New Pattern: Fine Morning Mitts

Longer days and morning birdsong tell me spring is on its way. Naturally, my mind turns to knitting fresh accessories for spring — especially delicate lace in lighter weight yarns. With that in mind, I’ve designed the Fine Morning Mitts, a sweet pair of fingerless mitts perfect for spring.

Fine Morning Mitts by Bonnie Sennott

The pattern is live on Ravelry, where you can save 20% with the coupon code MITTS20, through Friday, March 6.

The Fine Morning Mitts feature a column of delicate lace at the outer edge of each hand, set off with simple stockinette stitch. They’re worked in the round on double-pointed needles with fingering weight yarn. For the sample, I used Hudson + West Co. Weld, a soft blend of merino and Corriedale wool in the Fawn colorway. One skein is more than enough for a pair; the two sizes require 135 (150) yds/125 (138) m fingering weight yarn.

You’ll find complete information on sizes, gauge, dimensions, and needles on the Fine Morning Mitts Ravelry pattern page.

In the past week, I’ve seen daffodils pushing up out of the ground and heard the cardinals singing their “purdy-purdy” song in the early mornings. Spring is almost here — I can’t wait! I really want to drop everything and cast on spring accessories. How about you?

Mitts Season

With morning temperatures falling below 40F, the season for fingerless mitts is at hand (sorry, couldn’t resist the pun!).

I confess, I love everything about fingerless mitts. They’re a great way to use single or partial skeins of yarn. They keep your hands and wrists warm but your fingers free. And, since they’re quick and easy to make, they’re ideal when a knitter needs instant gratification (always nice after a big project, like a Rhinebeck sweater). Plus, they’re terrific gifts!

I’ve just finished a pair of Indikon mitts, using handspun Cormo that I dyed with hickory nuts. I’m excited to wear them at Rhinebeck this weekend, because that’s where I originally got the fiber (from Springdelle Farm).

Indikon Mitts, by Bonnie Sennott

To celebrate mitts season, I’m having a pattern sale. All fingerless mitts patterns in my Ravelry store are 20% off with the coupon code MITTS20. Sale ends midnight EST on Tuesday, October 22.

The Indikon pattern provides instructions for two sizes. To make them, you’ll need 190 (225) yds/175 (205) m of sportweight yarn. They’re knit in the round on double-pointed needles. My handspun yarn was a little heavier than sport, but it worked just out fine. The textured stitches make these mitts especially warm and cozy.

Will you be at Rhinebeck? Are you knitting like mad to finish your Rhinebeck shawl or sweater? I’ve just got half a sleeve to go, so I feel pretty confident I’ll finish in time. I’m making the Green Leaf Pullover by Maureen Clark from At the Spinnery. Along with it, I’ll be wearing my new Catharus shawl (also in At the Spinnery). If you’re heading to Rhinebeck, be sure to stop by the Green Mountain Spinnery booth in Building 22D to see the book and the samples.

The weather forecast for Rhinebeck is looking perfect. Can’t wait!

LINKS
Indikon Mitts
Fingerless Mitts Sale
New York Sheep and Wool Festival

New Pattern: Con Brio Cowl

I enjoyed knitting this new cowl so much, I almost didn’t want to finish it. But — of course I did, and now the pattern’s ready for you to cast on and enjoy knitting, too.

Con Brio Cowl, by Bonnie Sennott

This light, airy lace cowl, worked in DK weight yarn, can be made in one of three sizes, ranging from 23 to 54 inches / 59-138 cm. It’s knit in the round, so there’s no seaming or grafting.

The Con Brio Cowl is on sale for 20% off on Ravelry. Use the coupon code BRIO20 to get the discount.

I made the largest of the three sizes, using Juniper Moon Farm’s Patagonia, a woolen-spun organic merino with a soft hand. I’m really impressed with its stitch definition and beautiful drape. One skein was more than enough for a swatch and the cowl.

When designing this cowl, I was inspired by my Con Brio Mitts, which have the same energetic, waving lace stitch. They’re my favorite spring mitts, and now I’m excited to have a matching cowl to wear with them. The two patterns can be purchased together in an ebook set, which you can pick up on Ravelry for just $8.

Con Brio Mitts, by Bonnie Sennott

The Con Brio Cowl sale continues through Wednesday, April 24. Thanks for reading, and happy spring knitting!

Sale Ends Tonight!

Snow is falling on this Sunday morning in Massachusetts. Big, fat flakes, coming down at quite a clip. So pretty! It’s the perfect morning to stay in with a cup of your favorite hot beverage and cast on a new project.

Maybe mitts? My new Bay Road Mitts are 20% off on Ravelry with the coupon code MITTS20. The sale ends at midnight EST tonight, so don’t delay!

