While I haven't succumbed to Mitten Mania, I am a little maniacal about this pair of mittens. I can also truly tell you that one on the hand (thumb, actually) is truly better than two in the bush, especially when one is playing in the snow!
Scooping up snow and trying to make a snowball can be a difficult proposition with the "greatest snow on earth". Utah snow is soft, fluffy and powdery and doesn't pack well. Making a snowman can be quite the challenge, but skiing conditions are pretty darn good. (Just be very careful in the back country, as we are prone to avalanches.) But, back to my very happy hands clad in warm and beautiful mittens...I couldn't love these mittens more!
Using worsted wool made a big mitten, bigger than most people could wear, but they fit me well (as luck would have it). They are thick and tightly knit which keeps the wool from absorbing much moisture (not that our snow is comprised of much moisture anyway).
As I said before, my mittens are far from perfectly knit, but the color, fit and warmth make me a very happy knitter. I'm satisfied with my below average ability, because the mittens are so pretty and soft. Blocking helped to even out the texture of the fabric and playing in the snow softened them more. What could be more fun than playing outdoors in such beautiful mittens, on a blue sky day, in the whitest of snow? Nothing!
Patterrn: Bird in the Hand Mittens by Kate Gilbert
Yarn: Cascade 220 - Blue 9468 White 8010
Needles: Bamboo DPNs #3
Time to Knit: 12-02-07 – 12-16-07
For KAL: Knitting Like a Latvian
Beautiful!
Posted by: Jennifer | December 18, 2007 at 07:14 AM
blue sky white snow join
from my own to my own Hands
Full grace skill beauty
happy playing in the snow; my son moved to Oklahoma city just before the big ice storm there; he says he has a new appreciation for snow because it is NOT ice...LOL..that from a native florida boy...tee hee; he's safe though it was worrysome
Posted by: marie in florida | December 18, 2007 at 07:14 AM
They are great!
Posted by: Lauren | December 18, 2007 at 07:24 AM
They look pretty darn good to me! What a fun time you had!
Posted by: Kim | December 18, 2007 at 07:28 AM
I think this may be one of my favorite things, out of all the many creations from your hands! You look gloriously happy playing in the new snow with your new mittens to keep your fingers warm and dry... there is STILL nothing that beats a good, worested weight wool mitten for the job!
Posted by: Birdsong | December 18, 2007 at 07:40 AM
They're gorgeous and the photos are so fun! I'm glad you said what you did about the size. I don't think they would fit my hands and I doubt I could go down to smaller needles with worsted weight. If I ever get around to making a pair, I might try a lighter weight yarn.
Posted by: Wool Winder | December 18, 2007 at 07:52 AM
What a gorgeous day, you look so warm and cosy with your mittens, hat and wrap.
Posted by: Anne B. | December 18, 2007 at 08:13 AM
Fantastic mittens - and it looks like it was another incredibly beautiful day at Silver Lake!
Posted by: Cheryl S. | December 18, 2007 at 08:20 AM
Absolutely gorgeous, despite your perception of imperfections. 'Nuff said!
Posted by: Teri S. | December 18, 2007 at 08:21 AM
I love them! I'd want to play in the snow every day just to wear them. :)
Posted by: Teresa C | December 18, 2007 at 08:26 AM
I think I have mitten-love. Yours are absolutely GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: CindyCindy | December 18, 2007 at 08:26 AM
That's the best pair I've seen yet!
Posted by: Lori | December 18, 2007 at 09:16 AM
Very nice -- the colors in the mitten match your snow and sky!
Posted by: Danielle | December 18, 2007 at 09:20 AM
They work, and they are beautiful. Congratulations on a big success.
Posted by: Tan | December 18, 2007 at 09:25 AM
Gorgeous - I am so inspired.
Posted by: Theresa | December 18, 2007 at 09:28 AM
Very, very pretty, your sky-colored mittens.
Posted by: Ruth | December 18, 2007 at 09:30 AM
They look great! I love that huge scarf you're wearing too!
Posted by: elizabeth | December 18, 2007 at 10:02 AM
I think they're just beautiful! Now I have to cast on for mine, I can't wait another minute.
Posted by: Cheryl | December 18, 2007 at 10:02 AM
Happy is better than perfect anyday. And cut it out with the 'below average ability' thing, wouldja? Those are beautiful mittens. Nothing below average about them, or you, at all.
Posted by: Rachel H | December 18, 2007 at 10:04 AM
Those look fab! As long as they work for you the imperfections are irrelevant. I really love the colors you chose. They just look like the day after a snowstorm - blue skies and snow covered ground. Perfect!
Posted by: Hillary | December 18, 2007 at 10:10 AM
They are lovely!!!
Posted by: Tonia | December 18, 2007 at 10:14 AM
Those mittens are perfect. And how cute are you in that picture where you are throwing the snow? So fun!
Posted by: Kara | December 18, 2007 at 10:31 AM
The blue yarn perfectly matches your beautiful Utah sky!!!
Posted by: Mia | December 18, 2007 at 10:36 AM
wonderful photo shoot - and I think the mittens look perfect! Congrats on yet another beautiful completion!
Posted by: Teyani | December 18, 2007 at 10:37 AM
OK, big leaf piles, throwing snowballs, can jumping in spring mud puddles be far behind? Love (!) the mittens. As for perfection, I like the way the leaves and flowers pop out on the fabric better than if your tension were perfectly even!
Posted by: Margaret | December 18, 2007 at 10:45 AM