self-designed mittens, take two

Posted on | December 14, 2007 | 9 Comments

I thought I’d see how the same design knit up in two highly contrasting colors – deep purple and pale, pale green.

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My ribbing technique improved quite a bit and the braid is definitely more eye-catching.

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You can SEE the pattern, but I’m not sure that I like it.  I think it’s too busy and I should’ve made the purple the more dominant color.  I may keep knitting it, for practice, and then flip the colors on the second mitten and see what it looks like.  Or I may just start over with a new pattern and new colors!

One thing that won’t change is this:

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These little checks make me happy.

Does anyone know how much Silky Wool stretches as it’s worn/washed?  These mittens are pretty tight, but I’m thinking the silk content will cause them to loosen up with wear. 

Meanwhile, the other mitten is hanging out on a spare needle and I’ll wait until I’ve tweaked the pattern into acceptance before I start again with those colors, because I really do love the blue and brown together.  Thanks to everyone who weighed in, and thanks to Adrian for her very helpful charts!

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Comments

9 Responses to “self-designed mittens, take two”

  1. Carrie
    December 14th, 2007 @ 11:58 am

    The checks are too cute. Love them! I think you’re right about the top though – seems like there’s a little too much happening there.

  2. Paula
    December 14th, 2007 @ 12:30 pm

    Those are nice, especially the checks.

  3. Tonia
    December 14th, 2007 @ 1:43 pm

    Love the checks and the braid, but the one from the other day is still my favorite color wise.

  4. margene
    December 14th, 2007 @ 4:58 pm

    Silky wool doesn’t give much in with wearing…maybe just a tiny touch. The checks are very cool!

  5. Miss Scarlett
    December 15th, 2007 @ 2:25 am

    I really like these colours together. The checks are awesome – and the braid (thanks for the instructions).

    I think you are right – a little too much going on though on the top (what is that part of your hand called? the opposite of the palm…?)

    How fun to be designing your own pattern – and what a learning experience. You are so patient – it’s going to be worth it in the end.

  6. Sarah
    December 15th, 2007 @ 11:35 am

    As I recall, you can block out Silky Wool a little bit, but if you throw it in the washer and dryer it only shrinks a itty bitty bit and gets a nice halo. (I threw caution to the wind and tossed a sweater in — nothing bad happened.) I would think that since gloves might be stretched a bit more aggressively than a sweater, the silk will eventually allow them to grow a little bit.

  7. Leah
    December 16th, 2007 @ 9:33 am

    I love those checks on the palm!!!

    The colors are awesome together though I think you are right about the top being a bit too busy. I can’t wait to see how you change it!

  8. Tonni
    December 16th, 2007 @ 10:19 am

    The colors are wonderful together… i love the little braid around – how do you do that?

  9. kmkat
    December 16th, 2007 @ 4:29 pm

    Cuff, braid, checks = all very, very cool. Pattern on back of hand = yup, a little too busy, would be better with dark as dominant color.

    Does it actually get cold enough where you are to wear mittens? Although EL silky wool maybe isn’t as thermally efficient as a fluffy worsted…