No-More-Humdrum Mittens Swap 2

New Swap Blog is up

2008-07-22T19:42:00.001-04:00

http://mittenswapthree.blogspot.com/

Go on over if you are interested in joining the next round.

Check in

2008-05-14T19:38:00.001-04:00

How is everybody doing? Are the final packages just about ready to go?

Goodies!!!

2008-05-02T15:18:00.002-04:00

My buddy is Helen, and she sent me a mini-package in the mail today. Check out the goods. Apparently this is to whet my appetite - the mittens are yet to come and I'm pretty excited.
Thank you Helen!!!
There was a vanilla guest soap (already in my guest bathroom), some stitch markers (perfect, as I have lost all of mine), a pair of circulars (YES!), a magazine I can't wait to rip into, a lovely card, a box of assorted teas (I am brewing the White Rose one as I type), and a mint flavoured foot cream that smells so delicious my mouth watered when I smelled it!
THANK YOU this is very generous :)
Love your downstream buddy, Kris

Swap Status Post

2008-04-30T11:45:00.009-04:00

Since some packages have been sent and received, I am going to start this post now. Please remember to post when you have mailed and/or received, so I can update your status. This worked well to keep the info organized in the last round.

Amy partner has received; received
Anne partner has received; waiting
Carissa partner has received; received
Carolyn partner has received, received
Cary partner has received; received
Cheryl partner has received; received
Chris partner has received; received
Christine partner has received; received
Deb partner has received, received
Debb V partner has received; received
Ebony partnr has received; received
Emma partner has received; received
Felicia partner has received; received
Gail partner has received; received
Helen partner has received; received
Ina partner has received; received
Irene partner has received; received
Jenn partner has received; received
Jessica partner has received; received
Katie partner has received; waiting
Kim F. partner has received; received
Kimberly partner has received; received
Kris partner has received; received
Lori partner has received; received
Margaret partner has received; received
Mia received
Paula partner has received; received
Theresa partner has received; received
Zabrina received (has emailed me on 9/20/08 apologizing for being late and has promised to follow through)

Round 3 question

2008-04-29T20:02:00.003-04:00

I did a little contest at the end of the last round and am going to do one for this round too since we are almost 100% done with packages being sent and received.

For those of you who don't know this, this is a one man show. I coordinate everything myself, I hunt down flakers (which fortunately we have not had to deal with during this round), and I put up the prize for the contest I do.

We had so much involvement in the swap this time around, that I would like to make it even more fun next time around and do a few contests.

If you know anybody who would be willing to sponsor us by offering up contest prizes or even offer our swap members a discount, please have them contact me at mittenexchange at gmail dot com. I welcome anything and everything fiber related.

Thanks!

Look-ee Look-ee!

2008-04-27T11:46:00.003-04:00

Beautiful patterned mittens!!!
The goodies! Some wonderful flavors for water...can't wait to try! Some gorgeous yarn, some awesome knitting patterns (I want to make that Shallow Tail shawl- that will be a first ever!)
They fit perfectly for my large/long hand! Thank you so much!!...and just look at the adorable bird on my thumb! LOVE the colors, too!

Thank you very much knitting pal!

Update!

2008-04-25T11:01:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to check in and be sure I properly thanked Mia for sending me a box of goodies while she finishes up my mittens.

More details on my blog, but here's a quick pic of the loot!

Thanks Mia!

Check in for the week of 4/19 - 4/25

2008-04-20T19:12:00.001-04:00

I need check-ins from Mia, Felicia, Helen, Katie and Zabrina.

Thank you Katie and Deb

2008-04-19T17:21:00.005-04:00

I received my package from Katie. Katie is the person behind YarnLove yarns...I didn't know that until recently. My mitten request was for my DS1GF and Katie spun, dyed and desined these beauties. I also received some exquiste yarn and yarn wash...thank you so much Katie. Everything is wonderful!!!Here is the cutie wearing her new mittens!

Also I had won a contest during the first swap and sweet Deb sent me this...I have coveted this pattern. I can't wait to make them...thanks so much!

Check in for the week of 4/12 - 4/18

2008-04-12T17:22:00.002-04:00

Sorry if you have been looking for this post today. I am running a little late.

I need check-ins from Mia, Felicia, Helen, Katie and Zabrina. We're down to the last 5 packages ladies. WOOT!! (You guys rock!)

Please also remember to post here on the blog when you get your package so I can update your partner's record.

I am traveling out of town next week, so if we are still waiting on any of these last 5, please check into an existing post on the blog with your progress for the week of 4/19 (either the status post or this post please).

Thanks everyone!

Small Brag

2008-04-11T14:51:00.002-04:00

Hey everybody!
Since my buddy has gotten her package (and hopefully was good and surprised), here are a couple more pics of my mittens.
I am really proud of these ones. They are the first mittens I have ever knit. They were a lot of fun and I kept imagining how nice it would be to make something very special for my buddy, who is very special to her very large family. :)

My swap package

2008-04-11T07:20:00.004-04:00

Oh goodness ladies, I think I received the best swap package ever sent in yesterday's mail. It's wonderful! I got not just one but two pairs of mitts. Lovely cream, green, and pink Norweigen style mittens and a lovely pair of cabled fingerless gloves. Also in the box were chocolates, Scottish Tea (and I am Scottish Kris, maiden name Crawford), a beautiful ball of Noro sock yarn which I can not wait to try out, an adorable stuffed lamb and some very pretty colors of roving. Take a look!

2008-04-08T15:47:00.002-04:00

Package arrived!

The mittens are amazing. The stitches are so tiny and I knit socks and they seem tiny. And the mitts are so soft. It's hard to see, but the main body of the mitts have a "lice" pattern with a yarn that changes colors.

I was reading the card and had to skip the word "lice" in front of my kindergartener. Didn't want her to think that mommy's mittens had "cooties".

Ghiradelli hot chocolate. The Lacy Knitting of Mary Schiffmann. And two skeins of Hand Dyed 100% laceweight silk from Red Barn Farm www.redbarnfarm.net. It always blows my mind to see these little skeins and see that the yardage is 400 yards. I'll have to come up with a special project for it.

