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| A Ravelry Group |
Note: As the Canadian Thanksgiving approaches, so do the first round of midterms for fall semester. My frequency of blog posts will be reduced until Monday, October 13th, but I'll also be releasing some special new content that week so keep your eyes peeled.
Mischievous Mittens
This week I was dead set on finishing a pair of mittens with James Brett's Marble DK, one of my favorite yarns to date. I planned on using these mittens to create an Etsy listing for made-to-order* mittens of varying sizes which would be ready to ship within a week of purchase. This pattern took a little trial and error because the pattern by Lionbrand calls for a bulky, 12 ply yarn and my Marble double knit yarn is only 8 ply. According to Ravelry's yarn database, that's a size difference of about 64%**.
I started my mittens using a mix of the two largest pattern sizes (adult medium and large) and, as you might imagine, I ended up with a beautiful but child-sized mitten. The second mitten of the pair will be finished this week now that I've settled on how to use the pattern and yarn combined, and shortly there-after will be listed on my Etsy shop. These are the most challenging items I've made to date, but they are so beautiful and so worth it!
I don't think I can time-efficiently edit the pattern to make the mittens actual adult sizes with this 8 ply yarn, so I will list these particular mittens as ready-to-ship instead of made-to-order. My made-to-order mittens will have to wait until I pick up some bulkier yarn.
A (W)holey Useful Stitch
The pattern also made use of the single crochet two together (sc2tog) stitch which was extremely easy to pick up; it just required a quick Google. While beginner patterns may not require much shaping, the stitch is simple enough for any beginner who can create a slip knot, chain (ch) stitch, single crochet (sc), and finish off their own work.
This is a stitch used for shaping, specifically to decrease the size of your row to make the item smaller. A problem I encountered from using this stitch was that it left large holes in comparison to any of the foundation stitches. I remedied this as much as possible by weaving in the tails at these locations (wrist, tip of thumb, tip of mitten) instead of using them to sew up the side like the pattern instructed.
YoP 14 - 15 List Updates
Most recent changes are highlightedAccessories 0/5
Fingerless Gloves 0/1
Miomi Slouch Hat 0/1
Silk & Lace Purse 0/1
Mittens (Pattern one, pattern two) 0.5/2
New Techniques 1/10
Magic Ring
Single Crochet Foundation
Picot
Clusters Lover's Knot
Cables
V Stitch
Broomstick Lace
Cro-Hook
Crochet Button
Stats
Objects Started: 1
Objects Finished: 0
Objects on Original List: 14
Objects on Current List: 14
Techniques Started: 1
Techniques Finished: 1
Techniques on Original List: 9
Techniques on Current List: 10
My entire Year of Projects list for 2014 - 2015 can be found on this page.
*Made-to-order is a term used to indicate that the product is not created until ordered by the customer, and therefore processing times include the time it requires to make the product. This is opposed to ready-to-ship items, which can be sent out immediately upon purchase because they are pre-made.
**Lionbrand Homespun gauges at 14 stitches for 4 inches. James Brett Marble DK gauges at 22 stitches for 4 inches. (14 stitches / 22 stitches) x 100% = 63.63%
Love the neutrals and the way the grey cuff and palm transition into natural colour fingers :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, it's all in the yarn!
DeleteThose mittens are gorgeous, love the cool shades of grey in them, have you tried an invisible decrease of sc2tog I find it works for a decrease for me without leaving a whole to be filled in, it may or may not work for you here but thought I'd mention it anyway. I use it in the amigurumi's I design as it doesn't leave a whole for stuffing to peek out.
ReplyDeleteOoh, I had not heard of invisible decreases. You are a life saver, I'll definitely be checking that out before I make the other mitten. I haven't made any amigurumi yet but it's on my to-do list.
DeleteLovely mitten, such a great colour.
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeleteReally love those mittens, both the colour and the pattern - you know, it had never occurred to me that you could crochet mittens. I've got to do that!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, you've got to give it a try, it's so rewarding when you finish and they're not terribly difficult.. if you're smarter than me and pick an appropriate yarn for your pattern!
Delete