5:56 PM on Wednesday, October 28. 2009
For the Love of Mini!
I think it's time I create a new catagory for my craft stuff. I want to call it art, but it's... not, really? I bet crafters would argue that crafting really is art, but I see it on a different level from the "fine" art that I also do.
Does that make me racist? Or... art...ist? Now I'm all confused.
BUT. I really did start this post for a reason other than confusing myself and anyone reading. I wanted to share with the world the wonder of MINI MITTENS. That's right; you heard me. Mini mittens. They're the greatest thing since buttered toast.
Wow, I'm amazingly silly today! I hope that doesn't offend anyone.
So, right. I've been on this huge Christmas kick since the beginning of October. The Christmas we had last year was really tight because Chad (aka Cat) was out of a job, and we had decided that I would continue to stay home until things got really bad, so the only income we had was unemployment. It was scary. But most of all, I was worried about Christmas. I mean, that's the one time of the year where you open your wallet and pay people until they love you, right?
Ok, so that's not really how I feel. It's true that I do love going all out at Christmas, but it's because I love getting into the tradition of things and doing things for people I really care about.
So last Christmas, I wasn't going to let a tight budget get in the way of getting into the traditions that I love so much. Since I'm incredibly crafty, clever and always have some great new idea, we made most of the gifts we gave last year. Chad's mom collects little wooden houses, so we made one of her house and gave it to her. She loved it!
And even though Chad has a great job now and is making more than he ever has, I learned a lot about life from the six months he was unemployed. I learned that living frugal isn't a bad thing. That you don't have to pay a fortune to show someone you love them. That there's no shame in using things you have instead of buying something new. And most of all, I learned that happiness isn't found at the bottom of a plastic grocery bag. That's why I'm going to be making a bunch of Christmas gifts again this year. I want people to know that I love them so much that I spent some time on their gifts.
One of the things I'm doing this year for everyone I know, as well as for decoration for my house, is mini mittens. Now, if you know anything about me, you know that I have a strange obsession with mini things. I squeal with delight when I see a doll house. Kittens make me deliriously happy. So when I saw, somewhere, some mini mittens someone had made as an ornament, I knew I had to find that pattern. And I did a ton of research. But I finally found a pattern that I really like. It's fast and extremely easy.
CUTE! Right? And they only take about half an hour to make (for each one). Which is really important for a girl who can't pay attention long enough to put on both socks in the morning.
I made two sizes, basically the same thing except the smaller ones are done with smaller needles and yarn.
So by now, I bet you're dying for the pattern, right? Of course you are! I guess this pattern was on the cover of the WEBS catalog a couple of years ago, and so many people emailed them for the pattern that they put it up. Now, this pattern has moved over the years to a different URL, so if you like this, I would suggest you print it off or save it to your computer. If you're reading this post in the distant future and the link doesn't work, give me a ping and I'll send it your way!
You can get the pattern here.
I'm going to give you my secret, though. When I knit these up, I do it differently than the pattern says. Here's what my finished mitten looks like:
I start with Worsted weight yarn and size 3 needles (I use double pointed needles, just because it makes things a little less clumsy). Then, in the pattern, I take out rows 2, 4, 9, and 11 of the lower mitten, one of the rows in the thumb, and two of the rows in the upper section. So it should go:
Lower:
R1-4: ♥ K1, P1 ♥; rep. from ♥
R5: P4, m1, p4, m1, p4. (14 sts)
R6: K6, m1, k2, m1, k6. (16 sts)
R7: P6, m1, p4, m1, p6. (18 sts)
R8: K12, turn work
Thumb:
R1: P6, turn work
R2: K6, turn work.
R3: [P2tog] 3 times
Upper:
Rows 1, 3, 5: Purl
Rows 2, 4: Knit
Basically, I just take out a couple of rows here and there to make the mitten shorter. Using smaller needles also ensures that the mittens are smaller! I also experimented doing it with baby yarn and size 1 or 0 needles, and the results are adorable:
For those, though, I followed the pattern exactly. I just finished a pair today, though, where I used my altered version, and they're absolutely adorable!
Anyway, that's enough of that for today. Enjoy!