And when I went to pick up my daughter from morning kindergarten and everyone was complaining that it was cold, I was kinda psyched that I could try my mitts ;)

Thank you Carissa!!

Check in for the week of 4/5 - 4/11

2008-04-05T10:18:00.001-04:00

It's that time again and you all know the drill.

Please check in if your partner has not posted that they have received your packa to let me know what your status is. We're coming down to the last few people here. What a great group!

Jessica's Bird In Hand Mittens

2008-04-05T00:28:00.004-04:00

I didn't want to post these pics before because I was worried Jessica would know they were for her! I didn't tell Jessica that the mittens hung out in a little California sunshine on my rose bush before heading East.

This is the reverse side and I put the flower only on one of them because I wanted to have something to differentiate which hand it was when you pic them up. Not knowing much about Jessica personally, I did not put the bird on the thumb. It is cute but if you are not a whimsical person, I thought it might be too much.

These are the first mittens I have ever knit. And as Jessica mentioned I did have struggles starting out, not that mittens are difficult to knit, but just getting gauge. I discovered, like many of you probably did that it is not easy to knit something to fit for someone you cannot see or try it on! I wanted them to be perfect and they are not, but you know, sometimes you have to give yourself a little talking too and tell yourself to "let it go"! LOL The Bird in Hand pattern was the 5th one I attempted and I like it and probably will do it again for myself.

Thanks everyone for making the exchange fun!

A perfect gift

2008-04-04T13:06:00.005-04:00

Theresa, after telling me about five times about the difficulties she was having making her first pair of stranded mittens, sent these beauties along. They are, of course, perfect, and fit great. I'm delighted with them: toasty, pretty, and great colors. Of course, no package is complete without a California dishcloth, so I now the proud Philadelphian who can scrub her pots with a state map. The goodies are rapidly disappearing, and I'm rubbing my hands in glee trying to think of all the good things I can do with the Kureyon sock (how did Theresa know which colorway I've been coveting...). I haven't even begun to look at the beautiful flower photos on the cards--I may have to give these to my mother, though, who's an even more avid gardener than I am.

p.s. Still without camera, so Theresa should forgive my terrible cell-phone photo that doesn't do her work justice. I feel particularly bad about doing this to a real photographer...

I am so excited!

2008-04-01T23:14:00.002-04:00

Done! Finito!
I am finally done all the goody-gathering and end-weaving and all the rest.
I do not want to spoil my buddy's surprise, just in case. So, this is all you get to see - for now!
But here's a preview of her parcel, heading out TOMORROW!!!
It may take a bit of extra time since it has to travel over a border (I'm not gonna say which one). I really hope she likes everything!

2008-03-31T22:30:00.003-04:00

This is my package I received today, it was filled with goodies and yarn as well as my mittens

This is the package I sent out to my swap partner, I added some Canadian yarn and goodies

Package arrived

2008-03-31T17:51:00.002-04:00

I just received my package today from Debb V. The mittens and yarn are lovely as well as the stitch markers and the other goodies in the box. I have to go out this evening so I will post pictures soonest. The swap has been fun.

Package received

2008-03-29T12:25:00.005-04:00

I have received my package from Cheryl.

They are beautiful, what a gorgeous pattern,

and the little picot edge is just adorable.

She also sent me the Smitten mittens book by Mission Falls, and the yarn requirements to make the Henia mittens, some lovely tea and the Piecework knitting magazine. Thank you so much, I just adore everything!

Check in for the week of 3/30-4/4

2008-03-29T09:11:00.003-04:00

There are still quite a few people waiting for mittens. Please finish up as quickly as possible.

Debb has not checked in so I will be emailing her separately. I NEED a status update please. Everyone else seems to be on track but I still need a check in if you have not completed your obligations..

Please also remember to post when you receive your mittens so we know that another person's obligations have been completed.

Non-mitten knitting question -- PETITES

2008-03-28T12:05:00.002-04:00

Hello all!
Does anybody have any resources for knitting for petites? I am short and NEVER satisfied when I knit stuff for myself - things always end up making me look awful simply because just about all patterns for sweaters are proportioned for people with longer bodies! Do any of you have a good method for changing stuff for short folks like me, or do you know of any special "petite" knitting resources, or books that might help me understand how to make things actually fit so that I don't look like I am wearing my dad's clothes? I am getting sad not to really ever be able to make nice stuff for myself, but I don't really find just making things "shorter" in terms of length is quite enough - often the shaping just doesn't work out either.
Just thought I'd ask. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

April's Almost Here

2008-03-27T22:12:00.003-04:00

And still it is chilly enough in the morning to wear mittens, LOL. How is everyone doing? There will be another round of this in the fall, correct?

package sent

2008-03-23T12:39:00.004-04:00

Due to death of camera, only bad cellphone pictures. But, here's the completed mittens: I love them dearly, and very much hope my partner feels the same. There's only lining in the wrist (but its pure cashmere, babies), because otherwise they were going to be too small (the main pattern ended up at 10 st/in, reducing the ease). Package sent on Friday, hope it arrives Monday.

My Package Arrived!

2008-03-23T01:07:00.003-04:00

Today I received a wonderful package from Amy and these BEAUTIFUL mittens which fit perfectly! She put so much attention to detail - an amazing package which you can read about on my blog and see all the other goodies! THANK YOU!

Yay! My Package has Arrived!

2008-03-22T10:58:00.002-04:00

wonderful package from Cary arrived during the week. I don't get to see my mail until the weekends, since I live on post (Army) and my mail is sent to my parents house. I got wonderful goodies to enjoy.

My mittens are the Honeycomb Mittens and they fit wonderfully. I also got some lovely handmade soap and a candle, along with fiber to spin from "Ebony", a corriedale ewe whose roving was handspun and included in the making of the mittens. To top it off there was tea for me to try and Jamieson & Smith Laceweight Shetland along with a pattern to work it up in and stitch markers to use. Everything was wonderful and I can't wait to try everything out.