To make them, you’ll need 125 (135) yds/115 (125)m sportweight yarn, and double-pointed needles in sizes US #3/3.25mm and US #4/3.50mm (or a size needed to get the pattern gauge of 24 sts/38 rows = 4”/10 cm in stockinette stitch).

For a real treat for your hands, try a merino yarn or one with a touch of cashmere, like the Neighborhood Fiber Co. Capital Luxury Sport that I used for the sample.

The Bay Road Set ebook is also a great way to save — it’s just $8 for the mitts and matching cowl. Find it on Ravelry or in my Etsy shop.

P.S. If you live in a place that observes Daylight Savings Time, don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead one hour!

New Pattern: Bay Road Mitts

Just released! A new mitts pattern for spring — the Bay Road Mitts.

A companion design for my Bay Road Cowl, these mitts feature an engaging combination of cable and lace stitches. The pattern is on sale on Ravelry for 20% off with the coupon code MITTS20. Or, get both the cowl and mitts patterns together in the Bay Road Set ebook. It’s just $8.00 on Ravelry.

The pattern provides instructions for two sizes, and all the stitch patterns are offered in both written, line-by-line form and in charts. They’re knit in Capital Luxury Sport from Neighborhood Fiber Company, a luscious blend of merino, cashmere, and nylon. It’s soft and warm — really perfect for mitts.

I had fun playing with the cable and lace stitches I used for the Bay Road Cowl to come up with matching mitts. Working with sportweight yarn, I aimed for a mitt that would both fit the hand well and be a great companion accessory for the cowl. I’m really pleased with the results, and hope you will be, too!

The introductory sale on the Bay Road Mitts continues in my Ravelry store through Sunday, March 10. Use the coupon code MITTS20 to get the discount.

Thanks very much for reading. Happy mitts knitting!

Treat Yourself KAL Ideas: Hands and Feet

The Treat Yourself KAL is meant to be relaxing — but sometimes working on a deadline feels stressful, and we don’t want that! So if you’d like to join the knitalong but aren’t sure you’ll have time to finish a large project like a sweater or shawl, consider choosing something smaller. Mitts, mittens, and socks are not major time commitments, and they’re also portable, easy to bring with you wherever you go.

You can make any of my designs for this KAL, which starts Monday, January 14. Here are just a few ideas for hands and feet - see more in my socks, mitts, and hats Ravelry bundle (hats are quick small projects, too, and I’ll talk about them in another post).

Treat Yourself Knitalong Ideas: Hands and Feet

Indikon Mitts, by Bonnie Sennott

Pattern: Indikon
Yarn: Sportweight

I have a soft spot for the squishy texture of these mitts. They’re incredibly warm! I’ve worn them so much they’re beginning to wear thin in places, so I might cast on a new pair for the Treat Yourself KAL. The pattern provides instructions for two sizes; you’ll need 190-225 yards/174-206 m.

On the Other Hand Mitts, by Bonnie Sennott

Pattern: On the Other Hand
Yarn: Skeinny Dipping Merino Single (fingering weight)

This pattern gives you two design options for the cuffs - make one of each, or make both mitts the same. They’re nice and long, great for keeping cold air out of your coat sleeves while leaving your fingers free.

Leaf in the Wind Mittens, by Bonnie Sennott

Pattern: Leaf in the Wind
Yarn: Cascade 220 Fingering

For winter’s coldest days, you’ll want your fingers well covered — and that calls for mittens. Inspired by the art of Agnes Martin (and named after one of her paintings), the Leaf in the Wind mittens pair striped garter stitch cuffs with geometric stranded-color patterning.

Couplet Socks, by Bonnie Sennott

Pattern: Couplet
Yarn: Periwinkle Sheep Watercolors

I love when I hit on a design idea that gives knitters options. Like the On the Other Hand mitts, Couplet gives you two options for the cuffs — one with lace (shown here) and one without. Choose whichever strikes your fancy!

Rowhouse Socks, by Bonnie Sennott

Pattern: Rowhouse Socks
Yarn: Fingering weight - three colors

Here’s a project for those odds and ends of sock yarns in your stash. The colorwork is not complicated, and once you’re past it, the solid-color part of the sock is really perfect for knitting while on the bus or in line or at meetings (or hanging out at home with your knitting inspector/kitty).

I hope some of these patterns appeal to you for the Treat Yourself KAL! If you’re joining in, what will you make?

Coming up next time: garment ideas.

LINKS

Treat Yourself KAL

Bonnie Sennott: Ravelry Designer Page

Bonnie’s Socks, Mitts, and Hats Bundle

Things to Come

Hello, blog readers — I hope you're still around after my rather long absence! Just as the scilla and snowdrops are emerging around town, so I feel I am emerging from weeks of being buried in work (and not the fibery kind that's fun to blog about).

