Sunday, November 11, 2012

Year of Projects: Helgi's Mittens 02


Folk Knitting in Estonia: Aino's Gloves • Anu's Christmas Gloves • Anu's Mittens • Anu's Stockings • Avo's Mittens • Ellen's Stockings • Helgi's Mittens • Hilja's Mittens • Ilmar's Socks • Juta's Stockings • Kalev's Mittens • Kristi's Mittens • Laila's Socks • Landra's Gloves • Liidia's Gloves • Liivi's Stockings • Maarja's Socks • Maimu's Mittens • Marko's Mittens • Meida's Mittens • Merike's Gloves • Rita's Stockings • Sander's Mittens • Tiit's Socks • Ulla's Gloves • Virve's Stockings

I'm finally getting somewhere with Helgi's Mittens. The first mitten is mostly done; it's just awaiting its thumb. Thanks to a day spent babysitting, I finally had an opportunity to knit for a few hours. Tomorrow I'm taking the car in for a service, and Tuesday I'm taking the train downtown for an eye doctor appointment, so there'll be several more hours of knitting time in the not so distant future. I'm hoping to finish these up by the end of the week. They're going to need a vigorous blocking though - the top shaping looks particularly bumpy.

After the first pattern repeat I was iffy about the colour combination but on Wednesday readers left lots of positive feedback in their comments. Buoyed by that I carried on and now I'm glad I did. There sure isn't much contrast but the pattern is clear enough. And when I step back to look at the first mitt "Groovy Baby" à la Austin Powers pops into my head.

The second of Merike's Gloves is still in time-out, but I'm starting to feel little twinges of motivation. I expect I'll have the stitches off scrap yarn and back on needles by the end of the week as well. I'd dearly love to promise to finish these for next week's update but maybe that's too optimistic. I'm a terrible one for underestimating what's involved in things. Is that common amongst hand crafters? Maybe. If you ever sit down to calculate the number of stitches in a pair of socks or a shawl it does make you wonder why we do it, doesn't it?


12 comments:

Wanderingcatstudio said...

I'm glad you stuck with those colours - it looks fantastic!

WildflowerWool said...

I am glad that you stayed with the purple, it looks great!

Stefanie said...

<3 it! It totally has a soft vibe. You are fast!

Alittlebitsheepish said...

Your mitten looks lovely, the contrast is subtle but enough to see the pattern. I am terrible at working out how long things will take. I did explain exactly how long socks take to my family though

cleancup said...

I love that color combination-- subtle and not at the same time!

* said...

Underestimating time needed....nah, not me....I always plan well ahead so that I finish projects well within time, I am never still stitching/knitting/crocheting an hour before it's due....maybe you need to take a leaf from my book ;-)
I have gone into meltdown which will not surprise you, as it has happened before...and will happen again!

Love the colours in your mitts...gorgeous! Have a happy knitting week....isn't it nice when you know there are going to be moments when all there is to do is knit!

Caffeine Girl said...

I think the choice of colors was risky and brave -- but right in the end!

Anonymous said...

I love those colours, and I hope you enjoy all your knitting time this week.

I always underestimate how much good knitting time has to be spent on housework, school-runs, food shopping etc etc.

Thank you for such helpful comments on my blog this week, they're really useful to a new sock knitter :)

Carolina22 said...

I love the colors too! The pattern is gorgeous. Happy knitting week :)

PS You asked about my quilts on my blog and I also send them off to a someone with a longarm machine. If I did the quilting they would never get done. . .

Mona said...

I am liking the colour combination for the mittens. Can't wait to see the finished project.

Frieda said...

The mittens look beautiful ! Bet they'll be warm too .

sandy said...

Glad you carried through, I love the combination.