Ebony

Check in for week 3/22-3/28

2008-03-21T18:30:00.002-04:00

The following people have not checked in for the past two weeks. (I'm hoping it is just an oversight).

Debb V
Kimberly L
Zabrina
Jessica
Mia
Felicia

If your partner has not posted on this blog that they have received your package, I will need you to continue to check in. if they have posted on their own blog or email, please forward to me or give me a link to their post so I can verify. (If your name is not in blue in the status post you must check in with me)

Thanks everyone!

Thank You, Deb

2008-03-21T16:35:00.002-04:00

My mittens arrived and with them the revelation that my upstream pal is none other than our hostess with the mostest, Deb! I love my new embellished mittens and swap loot.

Thank you, Deb, for all that plus a well-organized swap experience. I do feel spoiled! For details, see my blog.

Happy Cary ~ Fiery Mittens

2008-03-21T09:43:00.002-04:00

Happy, happy, happy ;)

I received my mittens, tucked away amidst many other thoughtfully wonderful surprises all the way from Washington state and my swap partner, Chris

Here is a snapshot of the goodies:

But since the mittens are the star of the show, I felt they deserved a photo all their own:

Aren't they scrumptious? I believe Chris designed them herself. She titled them Firebrick and the picture of them along with the other things really shows the color more accurately. I LOVE them!!!

Now, also in the package was lots of yummy tidbits of luxury and unusual fibers...a sampler box. Since I am a spinner as well as a knitter this was a truly thoughtful gift! And then, totally unexpected, a Japanese knitting book full of mittens, hats and socks!!! Can you believe it?!? Of course, I can't decipher a bit of the written instruction, but the charts should be easy enough to follow and I have been savouring the artistic photos...they are really neat! I also have some Maizy yarn to try out and a soap that smells so good ~ very fresh and clean and spring like.

But of course, the best thing of all from this swap was the chance to get to visit with Chris. We have a great many things in common, and I look forward to keeping in touch and following her career as this year goes by.

Sure have enjoyed this swap! The weather here in Michigan is definately still cold enough for mittens, but I am also looking forward to trying out the Maizy yarn Chris included for some summer time knitting...Thank you SOOOOO much, Chris, for being such a good partner ;)

On there way

2008-03-19T23:14:00.001-04:00

My mittens and package are on the way, I am not sure how long it will take to get there from Canada, hopefully not too long.

mmm...raspberries, mint, strawberry, orange

2008-03-19T18:17:00.004-04:00

What could be better?

Fresh from my mailbox, here's Ebony's delightful gift package. The mittens are an incredible, gorgeous raspberry/minty green combo with a touch of strawberry at the cuffs - seriously, I just want to eat them. Beautiful execution, and they fit perfectly.

And I tell you, I'm just ecstatic over the orange Watershed from Neighborhood Fiber Co yarn - I've been itching to do a skinny scarf in something bright to stave off the late winter blahs, and this will be perfect. Ebony also included two lovely patterns for mittens and a hat with roses, my favorite flower. How did you know?

Thanks Ebony! I love your work, and am so proud to now have official Ebony mitts!

On Their Way

2008-03-18T23:16:00.003-04:00

A package is on its way to someone...

And look at the goodies I found in the mail yesterday!

I didn't even have to stalk my mailman. Awesome purple and green stripey mittens. The Tiffany mitten pattern with yarn, and pretzels. Thanks, Paula! You totally made my day (and my hands were nice and warm while walking to class tonight). Apparently these were her first mittens, and let me tell you she did a great job.

All things come to an end...

2008-03-17T14:36:00.004-04:00

Some things just have more ends than others.

I finished my mittens last night, wove in all the ends and damp-blocked them overnight. I'm really pleased with how they came out, and I hope my pal likes them too.

Sea Mineral Mittens by SpillyJane
1.75 mm (US 00) dpns
Knitpicks Palette in Nutmeg, Sky, Verdant Heather, Hyacinth, Golden Heather, and Blush

The mittens, along with a bunch of other goodies, are all boxed up and winging their merry way out of Downeast Maine as I type.
Are they heading to you???

Almost done

2008-03-17T11:06:00.006-04:00

Well, some ripping and experimenting delayed my progress on these, but they are about to be washed and blocked, so off by Wednesday. I hope she likes them. I went a little overboard with complexity. It is a combo of a pattern from Norsk Strikkedesign for the curlicues, and a modification part of the pattern from "Katherine Howard." Note to increase the silly Renaissance-y feel, I made a line of bobble "buttons" on the inner wrist side.

Mittens Were Sent Late Last Week

2008-03-17T06:16:00.003-04:00

I did send my package off to my Pal, hoping she receives them today or tomorrow. here they are in all their glory

In the Mail!

2008-03-16T16:32:00.001-04:00

Here are my finished mittens!

2008-03-15T19:40:00.002-04:00

Here is the final product, I hope she likes them, They are the tiffany mittens from knitty. I used classic wool and a brand from Cabin Fever for the green. They are all wool and should keep her hand warm

I love my buddy

2008-03-15T14:13:00.000-04:00

I am just sending out random bits of love to my upstream and downstream buddies.
xoxoxoxo
Who loves ya, babies?!
:)
Kris

Finished

2008-03-15T10:59:00.002-04:00

Finally. The mittens I have made for my partner are done in Nature Spun Worsted Weight. I wanted to make some thick, sturdy mittens for deep winter weather. The pattern for the hand is taken from Latvian Mittens, and worked out well at this size. The mittens and other assorted goodies will be mailed on Monday.

Check in for week 3/15-3/21

2008-03-15T09:30:00.004-04:00

ugggghhhh I just typed up this huge post and got an error when I tried to publish it.

Please continue to check in each week if any portion of your swapping experience is not completed yet. If you are still knitting that's ok. Just keep in contact with your partner and check in here week.

When you receive your package, please post a picture so we can enjoy it with you. I will continue to update the status post. When your name is entirely in blue you can stop checking in if you'd like.

Remember to check back here towards the end of August for a link to the blog for Round 3. I need a little break and I think the repeat "offenders" [lol] probably need one too.