Fun, fibery things are indeed coming up, though. I recently bound off and blocked a new shawl (a companion to the About Town Mitts) and am very pleased with how it turned out.

Knit in three colors, with lace, knit-purl textures, and stripes, it's got plenty of variety to keep the knitting interesting. The pattern is coming very soon, but if you want to stash dive ahead of time, you'll need fingering weight yarn in three colors: Color 1 (which is peach in my sample, dyed with red onion skins) - 290 yards/265 m; Color 2 (cream) - 175 yards/160 m; and Color 3 (the lace section in the sample) - 135 yards/124 m. Total yardage, if you want to make it a single color: 600 yards/549 m. After blocking, the wingspan of my sample measured 58 inches/148 cm.

The About Town Shawl would be a great project for the next knitalong in the Ravelry Blue Peninsula group. The Knit All The Things (KATT) KAL starts a week from today, April 19. It's a leisurely KAL, lasting until June 10, so there's plenty of time to cast on and finish a large project like a sweater or a shawl. Of course, small projects are welcome, too!

Any of my designs can be knit for the KATT KAL, and if you want to finish up a WIP rather than start something new, that's fine, too. We have lovely prizes of yarn, free patterns, and other goodies, and as always there will be lots of friendly knitting conversation. Come join us anytime — we're already discussing possible patterns and yarns.

One project I've been working on during the past month involves this gorgeous Phantom Ship colorway of Stitch Sprouts Crater Lake, a soft and squishy bulky weight merino. The design must stay under wraps until later this year, but I loved the yarn so much I just had to share a peek with you.

I'll be back soon with the new About Town Shawl pattern. In the meantime, if it's spring where you are, I hope it's beautiful!

Spring color at the Mount Holyoke College Botanic Garden's annual flower show

P.S. If you don't already receive the monthly Blue Peninsula newsletter, now's a good time to sign up — the next issue will have something special just for subscribers.

About Town Mitts, Handspun Edition

A couple of days ago the temperatures here in western Massachusetts climbed to the 60s and even 70s — a brief taste of summer in dreary February! It was lovely to go out for a walk without a coat or even a sweater, though seeing a lake covered in ice while walking in shirt sleeves was a little strange. But now, as I type this, snow is coming down again. Everything's back to normal, sigh. Winter is most assuredly not over, and won't be for quite a while.

So I don't regret casting on another pair of About Town Mitts. I love the originals, knit in Road to China Light, a blend of alpaca, cashmere, silk, and camel. But I had a gut feeling these mitts would also look good in handspun. The Foxhill Farm Cormo/alpaca that I spun on drop spindles last summer for Tour de Fleece was just about the right weight. And I had about 200 yards — more than enough.

Since the yarn is a smidgen heavier than the Road to China Light, I cast on the number of stitches for the small size, in order to get a medium size. And it's worked out well — the fit is perfect! I wanted a somewhat longer cuff for this pair, so I worked three extra repeats of the stitch pattern. It's easy to modify the length — but do remember you'll need more yarn for longer mitts.

Mitt No. 1 is already done — this is a really quick knit. I love the nubbly look and cushy feel of this handspun yarn. As a relatively new spindle spinner, I'm excited to see the fiber I bought at Rhinebeck 2016 — with happy hopes — transformed into something warm and wearable. It's a satisfying feeling and makes me want to keep spinning and continue improving my skills.

The About Town Mitts remain on sale 25% off (just $4.50) in my Ravelry pattern store through Sunday, February 25. No coupon code is needed — you'll automatically get the discount at checkout. They're on sale (same price) in my Etsy shop too, also through February 25.

New Pattern: About Town Mitts

Just released on Ravelry — my new About Town Mitts:

Sometimes it’s the simple, uncomplicated things that lift your spirits and make life extra sweet — like a pair of cozy fingerless mitts. Worked in the round on double-pointed needles, the About Town Mitts knit up quickly and easily (no charts to follow). Through February 25, they're on sale in my Ravelry pattern store for just $4.50.

The pattern provides instructions for three sizes — S, M, L — using 120–150 yards/110–140 m of sportweight yarn. For the sample pair, I chose The Fibre Co.'s Road to China Light, a sportweight blend of alpaca, silk, camel, and cashmere. It's soft and sumptuous, a luxurious treat for your hands. 

The About Town Mitts would be a lovely project to make for the Treat Yourself KAL in the Ravelry Blue Peninsula group. There's still plenty of time to cast on — the KAL (and the pattern sale) continue through February 25. I hope you can join us!