Thank you so much for all the nice comments on the Tomten Jacket. It’s a good feeling when you finish up a project and others love it as much as you do! Since finishing I’ve started on my Icarus Shawl and it hasn’t been an easy transition. I was very comfortable with the yarn, the techniques, and knitting the Tomten, now I feel like I’m in a whole new world and I’m finding myself very unsure of my knitting skills. Lace weight yarn is SO thin. I’ve knit with fingering weight before, and at the time I thought that was thin, but this is stuff is insane. With the new yarn and new needles I feel very clumsy. I bought some of the Knit Picks Metal Options fixed circulars in a size 3, and they sure are slick! I’m not so used to knitting with metal needles, and I mostly use my Denise set or bamboo DPNs. At this point I’m feeling pretty insecure and it hasn’t made the knitting super enjoyable so far.
Last night I decided to start on an easier project to mix it up a bit, and also get a jump on holiday knitting. I chose some yarn from my stash, Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed, and started on a pair of Dashing mitts for my husband, Kenny. Isn’t he lucky? He’s also getting that great scarf Grace is making, and if all goes as planned a couple of other things from me :) I’d been wanting to make this pattern for awhile, and thought it would be a fun chance to try out my Clover Mini-Circulars
that I’ve had for over a year now. I bought a couple pairs of these little plastic 8” circulars before I was used to using DPNs, but I never got an opportunity to use them. The one I’m using is stamped as a size 8, but my needle gauge says it’s a 7 so I decided to go with it. The first row was a bit awkward and difficult, but after that I was able to move at a pretty quick pace.
I have about 10 rounds before placing the thumb stitches on waste yarn and the glove is already seems quite long. My row gauge is right on so I guess these are just intended to be really long! I’m thinking about taking out some rows at this point and maybe some after the thumb too to fit my taste a little more. Have any of you out there made Dashing? Did the length turn out okay? I’m just a little apprehensive I guess since I won’t be able to try them on Kenny to check the fit since they’re going to be a gift!
Comments
Hey, when I first did lace I found it really complicated too. Then my friend gave me this tip. Try using bigger yarn and bigger needles to get used to the technique (I did knitty's branching out with patons sws). That helps you feel really comfortable with the technique. Then, try making anything (even just a really big gauge swatch) in stockinette with the laceweight and needles. I know it sounds tedious... but when you put it all together, and try lace with lace weight yarn, it feels so much more comfortable! :)
I really like the Addi Turbo Lace needles for knitting lace. They brass finish is more "grippy" than the Knit Picks Options and the pointier tip is good for lace decreasing. You might like them better for your lace project.
oh neat, I want to try out the mini circs!
Your Dashing mitt looks great so far! I haven't made them myself, so I can't help with the length...
I was also wondering about the length, as they seem really long. I went onto Ravelry so see what others who are making them were saying and found your blog. Are you going to leave them the length they call for? I am also making these as a gift for my brother, so I can't ask him to try them on to see how they fit! I guess I'll just "trust the pattern" and go with it. If he doesn't like the length, I can always make him another pair and take out one of the cable rounds and rows in between.
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