This has been a great round. I really appreciate everyone's participation!

Socks In The Snow

2008-03-14T21:20:00.003-04:00

The mittens I made for my partner are finished and on their way, too ;) Before they left the midwest, though, they just had to play in the melting snow one last time!

I posted another picture on my blog that isn't as fun as this one, but shows the colors in the mitten better, if you care to look. This picture actually shows the mitten on the left turned wrong side out...I think it is nearly as attractive as the right side - LOL! And carrying the yarn along as I did, it made a really warm mitten, nearly two layers thick!

I hope my partner likes it. As several others has said, I had trouble getting even close to gauge with the Latvian mitten pattern I had picked out at first. Then I remembered this pattern that I had always wanted to try, so made it instead using nearly all of my partners stated favorite colors ;) It is definately not boring!

I know there is more mitten wearin' weather to come before spring really arrives, but as I think you can see in the mitten picture, our snows are melting and the pine trees are shedding some needles. Robins have returned, too!

2008-03-14T14:43:00.001-04:00

Well I finished my mittens for my partner and they are just being blocked. So I will put my parcel together and mail them out. I will post a picture when they are dry

Help! What would you do?

2008-03-13T19:02:00.002-04:00

Oh no! I've just realized that my mittens are slightly different in size. I seem to have put one or two rows extra before the thumb gusset increases in the first mitten. Should I frog the second mitten? Should I leave it the way it is? I made these cuff up, but I'm considering cutting the cuff off, knitting a few extra rows in the area before the thumb gusset, and then re-knitting the cuff down. Does that make sense? The difference isn't too noticeable. I've tried them on, and so has my SO, and they seem to be just fine, but I worry that my swap partner will mind. I'm also worried that now I won't be able to make the deadline. I'm a pretty fast knitter, but I still have to block these and then embroider them.

What does everyone think I should do?

Many thanks!

2008-03-13T07:56:00.003-04:00

It's taken me a couple days to make Blogger accept my photos... Lookie what arrived in my mailbox a couple days ago!!!

This super-cute but unassuming-looking little case came to me from Carolyn in Chicago. It sprung open to reveal so many wonderful goodies!

The mittens, front and center, first and foremost, are awesome. They're knit from the White Witch pattern, from Knitting Daily (a pattern that made it into my Ravelry queue, but not my needles...) and they're fantastically soft and warm. A good thing since the temperature had "warmed up" to 26 F by the time I opened the box. I love the colors, and they fit perfectly.

Carolyn also included a gorgeous skein of Dream in Color's "Classy," a worsted weight yarn, and the "Bird in Hand" mitten pattern. I can hardly wait to cast on!

The last little surprise (which, sadly, has been mostly consumed by now) was a little box of the most delectable handmade chocolates, which are locally made in Carolyn's area. Don't you just love the little "Owner's Manual?"

Thank you so much, Carolyn. Your mittens will warm my hands for years to come!

Stick a fork in 'em.....

2008-03-12T21:37:00.004-04:00

They're DONE!

Now I am just hoping my partner likes them as much as I do. I got a few raised eyebrows on the color combo when they were still in the skein. But all of those skeptics loved the finished product tonight at knitting night. They look a little retro and I think that's pretty "groovy". Am I crazy? I love these!

They are definitely No-Humdrum.....but in a swap where most people lean toward stranding (even me during last round), I hope they're not a disappointment.

(Jenn I missed you at knitting tonight. Not so "poopy" now are they? LOL)

I have never embroidered before, so these were really fun!!

(if you can't tell from the picture, they are Brown with Olive Green, Winter White, Orange and Dark Turquoise embroidery)

I got my package! I got my package! Yay! Yay! Yay!!

2008-03-10T12:38:00.003-04:00

I was a part of the first "No Humdrum" swap and I've not yet received anything from my first partner which I chalked up to experience, but today- TODAY! 5 days before the deadline even, I received my completely fantabulagorgeous package from Jenn

I wasn't even looking for it yet, plus I've got bronchitis so this is so wonderful. You've really really really made my day! I'm putting up all the pictures and gushing even more at my blog, so come on over if you can stand it.

Thank you SO much, Jenn!

Check in for week of 3/8 - 3/15

2008-03-08T08:43:00.002-05:00

Please check in here.

Remember that the mailing date is next weekend. If you think you are going to have trouble meeting this deadline, please contact me immediately.

Thanks everyone! This round is going great and I appreciate everyone's individual contributions to the blog.

A Check In and Gauge

2008-03-08T08:30:00.009-05:00

I just wanted to be sure to check in before this week gets totally away from me ;) Not much new to report except for a brief panic attack as I was putting my things together to send to my partner...I couldn't find THE FINISHED MITTENS!!! Yikes! I tore the house apart before I remembered that they were in my spinning basket...I had taken them to knitting/spinning group to show the finished goods. Whew!

I hope to mail out Monday or Tuesday, depending on how my unpredictable farming schedule goes ;)

I wanted to comment on gauge...it seems like a lot of people (myself included) who had a hard time getting gauge on some of these Latvian style patterns...always to big. In my case, huge in fact. No insight into this, just an observation, but wondered if this was typical.

Its fun seeing the packages as they arrive, isn't it?

Self Checkin

2008-03-08T03:33:00.002-05:00

OK, the mittens are done but for the blocking and finishing...I think they are terrific(pats self on back)...heehee Everytime I make a pair of mittens I want to keep them....These will ship out by the 10th for sure. Will update when that has happened.

How many continential knitters do we have in our group?

2008-03-07T08:38:00.002-05:00

Hi,
I'm just wondering how many of you knit continental-style?
I have a very hard time with it but I haven't "stuck" with it long enough for it to become natural, and I have always felt I don't really knit "right" because I don't knit continental. I've got this continental-jealousy thing going, imagining you can knit twice as fast and do twice as much with a more efficient knitting mechanical style. What do you think? I am afraid to start because my tension is always perfect knitting my own way - I taught myself to knit and I had no idea continental was even something people did when I first learned, oh, 25+ years ago...
Well it was just a thought. Wondering what others think.
Kris

Thank you, Buddy!

