When I returned home from Ireland, the very next day my Grandmother died. She had suffered from pancreatic cancer not the 6-8 wks the Dr said she would have, but 8 months. While it was a relief, it has left a hole. The last 3 months we have had in our lives 13 deaths, and as I sat at the hospital listening to a man barely breathing, the 14th death is eminent.

With all the small achievements, published magazine articles, knitting patterns and the progress on both book 1 and book 2, there have been days where I can't even pick up knitting needles and days I could not set them down.

Thank you for all you kind emails, messages, and the response to the article on the knitters of Sobibor's concentration camp. I have loved hearing the stories of who you are remembering. Otto Frank's wife, holocaust survivors and liberators, and the USO girls whose feet once danced across the stage for morale and now rarely touch the floor any more.
I am honored and overwhelmed by who you are knittingfor these socks I designed.

Thank you.

My Grandmama

In Loving Memory

December 1,1929 - May 1, 2013

The Curiosity of Knitting

Over the years, I have had the privilege of working alongside Hunter Hammerson in various projects, Penny Rose Sock Clubs, The Sock Report, Sockupied, Knitty....the list continues to grow.

I actually was able to briefly meet Hunter in REAL LIFE at Sock Summit in 2011. She is as delightful in person as her work is on paper. If you have seen her other books: Silk Road and The Knitter's Curiosity Cabinet Vol 1, you will not be disappointed with The Knitter's Curiousity Cabinet Vol 2.

Volume 1 was what really made me love Hunter. I am a botanic art freak. I get excited when someone uses the Latin name for a plant. I desperately miss the Denver Botanic Gardens. So when I opened this book and there were latin names for plants and botanic inspired knits, I was instantly in love.
AND Hunter shares with you the historical backgrounds, as she did with Silk Road, you learn new information while being inspired to knit. I love it when you can buy a knitting book that you can enjoy reading!

Volume 2 takes on butterflies. Where it differs is there are 2 projects inspired by the same butterfly. They aren't twinsey, with matching motifs on different items but two very unique projects inspired by the same insect. Hunter worked hard at creating 2 very different interpretations of each butterfly. (No Short Cuts!)
There is such a wide variety of stitch textures throughout the book. I am also planning on using Hunter's fabulous button tutorial for a couple projects that needed a little extra something.

My absolute favourite are the Vanessa Antiopa socks. Ok, I know someone out there is going to whine over the amount of purling that is done in this sock, but it is as my 7 yr old says about seed stitch "It's worth it!"
I love the way these stitches swirl and shape the sock.

I love the way Metopsilus Porcellus Sock has intriguing cuff details and lace panels.It really captures the feeling of butterfly wings.

The Knitters Curiosity Cabinet Volume II can be purchased HERE

If you order between now and April 15, 2013, you’ll get:

 *A discount of 20% off the list price of either version of the book (that’s $21.56 instead of $26.95 for the paper book, and $15.16 instead of $18.95 for the electronic book).

 *Free, immediate download of any 2 of my available individual patterns when you order either version of the book. (so you can cast on right away!)

 *If you’ve ordered the paper version, you’ll also get a little present in your package when it ships.

And remember, whenever you order any physical book through Hunter's website, you’ll also get a free copy of the corresponding electronic book automatically.

Discovering Knitters Everywhere

When WWKIP day arrived, I was knitting a sock and trying to navigate a Polish GPS system for my husband. The trip that day took us and our dear friends Sally, Gayle and Brygida, to Sobibor's Extermination Camp.
That was such a life changing day. The camp was closed but the care taker, a very kind man with a weary job, opened it up for us anyways.
I had packed in my suitcase yahrzeit candles, candles for the soul the Ner Neshama, to light at various places we visited. To recite Kaddish, the mourner's prayer.

It was raining so hard and there were these HORRIBLE HUGE mosquitos, which I never read about as they were the least of the worries when there. I however was bit next to my eye, which swelled shut and made me look like a victim of spousal abuse for several days.

In the museum I read about the Sock Knitters of Sobibor. This article came from what I learned there and from the book I purchased at the museum as well, the reflections by Regina Zielinski, my new hero, recorded by her son, Andrew. These are some of the most amazing women! My grandmother always said the one thing she was proud of was raising "Strong Women". After learning of these Sock Knitters, girls ages 14-18, I know I have a long way to go to achieve their steadfast strength.

With the encouragement of my friend Donna Druchunas, I submitted the article, and eventually the pattern as well. I had teased Kathleen that one day she would write about me in her Knitting Daily newsletter, I WAS SO SURPRISED when it actually happened last week. Read it Here

Lizkor, Rememberance Socks
You can find Piece Works' Knitting Traditions Magazine at your LYS, Barnes and Noble, or order a copy online: Digital or Print The magazine will be available COINCIDENTALLY on Yom HaShoah- Holocaust Remembrance Day.

And to Regina Zielinski, I admire you and pray for you. I am so pleased to have learned that you continued knitting. may all your days be blessed!.

tea leaves

I love tea. A lot.
I love tea so much I really could marry it.

Even after the 10oz of hot tea, dumped into my laptop and fried it, I still could not give up tea!. I sobbed over the laptop with another cuppa.

So imagine how happy I am that my hotel in Ireland says: "All bedrooms have television and tea-making facilities and we also have self-catering and laundry facilities, along with lounges where you can relax and make yourself feel at home."

Do you see that?! TEA-MAKING FACILITIES in my room!!!!!!!!!!

