I love my dad. Whenever he calls, the first thing he asks is about my weather. When it rains or snows here, he calls and requests that I send it, or not send it as the case may be, to him. Or he brags about his warm temps when we're freezing. No matter what our respective weather might be like, he always has the better end of the deal. I'm not sure where this meteorological obsession springs from. He wasn't raised on a farm or anything.
Anyway, when I found myself about to open this post with a weather report, I was reminded once again that I am my father's daughter. But in my defense: It's cold around here! Like Margene's kind of cold. Last week we experienced the second artic blast of the year, which resulted in the schools being closed for a full week. There wasn't that much snow, but there was several inches of ice, which hung around for a while due to the below freezing temps.
My entire back yarn yard (doy!) was a solid sheet of ice!
I was inspired, while huddled in my warm home, to knit up a pair of the Fetching mitts from the Summer 2006 issue of Knitty. I've been seeing these all over the blogosphere, and since I just happened to have some Cashmerino Aran in my stash, I grabbed my dpn's and cast-on.
Serendipitous matching of the lining of the coat! Don't you love it?
I used size 5 needles instead of the called for size 6 because I wanted the fabric to be dense and squooshy. The Cashmerino is velvety and very, very warm. In fact, I was really quite surprised at how warm these tiny garments keep not just my hands, but also my entire person. Now that we are back up to a balmy 39 degrees, I can dash from my house to my car and from my car to my office in just a sweater, a scarf and my toasty mitts. I believe I feel a heat wave coming on!
Comments (16)
Mitts are perfect this time of year and yours are such a pretty color. Knitting them in a smaller gauge is a great idea! I've been wearing my fingerless mitts under gloves. Stay warm!
Posted by margene | January 24, 2007 1:39 PM
Posted on January 24, 2007 13:39
39 degrees! That is warm!
Posted by Cheryl | January 24, 2007 1:57 PM
Posted on January 24, 2007 13:57
entire back yarn, huh? :)
[I make that typo all the time! ;) ]
Love the mitts! I made a pair as a gift but I should really make myself a pair! :)
Posted by jess | January 24, 2007 2:00 PM
Posted on January 24, 2007 14:00
heat wave, huh? thank you for getting that little ditty caught in my head. the fetching are of course fetching my dear and i do *heart* the lining of your coat -- very cool!
Posted by amanda | January 24, 2007 2:16 PM
Posted on January 24, 2007 14:16
Ooh, 39 degrees does sound lovely! I guess I can't complain, though, because we've only been experiencing temps in the 20's and 30's for a week or so. I laughed at your story about your dad always asking about your weather, because my dad does the same thing!
The Fetching mitts turned out wonderfully. The color you used is so pretty, and even better that it matches your coat's lining. They were meant to be!
Posted by Rachel | January 24, 2007 2:30 PM
Posted on January 24, 2007 14:30
My dad is the same way, but I sort of understand it on his part - he was born and raised in Minnesota and lived in Minnesota or South Dakota most of his adult life. Now he's down in Florida and loving the heat and sun. What I think he doesn't understand is that I'm perfectly happy up here in the snow and cold, so I'm not jealous of his weather. Oh well, maybe in another 20 years I'll be like him.
I have also been amazed by what a huge difference wristers make. My office is really drafty and cold, so I keep a couple of pair in my drawer and wear them all the time. I think it's because of your pulse point being covered.
Posted by Renee | January 24, 2007 2:42 PM
Posted on January 24, 2007 14:42
I love fingerless mitts, can't make it through a winter without them. Your fetchings look lovely and in a very cheerful color that chases away those winter blahs! =)
Posted by keri | January 24, 2007 3:25 PM
Posted on January 24, 2007 15:25
Great Fetchings - I love the color!
Posted by Carole | January 24, 2007 3:54 PM
Posted on January 24, 2007 15:54
It is surprising how warm they keep your hands. I love that they match your lining! Enjoy your warm hands!
Posted by Karen | January 24, 2007 4:53 PM
Posted on January 24, 2007 16:53
I must be adapting down here - 39 sounds downright cold to me. I like the rose color of your Fetchings, and they look fantastic against your coat and linining.
Posted by Terby | January 25, 2007 6:15 AM
Posted on January 25, 2007 06:15
Fetching is Catching!
heeheeehee I'm so witty. Seriously though, I'm starting to feel left out.
Posted by Emily | January 25, 2007 8:00 AM
Posted on January 25, 2007 08:00
The ice/snow looks fabulous!! And your fetching gloves came out lovely - the color is great.
Posted by Esther | January 25, 2007 12:39 PM
Posted on January 25, 2007 12:39
No snow here ... but cold it is! For more than a week! Just starting to warm up a little bit 2 days ago and then the dense fog today makes it feel like freezing again.
Like the colour of your Fetching.
Posted by Agnes | January 25, 2007 12:40 PM
Posted on January 25, 2007 12:40
Nice Mitts! Wow that is a good idea to make them on smaller needles. I'll have to give that a whirl for my next pair:)
Posted by Marisol | January 25, 2007 3:05 PM
Posted on January 25, 2007 15:05
Those mitts are gorgeous. I am going to succumb eventually and knit a pair.
England has had snow this week, apart from us here on the extreme south coast. I'm resigned to the fact it never snows in Weymouth, but we get lashed by south westerly gales. It's generally so balmy here we can grow palm trees outside.
Posted by Mandella | January 26, 2007 6:23 AM
Posted on January 26, 2007 06:23
I DO love how the match the lining of your coat, since you ask! Those Fetching mitts sure are a great little pattern. I hope you get a lot of use out of them before a real heat wave comes on!
Posted by Rachel | January 27, 2007 7:01 PM
Posted on January 27, 2007 19:01