2008-03-06T14:15:00.001-05:00

I just want to send a shout out to my buddy who, before leaving on her vacation, sent me a package from Amazon.com with the Latvian Mittens book by Lizbeth Upitis.
THAT WAS SO COOL OF YOU.
I had been complaining on my blog that you couldn't actually order the book in Canada.
My mittens are not coming along at all.
I decided to make one of the pairs from the book, but when I knit up the first 5 or so inches they were just too big (even though I had thought that I had swatched properly). Now I have ripped everything out and am feeling okay again (I may have wimpered a little) to re-start.
Sorry to my downstream buddy that I am slower than the rest of the folks. Frogging hurts, but it's better than gargantuan mittens that you'd have to give to your husband or boyfriend or son or something.
Anyway, thanks to a fabulously considerate buddy.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Kris

They're Here!

2008-03-05T16:12:00.002-05:00

I've got a jam-packed schedule today (I wish literally - I'm hungry!) so this is sorta "drive-by" blogging. But later tonight, a real post should be up on my blog.

Emma sent me a box absolutely stuffed with goodies! Emma, I love everything in the box. It was rather a "combo" swap box! There was cocoa mix, tea (which I haven't had yet, but sounds heavenly), so much yarn I was gobsmacked. And lovely Bird in Hand mittens!

A real post up later. But Emma! Thanks a lot for the wonderful box.

Orangey goodnesss. Thanks!!

2008-03-04T20:25:00.002-05:00

These lovely mitts were sent to me by Margaret. Thanks so much. I love them and my fingers now feel guilt so they have powered through a mitten design in one weekend. Check out the whole package at my blog.

Check-in for week of 3/1 to 3/7

2008-03-01T08:06:00.003-05:00

Please check in here with a comment on your status.

Thanks everyone! I will be looking at the list of who may need to be dropped from the swap and rematching partners if that needs to happen. If you are affected, I will let you know.

You will not need to start over on your mittens if your downstream is removed from the swap. You will just send them on to your new downstram who "should" be grateful for whatever they receive since they almost got nothing before I removed their upstream. :)

I hope everyone thinks this is ok. If you have a better suggestion please let me know in your comment.

*edited to add *
I just looked at the list and nobody needs to be removed. PHEW!!! I did NOT want to do that!

Totally Blessed

2008-02-27T10:32:00.002-05:00

I am the lucky person who received Christine's amazing package she wrote about yesterday. I wrote about it on my blog today. Thank you so much, Christine.

Mittens done

2008-02-26T21:42:00.003-05:00

Chipman's Block by Robin Hanson

Cascade 220 Superwash - purple

Cascade Quatro - green, purple, fuschia, ?

I sent the rest of the yarn off to my mitten recipient, in case she wanted to make a headband or something. Since she is into weaving, I sent a weaving book. The shop I went to said that the book had only been out for two weeks and thus the likelihood of her already having it were minimal. I also saw some weaving thread that reminded me of the mittens and the picture on the cover of the book.

DH and I went with our kids to the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA and the kids loved the hands on origami exhibit. So I sent origami papers and where to find the video of the origami. My mitten pal has 5 homeschooled kids, so I thought this would be an interesting activity for them. I hope she likes the mitts. It was an interesting experience.

I got my Package from Knitamaniac!!!!!

2008-02-26T15:47:00.006-05:00

OMG it is wonderful, I got not one pair but 2 pairs of mittens, one with no fingers, aren't they just perfect? Since I am a California gal, and one for when I go up to my cabin in the mts. :) Then Knitamaniac sent me lots of yummy yarn, a pattern, so many hooks that I have not ever tried.. Oh my...I am so anxious to try them, hand creams, Susan Bates circular hooks, stitch counters, stitch holders, hook stoppers, oh so much that she deserves an award!! Please do check out my blog for more photos of this wonderful package...I was so happy to get it and she ahs been a wonderful swapping partner.. Koodles to Knitamaniac!!!!!! Thank you .....

A Long Overdue Thanks to Irene!

2008-02-26T11:14:00.004-05:00

Just the day before I left for a week and a half taking care of my Dad in Florida, I received my amazing swap package from Irene. I'm finally home and getting a chance to post about my mittens. Let me just say, she sets the bar pretty high for swap pals everywhere!

The mittens are beautiful and the package was chock full of wonderful goodies. She reeaaally spoiled me. Here's a quick look at my mittens, and there's more over on my BLOG.

Progress Finally

2008-02-25T11:20:00.004-05:00

Progress finally on pattern #3. The first mitten is actually almost completely done. The pattern is easy to memorize and the yarn is working out perfectly this time.

Now to start mitten #2. And I need to stay away from embroidery since it is calling me.

Check in for the week of 2/23 - 2/29

2008-02-23T10:05:00.002-05:00

Please check in here for this week. Remember that if you did not post to check in last week and also miss this week you will be removed from the swap and banned from all future swaps. Please don't make me do that! (I love you all and am so glad you are all here playing with me, I just can't stand for flakers)

Remember to contact your downstream pals too so they know you are still with them.

Thanks everyone!

New Rule - Please check in here on this post

2008-02-22T23:14:00.002-05:00

***added 2/23 I have 6 people who did not check in for this week. Please make sure you check in on the new one above , if you were one of those people.

I am sorry to have to do this but I am going to have to have mandatory check ins here once per week.

Please post a comment here to let me know you are still with us and knitting away. I will post another message each weekend for you to comment on.

If you miss 2 check ins, you will be removed from the swap.

Thanks everybody!!

*edited to add 2/18
Thanks for checking in everyone. I have 13 people left to check in.

FYI - nobody in this swap has done anything wrong. I am having some problems wrapping up the first round and have some people who have fallen off of the face of the earth. I wanted to head this off early in this round by making sure myself that everyone is still here.

If anyone feels led, and wants to angel for the past round (even if you did not participate), please let me know. It would be greatly appreciated! (a couple girls in this round still haven't gotten mittens from the last round).

