Yes, it’s still chilly and I’m still knitting hand warmers!

I had three skeins of Mountain Colors 100% Superfine Cashmere in colorway Moose Creek that I have been hording since about 2006. What to do with 285 yards of seriously luxuriously (and expensive) yarn?

I’ve been pondering, lo, all this time. Perusing an Elsebeth Lavold book (Book #17, Small Things Matter) and seeing the Malin pattern for a cowl, my search was over!

Cashmere, yum!

I did a shorter version because I knew I would never pull it over my head for a hood and that left me one skein for some hand warmers.

Easy Lace Pattern

The lace pattern causes a collapse effect that is perfect for a cowl.

Plain palms for less snagging

Admittedly, I ran out of yarn and the last 1/2″ at the fingers and thumb is finished off in Shepherd’s Wool Fingering in Midnight Lake. It blended so well I decided I did not need to rip them out and do a re-do.

Shocked all my knitterly friends, that.

Little Fountain Lace Pattern

And I used a different lace pattern for these than was on the cowl. I found one that was similar but a smaller scale in my favorite pattern reference, 365 Knitting Stitches a Year Perpetual Calendar by Martingale Publishing (as usual, you can find this and other of my favorite books in my a-Store, click on My Book Store under the Pages section on the side bar). The pattern I chose for the hand warmers is called the Little Fountain Pattern and it’s on February 11.

So touchable!

I had to throw in one more picture of the cowl – it’s just so pretty and soft! 

Deb H

Raggy Ruffled Hand Warmers

Why does spring make me want to knit hand warmers? Because it’s not that warm yet and my hands are still cold!

Raggy Ruffles - cuff detail

I had so much fun knitting the raggy ruffled hands warmers I showed you previously, and the fact that every time I wear them people accost me wanting some too… I knit some more  I raided my stash of luscious fingering and sock weight yarns to find some that went together nicely. The yarns used were Claudia Handpainted fingering weight in Poppy,  Schaefer Anne, and two colors of SWT Tofutsie. Now, orange is not usually my color but I find I am liking it more and more. It must be that after a long Michigan winter I’m starved for color!

Raggy, Ruffled & Posh!

I started with the basic Martha Mitten pattern from Heritage Spinning & Weaving and then started to ad-lib, as it were. After having done this a couple of times in a similar vein, I knew it would be easier to pick up the stitches for adding the ruffles if I put in a row of purl stitches where I wanted the ruffles attached. This being the grand sum of my pre-planning, I knit into the fray.

Think Eliza Doolittle...

Decisions, decisions… how long to make them? Should they match exactly or should I mix it up a bit? Which color next?

Think Steampunk!

Beads? Let’s see.. a tiny bit of bling? That would be a big yes!

And to follow my latest rule of self -discipline, ahem, they are for my Etsy Shop. What’s my rule? If I make one for me, I have to make one for the shop (sweaters not included). We’ll see how long this lasts 

Deb H

Cushy Sweater Sass!

Last spring, just in time for warm weather, I finished a very warm winter sweater I dubbed my Cushy/Cozy Sweater. I then had to wait four months (short summers, long winters) for it to get cold enough to wear it. Now, this may seem a bit bass-works but it turned out to be a brilliant way for me to not dread winter quite so much. So this spring I’m on a hand-warmer knitting roll.

Cozy Hand-Warmers

A pair to wear with my cushy/cozy sweater next winter! It’s the same lovely yarn; Araunania Azapa 30% alpaca, 45% merino, 15% silk, and 10% donegal.

Cozy, cushy, soft, and warm!

At about 12-1/2 stitches over 4 inches, a very quick knit!

Ragggedy Ruffled Hand-warmers

Then you have to have some just for fun! Ages ago I knit some raggedy ruffled hand-warmers from some leftover bits of (mostly) worsted weight yarns and they turned out very cute and fun to wear.

Raggedy Hand-Warmers , the Sequel

I decided I needed another pair in leftover odd bits of sock yarn.

When Rags are Posh

I have nearly worn these out already as they just make me feel happy to wear them 

So, here we are, marching into spring and warm weather with winter wearables just new off the needles. But that’s me, the queen of good timing 

Deb H

]]> http://www.seaairarts.com/2010/04/13/warm-hands-cold-heart/feed/ 0 http://www.seaairarts.com/2009/05/09/more-cables/ http://www.seaairarts.com/2009/05/09/more-cables/#comments Sat, 09 May 2009 23:10:25 +0000 Sea Air Arts http://www.scarlet-zebra.com/?p=507 It seems I go for long periods without accomplishing much and then – boom! I finish several things in quick succession. That must apply to Blogging as well, three posts in one week – whoa!

Cashmere hand warmers

Here are a pair of cabled hand warmers I knit for my DD. She needed something to keep her hands warm while she types (she is a writer and types a lot) and they had to be fine enough to not impede her speed. She can get those fingers flying even on that old antique she loves so much!

Writer Girl with her new mitts

These were also a dream to knit on because the yarn is cashmere and silk; Richesse et Soie by Knit One, Crochet Too (which does not appear to be available anymore – oh, waily, waily, waily*)! Yes, she is spoiled. I am allowed to spoil her; my only kid, as she is a good one.

Long, warm and elegant

She is also moving 2500 miles away next week so I’m being a bit on the doting side at the moment.

Cable details

It’s a “Mom” thing, I’m allowed 

Deb H

* Just for you Terry Pratchett fans (I’m a huge one) who have read the Wee Free Men books.