so cold this weekend!
Posted by carolyn | February 5, 2007 6:29 PM
i *heart* maggie....but geez, why won't she just sell the pattern? :(
The knitted bodice has been on my list for awhile too!
Posted by may | February 5, 2007 5:48 PM
Mitten looks great...I agree with the above poster that no one else will see the imperfections. I felt the same way about my Endpaper Mitts and have received tons of genuine compliments from actual knitters that tend to be critical.
Posted by Heather | February 5, 2007 4:04 PM
I cannot express how unfair it is that you get a snow day in GA, while NY's weather is not working in my favor with a snow day. I demand you send some of that snow north -- where it belongs! The mitts look great, and I cannot wait to see the finished cardigan. Lovely pattern.
Posted by Gina | February 5, 2007 10:51 AM
Hah - I had a snow day too!! Memphis area - everything was gone off the streets by, oh, 9:30 or so. Some of our students from the "nether-regions" mentioned on Thursday that "hey, they're only predicting 1-2" - as soon as the plows get out the streets probably own't be a problem." to which I said - what plows - we ain't got no plows baby!! As always your knitting looks great, haven't tried colorwork yet - I even do my MD ballband warsh-rags with variegated yarn!! If it were me, I'd probably keep the first anemoi's and make a new pair, that is, if I really wanted a pair, HOWEVER, if you're gifting to someone in Georgia you prolly better gift pretty soon 'cause Punxatawny Phil says and EARLY SPRING!!! woo HOO!
Posted by robin | February 5, 2007 10:00 AM
Gorgeous mitten! Too bad there are 2... I can't quite finish mine either...
I LOVE that Simple Knitted Bodice. If you make it, I am going to have to as well. It is TOO MUCH temptation. ;)
Posted by Jessica | February 4, 2007 11:10 PM
do you live in NY?
I am possibly moving there in a month or less -
Will you please write me for soe answers on just a couple of questions? I am coming from KS - a HUGE difference...
Thank you in advance!
giabottini@gmail.com
Gia
Posted by Gia | February 4, 2007 7:40 PM
I
Love the mitten, too! I recently got hooked on colorwork as well. It's ridiculous amounts of fun and makes me feel clever.
Posted by HibiscuitsGirl | February 4, 2007 12:47 PM
lucky you! i haven't seen the maggie sweater yet, and it is really dern cute.
Posted by carrie m | February 4, 2007 10:41 AM
Oh Carrie I love that mitten, I wish I needed mittens, but no, not so much here!
Hope all is well with you and Jacob and Bella Schmoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Betsy | February 3, 2007 5:41 PM
Snow days always good. Unfortunately, we have yet to have one, so I have to content myself to squeezing in knitting after I have graded papers and planned my lessons for the next day. Oh, and made dinner, done some laundry... (you get the picture). I would love a snow day.
Posted by Stephanie | February 3, 2007 12:03 PM
Oh how I miss the south and the coating-of-snow snow days! Sigh.
My question about giving away your mittens: will you be more or less motivated to make a second pair if they're for you? Because I would probably not want to knitt he pattern a second time right away if they were for me, but if I knew I had to give them to someone else, I would.
Posted by Ashley | February 3, 2007 10:08 AM
Great mitten and lovely colour of yarn for "Maggie"
Posted by AmyP | February 3, 2007 7:37 AM
I'm watching the dog show right now, and BellaSchmoo was on tv sort of. The Bouvier des Flandres looks like a Schmoo cousin, almost!
Posted by Lelah | February 3, 2007 6:14 AM
Is that mitten purple and red? If it is, those are my favorite colors! Awesome mittens.
What do you mean, your University closed because of deteriorating conditions? I need to move there! Our University (in NW Ohio) doesn't close. Nuh-uh no how. We are in for a week of "dangerous wind chill factors" and I guarantee we'll be open. Dump a foot of snow on us, close all the public schools in the entire region, declare a Level 2 snow emergency, and by golly, classes WILL be held and you WILL be in class or you WILL be marked "unexcused". After all, 95% of the students live on campus. So they get lost in a snow drift. Eh. *shrug*
(I want to know where the secret underground tunnels are that connect every professor's house to the University so they can be there when the rest of the world is at a standstill.)
Anyway... awesome mittens, and I'm looking forward to seeing the sweater.
Posted by Jeanne B. | February 3, 2007 3:53 AM
Carrie,
I have a question for you that I'd rather ask in an email. May I email you or would you email me? Thanks,
Amanda
Posted by Amanda | February 2, 2007 10:55 PM
Glad you enjoyed your snow day! The mitt looks great..I say give them away. I like Maggie and I love Simple Knitted Bodice.
Posted by Michelle | February 2, 2007 9:33 PM
Glad you enjoyed your snow day! The mitt looks great..I say give them away. I like Maggie and I love Simple Knitted Bodice.
Posted by Michelle | February 2, 2007 9:33 PM
I am quite impressed by the colorwork. It is so pretty! I can't believe you actually knitted that.
I was very jealous of your snow day. Grrrr.
Posted by Cathy | February 2, 2007 9:03 PM
from my perspective ... i say gift the mitts! they're lovely .. . and i think you're the only one that will see the *imperfections*.
and i am a southerner ... and i had a "snow day" too! whatever! i'm glad i stayed home (raleigh, nc), so i didn't become a statistic of someone else slamming into me ... over 200 accidents reported in the morning!
... such a good time to stay home and knit and sip on hot tea ;)
ps. i'm feeling the CPH bug (again) ... WEBS is having a closeout on skye tweed ... hmmm ..........
Posted by gray la gran | February 2, 2007 8:26 PM
Jealous of your snow day, love the mitten, and hi, how cute is that sweater? It's gonna look great on you!
Posted by Sarah | February 2, 2007 4:32 PM
I love shopping the stash - so many possibilities, so much fun! Plus, it's "free."
Posted by Theresa | February 2, 2007 4:19 PM
Yay for you and your snow day with Jacob and for your LOVELY mitten and for that LOVELY Hargreaves sweater. So much goodness.
PS: Like you, I've had a recent tragedy with Forecast. I didn't run out of yarn, but realized WAY too late that my gauge was off and that I'd never get the sweater on. I kept wondering what happened given my swatch seemed fine. It turns out that when starting the "real" thing, I switched (unknowingly) to a US 6 needle, instead of the US 7. UGH! DOH#@#!
Posted by kodachrome | February 2, 2007 4:08 PM
oooh, snow day! you lucky girl! i haven't had one of those in years ;)
i'm glad that someone found the colorwork addictive (i.e. everyone but me!) i just couldn't get into it. seemed like too much work for me :( bummer. i'll have to give it a break and try it again later.
Posted by gleek | February 2, 2007 4:06 PM