Please also remember to email or send an e-card or something to your partners once per week so that they know you are still there. I have gotten one concerned email telling me that she has not been contacted in 2 weeks. It would be a great idea to set a reminder on a computer calendar (I use outlook) to come check in here once per week and send an email to your partner. I know time gets away from me too, so this is what I do for every swap I join.

Thanks!

almost there!

2008-02-21T14:46:00.004-05:00

This one turned out better. Hope she likes them!

I'm halfway through the second mitten. It's a fun pattern - it's the free Interweave White Witch pattern. I used grays and purples.

One Down...

2008-02-20T14:19:00.001-05:00

... one to go!

In The Mail

2008-02-19T15:44:00.002-05:00

My box of goodies went out to my swap partner today. I sure hope she likes everything.

Gail

Making Progress

2008-02-15T08:40:00.002-05:00

I'm almost done with mitten #2 for my pal. Woot! I'm waiting for one more little goodie to tuck into her care package, which should be here in the next week, so I'm hoping to have the mittens finished by the time it arrives and can send everything out before long.

Hope everyone is staying warm. We've had more snow (yet, again, still.... it's been a long winter) here in Salt Lake.

:) Anne

Mittens Underway

2008-02-14T15:47:00.004-05:00

Hi all!

I've been pretty busy and haven't posted here until today, but I have been working on my pal's mittens. I'm making SpillyJane's Sea Mineral Mittens with Knit Picks "Palette," and I'm using my own color combination.

I used my little kaleidescope to help choose the colors, and managed to get a couple photos through the eyepiece.

Here are the yarns I ended up choosing:

They remind me of shells on the sand at the beach where I grew up.
I'm just past the thumb on the first mitten. I like the colors; though they aren't my own favorites, I believe my pal will like them.

Here is a closeup of the cuff.

Please be honest, let me know what you think!

One Set completed

2008-02-14T12:52:00.002-05:00

One set I am making is finished. I decide my swap partner was getting two pairs since I can not make up my mind which ones I like best!

My progress

2008-02-13T18:51:00.002-05:00

I've knitted almost all the way to the top of my first mitten. I put it on a holder for reasons I am not going to divulge and cast on for my second one.

hmmmmm I wonder what I am going to do.....

More Changed Plans

2008-02-13T14:01:00.002-05:00

I have changed from my original plan as well. I was so excited...I knew exactly the pattern I wanted to knit; it fit perfectly with the likes of my swap recipient; I had most of the colors on hand (only needed to order and wait for one). That yarn arrived about a week ago and I started right in. Shoot ;( The colors and pattern are amazing...gauge was not! I couldn't get gauge on the thing no matter how far down I went in needle size and the pattern was fussy enough that I didn't want to try to change number of stitches while under a deadline. Hmmm, then I remembered another pattern I had been wanting to try that also could use the yarn/colors I had already selected.

I love it! It is knitting up nicely, receiving lots of compliments from my knitting friends...I hope its new owner will love it as well. I am already planning a different color combination to knit up for myself when this one is done! I might get a chance to post progress pictures some time this week.

I also wanted to say that I have the best swap giver! I still have no clue who she is, but she sends me a little note or comment on my blog about once a week and they are always so sweet. I can't wait to find out who she is (grin) We have been getting so much snow and cold weather here in Michigan, that working on mittens has been a real treat.

Best ,aid Plans

2008-02-08T15:43:00.000-05:00

Well, I was ready to cast on now that I finally have new yarn but I just found a new pattern I want to use instead. It is actually a new cable pattern that I want to incorporate into the pattern I chose. I just need to sit down and make sure the cable will work instead of the one the pattern called for. I am going to take both patterns with me to stitch group tomorrow and go early so I can sit down and figure it out. Than it will be tie to cast on Sunday.

Look AT These

2008-02-06T23:22:00.000-05:00

Have you all seen this

Progress Update

2008-02-05T16:44:00.000-05:00

I frogged what I was doing as I was not pleased with the coloring, here it is redone and I am loving it. It is Daina in KP Palette yarn...I have never used this before. It is surprisingly soft and I will use it again. This is a very accurate color pic and the pattern works quickly....

Vote: keep or frog?

2008-02-04T23:09:00.000-05:00

Here's the progress to date on this pair of mittens. So far, I'm through the first mitt part of the first mitten. I still need to knit and add the flip top portion of the mitten. The design is based heavily on the Spookey Armwarmers pattern, but gauge, construction and stitch pattern are all my own. (Once I realized the cable pattern wasn't charted, I improvised and came up with this.)

I'm not sure if I like them or not. Hubby, when pressed, mentioned, "Well, they're really not the most beautiful thing you've knit, but they're not ugly.". Personally, I think they're bulky and the thumb stinks. I'm wondering if I should continue or not. The fit is good, and I think they're growing on me, but I could use a second opinion.

Let me know what you think! Vote here. Be brutally honest. These were a quick weekend knit and I'd rather pull them out than send along ugly mittens!

Progress....or not?

2008-02-04T22:53:00.000-05:00

I just posted a lengthy post on my blog about my lack of mitten love. It's sad. Or maybe it's just me. But I've got total ennui for these mittens. I'd love for someone else to peek at the pics and tell me what you think. Or maybe I'm just talking myself into starting over on another pair! Yikes...

Thanks so much pal

2008-02-04T15:52:00.000-05:00

My pal sent me a little something to keep my hands warm while knitting or typing. I love them and really have not taken them off for too long since they popped into the mail slot. Thank you so much.

Progress!

2008-02-04T12:42:00.000-05:00

I made a small mistake on one row and made it up on the next...I REALLY hope that won't show. It doesn't look like it. I post to my Golden Oasis and then I forget I should let everyone know here!

I am almost done the first one.

2008-02-03T19:12:00.000-05:00

I am at the decrease of the first mitten and it seems to be going well. I had to frog them when I started the black and aqua part as I was not using stitch markers(duh) and was mixing up the repeat. It is much easier with them in place. I was using pieces of yarn at first, then my friend bought me some lovely stitch markers for my birthday and they are much nicer than the yarn pieces

My swap mittens are done!