Does that make me racist? Or... art...ist? Now I'm all confused.
BUT. I really did start this post for a reason other than confusing myself and anyone reading. I wanted to share with the world the wonder of MINI MITTENS. That's right; you heard me. Mini mittens. They're the greatest thing since buttered toast.
Wow, I'm amazingly silly today! I hope that doesn't offend anyone.
So, right. I've been on this huge Christmas kick since the beginning of October. The Christmas we had last year was really tight because Chad (aka Cat) was out of a job, and we had decided that I would continue to stay home until things got really bad, so the only income we had was unemployment. It was scary. But most of all, I was worried about Christmas. I mean, that's the one time of the year where you open your wallet and pay people until they love you, right?
Ok, so that's not really how I feel. It's true that I do love going all out at Christmas, but it's because I love getting into the tradition of things and doing things for people I really care about.
So last Christmas, I wasn't going to let a tight budget get in the way of getting into the traditions that I love so much. Since I'm incredibly crafty, clever and always have some great new idea, we made most of the gifts we gave last year. Chad's mom collects little wooden houses, so we made one of her house and gave it to her. She loved it!
And even though Chad has a great job now and is making more than he ever has, I learned a lot about life from the six months he was unemployed. I learned that living frugal isn't a bad thing. That you don't have to pay a fortune to show someone you love them. That there's no shame in using things you have instead of buying something new. And most of all, I learned that happiness isn't found at the bottom of a plastic grocery bag. That's why I'm going to be making a bunch of Christmas gifts again this year. I want people to know that I love them so much that I spent some time on their gifts.
One of the things I'm doing this year for everyone I know, as well as for decoration for my house, is mini mittens. Now, if you know anything about me, you know that I have a strange obsession with mini things. I squeal with delight when I see a doll house. Kittens make me deliriously happy. So when I saw, somewhere, some mini mittens someone had made as an ornament, I knew I had to find that pattern. And I did a ton of research. But I finally found a pattern that I really like. It's fast and extremely easy.
CUTE! Right? And they only take about half an hour to make (for each one). Which is really important for a girl who can't pay attention long enough to put on both socks in the morning.
I made two sizes, basically the same thing except the smaller ones are done with smaller needles and yarn.
So by now, I bet you're dying for the pattern, right? Of course you are! I guess this pattern was on the cover of the WEBS catalog a couple of years ago, and so many people emailed them for the pattern that they put it up. Now, this pattern has moved over the years to a different URL, so if you like this, I would suggest you print it off or save it to your computer. If you're reading this post in the distant future and the link doesn't work, give me a ping and I'll send it your way!
You can get the pattern here.
I'm going to give you my secret, though. When I knit these up, I do it differently than the pattern says. Here's what my finished mitten looks like:
I start with Worsted weight yarn and size 3 needles (I use double pointed needles, just because it makes things a little less clumsy). Then, in the pattern, I take out rows 2, 4, 9, and 11 of the lower mitten, one of the rows in the thumb, and two of the rows in the upper section. So it should go:
Lower:
R1-4: ♥ K1, P1 ♥; rep. from ♥
R5: P4, m1, p4, m1, p4. (14 sts)
R6: K6, m1, k2, m1, k6. (16 sts)
R7: P6, m1, p4, m1, p6. (18 sts)
R8: K12, turn work
Thumb:
R1: P6, turn work
R2: K6, turn work.
R3: [P2tog] 3 times
Upper:
Rows 1, 3, 5: Purl
Rows 2, 4: Knit
Basically, I just take out a couple of rows here and there to make the mitten shorter. Using smaller needles also ensures that the mittens are smaller! I also experimented doing it with baby yarn and size 1 or 0 needles, and the results are adorable:
For those, though, I followed the pattern exactly. I just finished a pair today, though, where I used my altered version, and they're absolutely adorable!
Anyway, that's enough of that for today. Enjoy!
My life is art. When I dream, my imagination flies, and when I wake, it tells its story on paper with pen. And when I look out a window, I see endless possibilities. But I have a long way to go still on my journey through the clouds of art and imagination. Won't you join me?
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