Thursday, March 21, 2013

Welcome spring!

Spring is probably my favorite season. I love the new flowers coming up, the first few warm days, the way everything feels so fresh and new. This is my first spring in a climate where the seasons aren't so obvious, but even here by the ocean I've spotted new wildflowers and grass. We've also had a lot more chilly fog in the last few weeks than through the winter - signs of summer?


To celebrate spring I brought some daffodils home. They brighten the whole house!


I recently finished a pair of spring-inspired mitts as well. I absolutely love fingerless mitts and wear them constantly. It's amazing how much warmer you feel when the backs of your hands are covered!

I just couldn't get a good photo - they're a bit darker in real life
I used the Vineyard Lace Mitts pattern, free on Ravelry (my project is here). It was a fun pattern to knit up, and I love the leafy lace. No alterations besides making the mitts shorter for use while typing. I used Lion Brand Vanna's Choice yarn for the first time, and I actually liked knitting with it! I tend to avoid 100% acrylic yarns, but it doesn't have that plastic shine and seems to be holding up pretty well. I have been having lots of trouble with big stitches at the intersection of the double pointed needles, no matter how tight I pull, but didn't have trouble at all with this yarn. Thinking about it, I haven't really had trouble with any yarn except Wool-Ease, which tends to be my most-used yarn due to availability and budget. Has anyone else had problems with Wool-Ease? Any suggestions for a relatively inexpensive yarn that you have had good results with?


2 comments:

  1. I've liked all the Valley brand yarns sold through WEBS. They're inexpensive and quite good quality. The problem there though is that you can't just run to the shop to get a ball or two!

    Your mitts look great!

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  2. Thanks for the recommendation! I will definitely check that brand out. I tend to buy yarn on a whim when I see a color I have to have, but it's time to step up the quality!

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