2008-02-02T22:44:00.000-05:00

I've finished making my partner's mittens. I've got most of the goodies together... I'm going to finish getting the yarn together on Monday and hopefully get it in the mail pronto! I've posted the pics of the completed pair on ravelry. No one's given them any hearts, so now I'm worried she won't like the them. I think they're pretty and unique and I'll be sending them out anyway with my fingers crossed! lol

p.s. I figured how to post a picture to the blog! yippee!

doubting my own work

2008-02-01T10:41:00.000-05:00

OK so I know this is supposed to be the year of fearless knitting, blah blah blah. But I am really seriously doubting my work. When I started I had this fabulous idea for mittens, but now I'm just not sure if the colors are working with the pattern, or if the pattern is what I want at all.

Kids are home for a snow day today, and I'm home grumbling over my knitting. I really do want to design fearlessly. Why do doubts always overwhelm what I want to do?

Have yarn. Need a moment of peace

2008-01-31T16:28:00.000-05:00

I picked out this fiery red yarn to warm the soul and to knit during Project Spectrum for my pal. I have an idea of what I am going to be doing. I just have to be able to have some time to sit and sketch in peace.

New Yarn

2008-01-31T12:00:00.000-05:00

Well after starting my pattern, I realized that the yarn I had picked just wasn't working. The yarn and the pattern were fighting each other. So after a quick call to my favorite LYS yesterday, I headed over to pick out a new yarn. My LYS owner had the perfect yarn in m ind even before she saw that pattern I had picked out. She loves the pattern I am using and wants a copy of it for herself. So I will be recasting on this weekend with the new yarn.

Still in design phase.....

2008-01-30T14:40:00.001-05:00

I went to the library on Monday and checked out several terrific knitting books that are out of print; I am looking for an interesting gansey/guernsey sweater pattern to make for a couple of kids, and what did I find? Food for thought for a wonderful pair of mittens! Hmmmm, I may end up with a brand new design for my partner after all......

But I will get these done by the deadline - I will, I will I willl!

I figured out the braid!

2008-01-29T20:46:00.000-05:00

I am (trying) to knit the Bird in Hand mittens for my pal. But trying to knit the braid in the contrast color. And I figured out how to do it! I posted (written) step by step instructions on my blog if anyone else wants to do the same thing. Although I'll freely admit that I did this so that I could remember how once I got to the second mitten. If anyone is truly interested and the written instructions don't make sense, let me know. I'll post step by step pics on the second mitten if requested.

Oh, I feel so much better about the mitten now! The color is a bit off due to lack of indoor lighting and being shot on my table. And the contrast rows near the bottom of the mitten are the picot hem turning rows.

Progress update -argh!

2008-01-29T10:53:00.000-05:00

So, I'm about halfway through mitten #2. My wrists are sore because it's a tight knit. I checked against the other mitten, and it's significantly smaller! I always seem to tighten up on my second mitten. Argh. Time to rip back and switch to bigger needles, or keep saying "relax, think big" as I knit...

We have yarn - finally.

2008-01-29T10:37:00.000-05:00

I think the yarn design for this project is done. I dyed up two more skeins of fingering weight yarn yesterday to make the bulk of the mittens. Depending upon how all three play together, I may omit the hand spun....we'll see how it goes.

Pictured are two, 4 ounce skeins of 50% merino/50% tencel yarn. One is a really deep, solid salmon coral. The other is hand painted in several shades of light coral, orange-coral, pink-coral, and intense salmon. I'll carry these together to achieve a worsted weight yarn with slight variegation. Hopefully, it will look nice with the hand spun. I have yet to figure out exactly how to combine the three together for a cohesive look, but I think that will come together as I proceed through the actual design phase.

Current design elements:

* Removeable (via buttons) flip top mitten - hand spun

* Cabled fingerless mitt, with full thumb - hand dyed

* Cuff accent - hand spun

Off to check out how the poll results came out....now I've got stitches to put together!

~katie

Progress!

2008-01-28T14:59:00.000-05:00

I am happily knitting away on #1 of the pair; I just have the patterned thumb left to do. I sort of agonized over the pattern and yarn and colors (I'm probably not alone here either with that......), but now that I am moving along on it, I am not only enjoying the knitting, but the finished project is going to be really nice too!

Deb: I will be MIA for a week or so since we are travelling and I'm not sure I will have access to a computer or the ability to post until we get home.

Hope everyone is staying warm!

Moving Right Along

2008-01-27T23:09:00.000-05:00

After several false starts and a horrid tension problem, I seem to have finally hit the groove.

It's a little out of focus because I was trying to keep the cats off the project while taking the picture. Their little kitty brains were just amazed at the fact that there was yarn, and needles, and markers, oh my! And the color has been removed, just in case someone recognizes her favorites.

I'm loving the Wildfoote yarn. I've used it before for baby socks, and I guess those projects just weren't big enough to really appreciate the yarn. These puppies have been tinked, ripped, and laddered down for corrections and the yarn is holding up beautifully.

Progress Update

2008-01-27T22:15:00.000-05:00

I just posted a (frustrated) update onto my blog. For the latest attempt, stop on by!

Yarn is done! .....mostly

2008-01-27T21:15:00.000-05:00

I finished up spinning my mitten yarn tonight. It's beautiful - the colors are right, it's got a hint of sheen, and a lot of depth. The only slight problem is that I didn't record the dye recipe for the component colors and I'm not going to have enough. Oi. That's what I get for constructing the yarn without notes! If I'd written it down instead of whirlwinding my way through and inspiring dye session, I'd be just fine. So now, I'm designing more.

I'm pretty sure that I'm going to dye up a hank of worsted weight merino/silk blend yarn a deep coral color. Deeper than the handspun. It should be pretty close weight wise to the handspun..... I'll use the commercially spun yarn for the main body of the mitts - and then construct the flip tops from the handspun yarn.

