5/9/12: Sit Back and Enjoy + Design Passion

Sitting back and enjoying some small hands-on project can always calm me down and that's why I've been knitting a pair of fingerless gloves. I've talked about them briefly before. . . They're called Holi Mitts, a fingerless glove pattern designed by Jaya Srikrishnan, which was published in the Interweave Press book, ColorSTYLE. 


I am working them in the round on four double-pointed-needles. I casted on using the tubular method (which I just learned from this video), and knitted a 2x2 rib until the cuff reached 2.75" in length. Then it was time to start the fascinating slipstitch pattern that involves colorwork. The colorwork aspect of this pattern is what motivated me to start. It is so hard for me to believe: I've been knitting since I was 15 (which is about 8 years ago), but up to this project, I haven't done colorwork, except for my crochet afghan.

I was elated to find that the slipstitch pattern is incredibly easy. No need to worry about wrangling four different colors in one single row, this pattern uses only one color for two rows. Very happy about that! These mitts are just the thing for me right now.

How do you like the colors? Wasn't sure if these solid choices of mine would "jive" since the original pattern used spectacular variegated yarns. I'm very happy with the 21 rnds I've made so far! They look like a cheery quartet, don't they?

And for a side note. As if I don't have enough things filling up my days, I'm feeling the urge to design something yarn-y, knitty, or crochet-y. Just something! I came across a call for submissions from Petite Purls magazine. They're looking for designs for their upcoming Fall issue. The theme is cold weather colorwork. I don't know why but I really want to participate. The practical side of me says that is utterly stupid because a) I just started out in colorwork, b) I haven't made many children clothes, and c) I haven't designed much before. But the lofty, free spirit side of me says: go for it!

Tell you what, I'm going to dabble a little into this design plan of mine and see if the passion will carry me through. It won't hurt to try it out and see where I end up. Hey, it gives me the chance to play around with things I love!