Tuesday 24 September 2013

Getting ready for autumn: Owl mittens

I have to admit I have been bitten by the knitting bug and having finished my lace cowl, I immediately started on the next project.

Source
I love owls and when I saw an owl mitten pattern in the Mollie Makes magazine from last year, I just knew I had to knit them. So, I bought the double pointed needles (at this point I hadn't heard of the magic loop method – and shame on me, but I still haven’t looked up what it means), got 2 skins of wool, switched on you tube – because I had no idea how to knit with double-pointed needles and off I went.

Owl mittens :)
Wool used: Grey Wendy Merino Chunky. I know it is exactly the same colour as in the magazine. I wanted to buy brown wool, so that I can wear the mittens with my beige coat, but when I was in the shop that brown wool and beige coat would look too unicolour. I then had my hands on the pink wool (again), but my boyfriend convinced me to go for the grey one because I can wear them with more clothes.

Needles: double pointed needles, 5 mm
 





Pattern: Mollie Makes Owl Mittens, issue 21 "Seasons Greeting". When you know what you are doing - easy peasy. When you use double pointed needles for the first time ever – slight nightmare. There were so many needles and I had to use a cable needle as well to hold stitches in front or back, puh.


Knitting: I had to start 4 times until I finally got a proper cast on and a few first rounds of knitting that looked alright. That involved loads of swearing, but after watching you tube again and again, it finally worked. One football match and several rows latter, my bf was looking at me: Oh, so you actually did it (surprise in its words) – yep, I am not giving up easily.

I was trying to shape a heart - failed :P
I also found out, that you shouldn't knit when ill with a cold as your concentration might not be the best. I don’t know how often I had to rip apart my knitting – at least I am not scarred anymore. But nonetheless I managed to knit ¾ of the left mitten that night and stopped only when my cast-ons for the thumb slid from my needles. Next day, I finished it off only to find out, that I had forgotten to reverse the pattern instructions which were for the right mitten, buh. My bf laughing: Haha, you are having two right mittens now. So I just left it, until I felt better and ripped 90% of the mitten apart and started anew. If you would like to try the pattern yourself, Mollie Makes (have a look in their comments) has given some instructions on their blog about how the make the left handed mitten.

Bf: Do you really want to pose with flowers??? Me: Sure! Autumn Mood!
I haven't blocked the mittens, because I think they look really nice without :) Also, I didn't add a button for the eyes, because (1) I don't have any in the right size and (2) they look cute without!

How is your knitting going? Have you finished anything and are ready to wear it? Our temperatures are up to 20 C at the moment, so I still have to wait...

12 comments:

  1. They look really nice, you're so prepared for when it gets cold now! I made a pair of these last year and wore them so much - thank you for reminding me about them :)

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    1. I am glad I reminded you! Otherwise it would be such a shame to forget about them :) They are so cute!

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  2. I am well impressed - well done! And they are very cute :-) Must order the wool for the next project,and finish up the jumper. Last few rows tonight hopefully....

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    1. Thank you! I am impressed as well, hihi. I didn't think they would turn out that nicely. Fingers crossed for finishing your jumper!

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  3. These are really cute! I'm very impressed that you've dived in with DPNs - I'm a bit scared... I am debating DPNs vs magic loop but I think I too will try DPNs soon. Well done, I love the mitts!

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    1. Thanks! And don't be afraid about using DPNs - I will get easier even after only a little bit of practice!

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  4. These are super cute! You are putting me to shame with your speedy knitting, I need to up my game!

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    1. Thank you! I am speedy with knitting at the moment because I hardly sew. It is just easier to take up knitting for half an hour than sewing. And I can sit next to my boyfriend on the couch - that is a big plus for me :)

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  5. These are amazing!! They were definitely worth all the effort, and that wasn't the easiest pattern to use for a first go at DPNs. I once read that knitting with DPNs is like wrestling with a hedgehog, which is why I love the magic loop. Honestly, once you give it a go, you won't look back. And if you can do DPNs, you'll be able to do the magic loop with your eyes shut!

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    1. Thank you :) Knitting with DPN is definitively like fighting with a hedgehog, hihi. I won, yeah! I think I will have the opportunity soon to try the magic loop - for the sleeves of my Miette cardigan.

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  6. I love love love them! I just started mine this morning and will continue knitting during late babysitting today :) Thanks again for your help with the scarf pattern the other day - it's finished now, as well as a matching beanie with the same pattern. So my first time knitting was a success. Will do the mittens with the same wool as the scarf and beanie. Fingers crossed I can work with the english pattern :)

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