Knitting

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Mittnz 2009

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mittnz_2009_buttonThis year’s challenge goal for Cheyenne River Reservation will be 9 pairs of warm, wooly Mittnz. As always, emphasis is on warmth, so wool, superwash wool and other animal fibers are the fiber of first choice. Blends that are heavily animal are second choice, followed by the mainly synthetic blends (Wool Ease, Decor (on sale right now at Smiley’s) and Encore). For those unable to work with animal fibers, all synthetic works, but not cotton. Any color, and size. If you are planning wristers or fingerless mitts, be sure to pair them with a purchased pair of Magic Gloves, because the whole point is WARMTH!

Go here for more info: http://sheepshots.blogspot.com/2009/04/mittnz-again-its-time.html

Comments

  2. I live in Missoula Montana, and am seeing this on Etsy, the BEST site IN THE WORLD!!!! anyway…..i am going to try and get this done. this is an awsome thing you are doing, and i think EVERYONE should get some mittens made!! come on ladies, if you can’t sew on a machine, get out a needle and thread! children, teens, adults, elders, NOONE should suffer in cold…

Have you read?

Knit a Blanket with the Texture of a Ceiling

Knitwear designers can get inspiration from almost anything when it comes to re-creating a color scheme, an image or a texture in stitches. Sometimes the inspiration isn’t always obvious in the finished project, but sometimes it’s more literal. 

That’s the way it is with the Tin Ceiling Blanket from Purl Soho. Not just because the inspiration is in the name, but if you’ve ever seen one of these old ceilings you can see that the design of the blanket is quite similar to the pattern of the tin tiles. 

This is also a good example of the idea that you don’t have to use fancy stitch patterns or lots of color to make a big impact with your knits. This single-color blanket (designed by Gianna Mueller and inspired by a washcloth and towel set designed by Sandi Rosner) is made completely with knits and purls, other than slipped stitches at the beginning of rows to make neater edges. 

The pattern is written out row by row, but there’s also a chart, which means this project is a great opportunity to practice reading a chart where you can check your work against the written pattern if you need to. 

It comes in two sizes, a crib blanket and a throw. The yarn used in the sample is an organic cotton sold by the cone, which is a great way to get a large quantity of yarn and have fewer ends to weave in. In fact, you can knit either size of the blanket with just one cone of yarn, which isn’t inexpensive but makes you a great, sturdy, heirloom quality but still washable blanket you’ll use for years to come. (Of course you can use any sport weight yarn you like to make this blanket.)

Check out all the details and grab the free pattern from Purl Soho. 

[Photo: Purl Soho]