Three years ago I embarked on a knitting journey with one goal in mind. To knit a pair of Fiddlehead Mittens. It was one of many attempts to pick up knitting and it finally stuck. I've been knitting ever since, tackling project after project to improve my skills. All in an effort to be able to knit these mittens. I first fell in love with these mittens in 2009/2010, long before I really started knitting. I even wrote a dorky blog post about them (find it here). These mittens were a far off dream for many years, and I am SO happy that I finally knit them!
Fiddlehead Mittens pattern by Adrian Bizilia.
When I decided I was ready and armed with the right skills to take this pattern on, I didn't have much trouble deciding on yarn to use. I used the same two colors of sportweight yarn that I used in my Daybreak shawl, which is one of my favorite knits. Madelinetosh Pashmina in Moonstone and Cephalopod Yarns Bugga! in Bold Jumping Spider. I was all set to use leftovers from my shawl in addition to new skeins, but they weren't exact matches so I used the fresh skeins for these mittens.
I really don't like magic loop or DPNs for small circular knitting. I knit these mittens on a US 3 9" circular. They take getting used to, but I absolutely love knitting on them. I used a 9" circular to knit Michael's convertible mittens and some plain mittens for myself last year (see them both here). This was I only have to use magic loop for the decreases and the thumb.
I am glad I tried a few stranded colorwork projects before knitting these mittens. I am really happy with how even my tension and floats are on this project. The one thumb was a little tight, but it was already loosened with a little wear and blocking.
The outer mittens for this project were finished up in late September and it took me about a month to knit the mitten linings. The linings are obviously quite a bit of extra work, but they make the mittens super cozy and luxurious. Totally worth it. I used an Eat Sleep Knit exclusive colorway of Squoosh Fiberarts Rapture called Light Trails. It's a beautiful purple/pink that's super soft and warm.
Honestly, I can't say enough about these mittens. I really enjoyed knitting them, and I am so so excited to wear them this winter. I've worn them a couple times already (even though it's not really cold enough), and they're so dreamy. I'm so proud of the way they turned out. Every time I pick them up, I just can't believe that I knit them. I feel like I can knit just about anything now! I think I need to knit a hat to match my shawl and newly finished mittens.
For more information on my mittens, see my Ravelry page.
Happy Knitting!
You are amazing. I have never knit anything that complex in my life. I enjoy knitting chemo hats and preemie hats. I really enjoy making preemie hats - they take no time at all - so to speak. I am a breast cancer survivor, so I like to give to the cancer community (an kind of cancer patient that needs a hat). My daughter's children (2 sons) were each born prematurely and spent quite a bit of time in the NICU. We knew the first son was going to be premature and had been advised that the second son would be full term. Well, he was even more premature than the first son. So, I got a call asking if my husband and I could come to Albuquerque for a week. Everyone, including her husband, had unchangeable plans for the week. So, on the way to Albuquerque, I knit preemie hats in the car. The hats were too large for baby Jaxon. He grew into some of them before he left the NICU. So, I have a very fond affection for the babies and the parents, too. I knit the hats using the Magic Loop method. My next task is to try to knit two socks at the same time using Magic Loop. I can't decide if I should knit top down or toe up. I have never knit a sock toe up yet.
ReplyDeleteI keep finding out more and more of your talents that you have hidden (at least from me). Thank you for sharing. My adult son moved in with me last October (2015). His 2 1/2 year old daughter came to live with us unexpectedly in early, early March. She has blossomed into an exciting 3 year old. I bought her a coat that she gets as soon as she starts wearing big girl panties, which should be very soon and coincide with the weather. I brought home some variegated yarn and she asked me to make her a hat to go with the coat. She has seen me knitting on a dishcloth, but not a hat. So, I must get busy on her a hat. She is a clothes diva and came from her mom in a very bad situation. My son got full permanent custody of her in mid-October, so I'll have fun dressing her and making quilts for her.
Thank you for sharing your mitten and shawl and links to other knitting projects. You are a master at knitting. You far exceed what I can do.
Lovely!
ReplyDeleteThey look amazing! I can relate at the awe you can feel once you have made a project you have dreamed of for so long. Good job and enjoy!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on meeting your goal in such a spectacular way. They are wonderful. Wear them in good health.
ReplyDeleteThese are fantastic! I can't believe you are a relatively new knitter. I'll watch and see what you make next.....
ReplyDeleteThese turned out beautifully! I love the colors you used :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Jeni! Congratulations on sticking with your goal and developing the skill set you needed to knit them. I have read your blog for a long time, and I added you to my friends on Ravelry---my id is Brenda0312.
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful! Your post made me smile as about 2 years ago I bought a kit to make a beautiful pair of traditional Latvian fairisle mittens and am steadily building up my skills to tackle them.
ReplyDeleteYes! Those mittens were one of my dream projects when I started knitting seven years ago, and I've never made them! Maybe I should :)
ReplyDeleteThey are so freaking fabulous! And I really am amazed at how far your knitting skills have come in three years! Woo! Can't wait to see what you make next!
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