It looks good in my head. I'll keep you posted. I still have to swatch the handspun. So much for the beautiful merino/tencel blend. It's gorgeous, and amazingly soft. However I didn't account for how much more the tencel weighs compared to the merino and just didn't get the kind of yardage I anticipated based on the original weight of the fiber.

175 yards - 5.2 ounces - 3 ply. 50% merino wool / 50% tencel (rayon):

Well I have started

2008-01-27T11:43:00.000-05:00

Well I have started my mittens for the exchange and they seem to be going well, which is always a concern for me, I have only had to frog one row. I chose the pattern tiffany from knitty, then realized it is in you mitten pattern link. It is difficult here to get a variety of yarn as we only have one wool store, which is not the greatest and Walmart to choose from. I did have some nice wool in my stash to make the mitts and then I am going to go to the local Alpaca farm Misty Haven and see what she has to add to my package. I hope she has received a recent shipment. She also sells beautiful alpaca sock yarn there as well as finished products. I will post a picture of my progress later when I get more of the mitt done
Bye

A suggestion....

2008-01-26T20:55:00.000-05:00

I was over at the 1st "No More Humdrum Mittens swap" website, and I saw that several people had yet to receive their mittens and I am wondering if it should be required that swappers add delivery confirmation to their packages? I don't know what international swappers do, but in the US, it might help more folks receive their mittens....

As far as my mitten progress goes, I am still tryna decide what pattern to make and which colors. I really want to "wow" my swap pal.......

Best-laid plans

2008-01-26T13:35:00.000-05:00

I got excited about the mitten swap before getting my partner, and got about half-way through a mitten. Then I discovered my giftee doesn't like the kind of pattern I chose. Oh well, lucky Mom. Now I've gotten interlibrary loans of all sorts of Baltic and Scandinavian patterns, and am planning to design an amalgam pattern. Also finally recieved lots of new yarn. Looks like I can make something at 9 or 10/inch if I want to, giving such a range of motifs. And then I saw those twisted stitch mittens on our patterns page...decisions, decisions. I love two-color cabling. Hmmm....

Are you on Ravelry?

2008-01-25T20:28:00.000-05:00

If so, can you help?

I was nominated for a Bobby Award for funniest Ravatar ("I knit so I do not kill people" - YES I am knitiot).

I am in the lead, right now, but the margin is slim.

If you think it's funny can you please go on over and click on agree under my Ravatar? It's number 45 at http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/the-bobbys/63865/26-50

If you already have, THANKS SO MUCH!!!

(I would be so happy to win this title!!!)

Making progress

2008-01-25T09:50:00.000-05:00

My hands have stopped hurting. I'm not sure if it is overuse (knitting and computer) or the beginnings of arthritis. I'm going next week to get the results of my bloodwork to determine whether it is the latter.

Meanwhile I did pick a pattern, simple but multi-colored. I'm up to the top decreases of mitten #1 and I've knit the cuff of mitt #2.

My son has been sick all week. Stomach cramps, chills, 102 degree Farenheit fever.

WOW

2008-01-25T08:47:00.000-05:00

You guys are flying along, I have started and finished cuff number 1, will post a progress pic next week. I went with something simpler this time, well in my mind anyways....can't wait to see pics of all...

sick

2008-01-24T19:00:00.001-05:00

Not posting or knitting. Sick. Ick.

Still in the design phase

2008-01-24T12:40:00.000-05:00

I am astounded by the progress some of you are making! Wow - truly impressive! I'm still designing. I have several design elements in place:

Pattern: will be a cabled, flip top mitten. I'm still deciding on the cable pattern, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to start with a fingerless mitt pattern and design the flip top myself. Design elements I like include:

Patterns
Spooky Cabled Armwarmers: ravelry link here.
Nancy K (sans buttons): ravelry link here.
Twisted Maiden: ravelry link here.

Yarn
I want to use a yarn that's similar to Rio De La Plata Twist or their Multicolor sock yarn - where each ply is spun from a different solid color fiber or multicolor fiber. But since they don't have the shade I need, and I both dye and spin, I've opted to create the yarn from the roving up.

I've settled on three different versions of a salmon/coral color, and the idea is that each of the three component colors are slightly different than the intended final shade. Each ply will be a different color. When you put all three together they should create a marl type yarn that is the correct color. We'll see how I do. I dyed 1.5 ounces of three different colored fibers yesterday, and I'll start spinning today. Two colors are still drying, but here's a photo of the lightest and most orange shade. All plies are dyed on a superwash merino/tencel blend roving. The yarn should be easy to care for, very soft with a hint of sheen. The color is slightly lighter than actual.

So vote for your favorite cable pattern above, as I'll be starting to knit shortly!

~katie

Steady Progress

2008-01-23T21:20:00.000-05:00

Finished the cuff on mitten #2, now started on the thumb gusset... Making steady progress. I would have had more, but I was flat on my back with the flu for the weekend. Blech.

Don't know about you all, but I always knit both mittens straight through, then go back and do the thumbs.

moving along...

2008-01-23T16:54:00.000-05:00

I got the pattern. Bought the yarn yesterday. Working on the 2nd mitten right now. I'm hoping to send the package out next week. Here's the 1st mitten:

Poll: Love or Hate?

2008-01-23T15:48:00.000-05:00

I was thinking of making poetry mittens, inspired by the January/February 2008 Piecework cover mittens. I charted a pal-specific verse and swatched (my own name, how immodest). Then I thought of Robert Mitchum in The Night of the Hunter (eek).

So let me seek group wisdom through a poll – please vote and feel free to comment here or on my blog. Thanks!

Should the mittens stay or go?
	It's not beautiful. Rework them - you'll feel better!
	It's a keeper....you're just overly sensitive.
	I have another opinion: be sure to detail it in the comments!

Free polls from Pollhost.com

Which pattern do you like best?
	Spooky Cabled Armwarmers
	Nancy K
	Twisted Maiden Armwarmers

Free polls from Pollhost.com

Do you like poetry mittens?
	Yes!
	No!
	Whatever
	Dunno
	Other

Free polls from Pollhost.com