A cold and damp weekend here in London. Rather non-eventful in the photo stakes, although the children still manage to find interest in the small things.
I made some pasta sauce.
Josie made a calendar
and Sam spent some time with his beloved Age of Empires.
Exciting isn't it?
So, back to the knitting. Of course, you were all right, the first FO of 2006 is my first ever pair of gloves.
As you can see, I was pretty surprised that they turned out to fit. I had a bad experience with a Rowan glove pattern a few years ago - it all looked fine until I put them on and all the fingers were at strange angles. It was enough to put me off gloves for years. However, I bit the bullet and signed up for Nona's Peaceful Palms in an effort to force myself to face those fears.
Jill was right about the yarn - Koigu KPPPM, Shade P824 (or it could be 829, I can't read the writing properly). I chose the Progressive Gloves pattern from Interweave Knits Winter 2003. It's not so much a pattern as an explanation of how to work out how many stitches you will need for hand, thumb and each finger. Based on this, I cast on 60 stitches on 2.5mm needles. I followed the pattern pretty much as is, except that I did a 2x2 ribbed cuff for an inch and knitted to 5 inches before starting thumb shaping, as opposed to the 6 inches recommended in the pattern.
For a first effort, I am happy with how these have turned out. I found it hard to measure the finger length as I went along, especially as there was no thumb opening - the thumb stitches are knitted with waste yarn on the palm, which is then unravelled at the end and the stitches picked up. The main thing I would change next time would be to knit a thumb gusset before getting to the fingers as I think that would aid in accurate trying on and measuring. I also think that 60 stitches may be slightly too many; I would probably take it down to 56 for a slightly snugger fit. But other than that, the fit is good, the yarn is pretty and I have a pair of gloves that I will happily wear for the next couple of months. Thanks to Nona for organising the knitalong - I don't think I would have ever got around to trying gloves otherwise.
Will I do any more pairs? Well, my sister was very taken with them - she thinks they look like a tortoiseshell cat. I estimate I used 1½ skeins of Koigu and I have 1½ left, so who knows? Will gloves be the new socks? erm, no...not at the Wool Palace anyway.
those gloves are gorgeous... but socks are more practical than gloves... but I lose gloves more than socks ... but I have perpetual cold feet ... but i also have perpetual cold hands....
Well nonetheless what a great start to the new year
Posted by: atu | January 08, 2006 at 07:14 PM
I love the gloves! All those fingers have always intimidated me...
Posted by: Chris | January 08, 2006 at 07:24 PM
I have made quite a lot of gloves - but not recently. My mother used to churn them out every winter, in 4 ply yarn, no pattern, used up odd bits of different yarn for the cuff and sometimes the thumb. I prefer them with a thumb gusset, and knitting the thumb straight away. Were yours done on 4 needles - Mother and I just used two, with a side seam.
Posted by: Jill | January 08, 2006 at 07:57 PM
I love the gloves. Then again I am partial to koigu. Seeing yours is an inpsiration to maybe knit some? But then again, I am not allowed to start any new projects till I get my one sweater done *sigh* OH the trauma of seeing someone else knit something awesome!
Posted by: Morgan | January 08, 2006 at 08:10 PM
gorgeous kitty gloves! welldone! i'm supposed to be trying my first pair for nona's KAL too, but time is running out...
Posted by: anna | January 08, 2006 at 08:35 PM
Classy gloves too and what a lovely way to be able to admire Koigu at all times!
Posted by: Tracy | January 08, 2006 at 08:54 PM
I dunno, between you and Tracy, it's socks, socks, socks!
I quite like the idea of gloves, and have some koigu - did you use two skeins or three?
My grown up boy has been spending long hours on Age of Empires as well. I couldn't get on the computer ALL day! We have III to play after this one gets boring. You can get addons as well you know.
Dawn:)
Posted by: dawn | January 09, 2006 at 12:16 AM
Well done for conquering the Glove Phobia - now if only I could conquer the Garment phobia
Posted by: Donyale | January 09, 2006 at 07:45 AM
If you have 1 1/2 skeins left you could make ME a pair of cat-gloves to perfect your technique! Just a thought.
Posted by: Naomi | January 09, 2006 at 02:26 PM
Beautiful colours in those gloves!
Posted by: Mary deB | January 10, 2006 at 12:23 PM
The gloves look lovely. I do know what you mean though. Once done, you not particularly keen to go back there again! Now I have fingerless mitts and flip top ones I figure I can get away with making any more proper fingered ones for quite a while ;)
Posted by: RoxyKnits | January 10, 2006 at 06:37 PM
Love the calendar!
Posted by: Julia | January 25, 2006 at 11:52 AM
The gloves are definitely beautiful. I love them. I'm working on the icord gloves now in Koigu KPPM. The colors are fun to work with too.
Posted by: Wanda | January 25, 2006 at 12:52 PM