Zigzag Mitts

I am excited to share with you here my first self-published pattern. These fingerless mitts were inspired by the popular Jaywalker sock pattern by Grumperina. They are worked finger-to-cuff and feature a thumb gusset placed on the side (making them wearable on either hand), zigzags on a smaller scale for a snugger cuff, and a garter-stitch edge knit in the round which leaves a solid, unrolling structure at both ends. The zigzag pattern creates a snug fit for a mitt that is comfortable to wear outdoors or in. I wear mine while walking the dog, driving to work, and typing in my office!


The pattern is written for two sizes (S/M & M/L) and is written for dpns but could be converted to work with circulars or magic loop. [Edited to add: needle sizes US #1 and US #0.] The thumb, hand and cuff patterns are written out and directions are written per row with periodic stitch counts noted to help keep you on the right track.


I wrote the pattern to be used with Koigu KPPPM just because I love the color selection and short color repeats of that yarn, but any 14wpi sock-weight yarn would work. (Although, may I say that the Koigu wears like iron? It's great stuff.) I've made a couple of pairs with Claudia's Hand Painted Yarns fingering weight wool and was really pleased with the results, too.

The pattern sells for $6 US. If you are in Portland, Oregon you can pick up a paper version at either Close Knit on NE Alberta or at Twisted on NE Broadway. Or, from the comfort of your own home, you can purchase the pdf either through Ravelry (search for "Zigzag Mitts" or see my profile under sunnydayknitter) or here:



(Note: clicking the button above will take you to Ravelry's Paypal site. Ravelry will delivery the pdf to your email address. If you have any problems, please let me know!)

Errata:
For size M/L, Cuff Pattern, Round 2, please use:
[*kfb, k2, dd, k2, kfb, kfb, k2, dd, k3, kfb*] added 5.30.09

Come on, August

Have you seen this? I have no problem traipsing across the country to take classes with my favorite knitting teachers, but to know that they are all coming here, to my hometown? And I can ride my bike to the event? Wow.

Gratuitous golden blond action shot:

Sarchitecture

Yesterday I had the good fortune to travel up to Tacoma for a class at the Madrona Fiber Arts winter retreat. Other years I've gone up for a night or two but this year Sarah and I decided to make it a day trip. Leaving at 6am made for an easy drive north and got us there in time for a quick stop for coffee, scoping out parking, and super-easy and super-fast registration (upon which time Sarah learned she'd won a door prize, hurrah!). I had signed up for Cat Bordhi's class on hybrid sock architecture and was pleased to find a free seat up front surrounded by friendly and fun knitters (are there any other kind of knitters? I think not). And for a bonus, Sivia Harding, designer of loveliness, was there to assist and add general charm to our class.


In preparation for the class I had knit the first two learning socks and begun Bartholomew's Tantalizing Socks, pictured above. I love the use of linen stitch in the pattern and how it flows into the arch expansion across the top of the foot:
Unfortunately I knitted the short-row heel on autopilot and missed Cat's particular way of concealing the wraps, which became perfectly clear after watching her youtube video on the subject. So, I will be restarting these, but without regret as both the pattern and the Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock, medium-weight ("Downpour") is enjoyable to knit.

Before yesterday's class I was feeling a bit constrained by the patterns in the book. Needing to read a pattern carefully line-by-line is not how I usually knit my socks, but hearing Cat speak about the basic recipe of her method and how to use it to your own devices was quite freeing (and in line with what I knew to be true, that she really wants knitters to be able to take her arch expansion methods every possible, individual, original way).

Here's my sample baby sock from the class, employing Upstream arch expansion with yo's:
And with the lightweight STR in "Mustang Sally" I found at BMFA's booth in the marketplace, I'm ready to cast on for Cat's "Veil of Leaves" with Cedar architecture.