Fairer Fair Isle

I forgot to show you the results of the Fair Isle class I took a couple of weeks ago at The Elegant Ewe:


The wrong side of my colorwork has never looked like this before!

And the front has never looked so good either. The class was definitely worth my while. Since I learn most of my knitting and crafting skills from books, I'm sometimes reluctant to take classes (also because that means less money for yarn and other craft supplies). I really enjoy the hands-on experience though, and if something isn't clicking then I know it's time to seek out someone who can help me. On The Elegant Ewe site there is a list of classes and there is another Fair Isle class in March. If you have colorwork issues at all I highly recommend taking it.

These are the Subway Mittens from the Winter 2007 Interweave Knits. This was my favorite kind of project for so many reasons. I love that they were designed for the Boston subway system (which I use to get to graduate school) and that I actually got to knit something from a current issue of Knits (although the Spring 2008 issue arrived the day after I finished these). Even though I will only be using them as subway mittens for one more winter, I think they look cute with the pocket and other small things could be put in there (like cash for buying hot cocoa when ice skating). I also love that they used up some stash yarn that previously had no project attached to it, and it is a nice local handspun (or Bartlett mill-spun--I don't remember) sheepy-smelling wool in a tweedy blue and brown that will go with both of my winter jackets. They were portable, which is the only reason I got them done so quickly. They were this week's commute-and-in-between-classes project (that may not happen next week, since the project is toe-up socks on size 1 needles...)

Pattern: Subway Mittens from the Winter 2007 issue of Interweave Knits

Yarn: Locally raised handspun or Bartlett mill-spun

Source: Stash! (originally from a vendor at the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival)

Needles: Susan Bates US size 5 dpns, Brittany Birch US size 7 dpns

Modifications: None

As for other projects, I'm still plugging away on the Secret of the Stole II (beautiful pattern but not much to show right now) and the afghans, plus I've started a project that someone is buying from me. I'm also trying to come up with ideas for birthday and Christmas presents. That new issue of Interweave Knits is awfully distracting, though...