I continue to be a little obsessed with color work accessories. I have a feeling more than a few friends and relations are going to receive multi-colored hats or mittens for Christmas. I was so happy with the Pixie Farts pattern that I recently finished that I looked at other patterns by Barbara Gregory for a second project.
I recently finished these Aldershot mittens knit in Madelinetosh DK.
Aldershot mittens knit with Madelinetosh DK
These were a much quicker knit given the larger gauge. I finished them in just over a week. The pattern called for a worsted weight yarn but Knitty City had these three skeins of coordinating yarn in Tosh DK in stock that I thought were a perfect combination.
Madeleinetosh DK in Denim, Betty Draper Blues, and Ink
The intended recipient has small hands so I decided to substitute the yarn and knit at a slightly tighter gauge in hopes of a better fit. They are cetainly smaller –perhaps too small— but they fit me almost perfectly :-)!
Mitten-cuff before and after crocheted edging
I did have a little trouble making a neat and tidy cuff. There are garter bumps where the cuff lining turns under and creates a facing for the patterned cuff. I just wasn’t happy with how messy mine looked and so I tidied it up with a little single crochet edging. I think it was a reasonably successful save.
The project used less than half of the skein of the darkest blue. I’d like to make the matching hat, perhaps knit with needles one size larger to ensure it fits a normal sized head. Otherwise, my daughter may end up with the matching hat and mits that were intended for her grandmother and they don’t go with her winter coat at all.
With the Aldershot mittens complete, and worry about enough yardage for the matching hat looming, the release of the Fall 2015 issue of Twist Collective early this week was a perfectly timed distraction. Sure enough there are two knit-worthy patterns by Barbara Gregory in the issue: Filigrene and Sweetfern.
I especially love the way the variegated contrast color in Sweetfern works up with the light colored, solid background. This use of a highly variegated yarn was on my mind yesterday when while on a little artisanal ice cream tour on the lower east side I discovered Downtown Yarns.
This happened.
Malabrigo Mechita Yarn
I can’t wait to see how these jewel tones work in Gregory’s inspiring pattern.
Our kitten Mochi looks a little skeptical.
Mochi thinks maybe I might be a little ambitious.