I made the Give A Hoot mittens (link to .pdf pattern) last year – a pair for myself and a pair for the lovely AnnieB – and upon wearing them again recently I’ve discovered that my knitting tension clearly isn’t quite what it could be. See -

The mittens are designed in the Scandinavian style with a pointed top and are knitted in the round on double pointed needles. I admittedly find it difficult to avoid the ‘jog’ when moving between needles but have largely resolved this issue over the last few years of practicing with them, but these mittens have confounded me. I’m really not sure how I’ve ended up with such large gaps – it could admittedly be because these mittens are knit using aran weight yarn which is therefore going to highlight any minor error – but I’m thinking it’s more likely to have been my knitting technique, so I ask of all ye knitters out there. Do you have any suggestions of how to avoid this for next time?

Posted under knitting

I can’t help it. Since my last post I’ve developed a minor obsession with owls leading me to cast on these fantastic mittens. Want to hear something shocking? In over 20 years of knitting this is the first item I’ve made for myself. Annoyingly, I thought I had more of the yarn I cast on with so I’ve completed the first mitten and have had to start the second with a ball that went through the washing machine and had a bit of a kool aid accident. I’m hoping that since it was a 30degree wash the transferred dye won’t have set but I suspect I’ll be out of luck and will have to overdye the mittens. Bear in mind it’s not blocked yet and doesn’t have the eyes sewn on – here’s a taster for you.

I’ve also been searching Etsy and adding a whole load of owl-themed items to my favourites. I’m determined I’m going to buy The Owl and The Pussycat artwork, I just loved it as a child and it reminds me so much of a beautifully illustrated book that I had.

I’m also still working on a Jean Greenhowe Rainbow Baby but I’ve got somewhat bored after making and stuffing the body. Doesn’t this look a little creepy?



Other than that, I’m kicking back and taking it easy this week. Both the hubby and I are back to work tomorrow and we’re both trying to mentally prepare for it so I’m still in bed with my knitting, a big glass of water and season 3 of The West Wing. It’s going to be interesting getting the five of us out the door by 7.30am tomorrow but luckily I get to crawl back into bed for a little while. It’s a hard life

Posted under knitting