When walking the damp and heavy palces of Poland, I carried a fab tea thermos I found at Barnes and Noble. Sadly you can not get them anymore, and mine has been dropped, dented, borrowed by kids. So it is not up to the Ireland journey.

So I found THIS:

And it was only $11! (At Raley's, $16.95 on their site)

You thread your tea bag thru the slit in the "leaf" bump.

Brew water to the right temp for your tea.

After it steeps you yank the tea bag string and pull the bag into the lid! This keeps the tea from getting bitter and you don't have to figure out what to do with the tea bag while you are out and about.

Oh Happy Tea Day!

Find one here : http://www.mightyleaf.com/tea-pouch-ware/tea-top-brew-mug

WINNER

I know I said I would post the winner yesterday, but 3 funerals in one weekend wiped me out!
I am now somewhat stable, (stop laughing!) and ready to declare the winner!

jody hildebrant

Let me know if you prefer DPNs or Circulars for your Karbonz and I will mail it out to you.

Thank you to all who gave! I will be doing another raffle April 1st.

In which we fund a plane ticket

Greetings Knitters!
Friday I have to buy my plane ticket to Dublin. I had planned to use tax refund $, but Uncle Sam is a bit slow these days. I find myself about $250 short.

Between now- 9am March 6 and 8am PST Friday March 8, a donation of any amount will be entered in to a raffle to win a Mitten Gift Kit. What will it contain?

Karbonz DPNs
2 colours of fingering weight yarn
Rose of Kindness Mittens Pattern
PuppySnips
LOLO to go of Wild Rose (the scent created by Bar-Maids for the trip to Ireland)
Slipped Stitch Studios bag
CD by Sally Klein O'Connor
Meagheen's Downton Abbey Ebook

(unblocked and in progress Rose Mittens)

Donation Button located on the top right under the Microproccesor Sock.

Stitches West 2013

We drove down to Stitches Thursday. It was so much fun. We kidnapped our friend Sue for her bday, and she didn't even know she was coming Thursday rather than Saturday until we showed up at 7am.
Tirzah and Kezziah worked the whole show at booths and babysitting for Slipped Stitch Studios. I also brought Zemy to her first ever Stitches West! This was a blast. She may be 10 but she did amazing and helped so much. She also discovered cashmere silk yarn.

We set up Intwined in Mimi's Needles and then helped get a couple other booths up before the market opened.
Look at all that yarn ready to be made into something amazing!

Allsion flew all the way from NY to be with us. We met with our FABULOUS publisher for the book and showed all the samples we had. Much to our relief, Shannon liked what we had. :)
I think there was a moment when she was going to wear the shawl home.

Kismet of Bar-Maids made a scent for our trip to Belfast: Wild Rose. It sold out the first day!

We also got to thank some our yarnies and show them their yarn knit up for the book.
Thanks to Lisa Souza, Miss Babs, Cephalopod Yarns, Bijou Basin for contributing to  this project! (which is still secret).

I may have brought home a lot of stuff.

I got new Karbonz from Webs and Knitters Pride

I brought home some new Bijou yarn for designing, they will be publishing the quiviut baby socks, so keep an eye on their site.
When my replacement strap broke at STS west, this little tote replaced my namaste bag.

Annie Modesitt, who I have admired greatly, autographed her new book for me and we shared gluten free hamantaschen.

I had a great time with my girls, my mom, Sue, Allison, Maia Discoe, Anne Berk, Faina Goberstein, Merike Saarnit and Lily Chin. Never get together often enough!

I got to take a class, where I discovered how to do the German Twisted Cast On.
This creates a nice little edge. I am already planning how to use this!

Something for the masses: Abbreviations commonly used here at Yarn Yenta Designs
PDF- DownLoad Here

Mastering Cable Design with Fiona Ellis and Craftsy

What I love about cables and colourwork is being able to measure ones progress in cable crossings or colour changes. It seems to make knitting go faster. When I first began knitting I would sit at Barnes and Noble and pour over knitting books, looking for treasure to take home and implement. I was teaching knitting classes at my LYS the year I began knitting and I could not even cross a cable at the time. Inspired Cable Knits really was a book that inspired me. I wanted to make those twists and turns. They seemed mysterious and magical. I still feel that way.

I don’t think there is any way you can ever take enough notes or remember half of what is taught at a knitting conference. I either take 1-2 classes at a fiber event or I pack my schedule full of them. Either way I still come home with my head over flowing with information. I had the privilege at Sock Summit 2011 to take a Morphing Cables class by Fiona. This was one of the most enjoyable classes I have ever taken. But I had so much packed into that week end, I think by the time I drove all the way home I lost some of what I had tried to learn.

This is one of the reasons I love Craftsy. I can go back to a class over and over. With the note taking feature, I can easily find the information I am looking for. (And you can go fangirl crazy without freaking out the teachers.)

 I have recently been taking Fiona Ellis’ Mastering Cable Design class. She also has free mini class on Craftsy, Creative Cabled Necklines. (The mini classes are a great way to get acquainted with how Craftsy works.)  In the Mastering Cable Design class, not only do you learn the basic workings of cables and how they are made, Fiona Ellis will show you how to actually create your own cable motifs. Whatever your skill level might be you don’t have to worry about “holding up the class” as you are able to advance at your own pace. Although Fiona starts with the basics, there are quite a few challenges for advanced knitters presented in a way newer knitters can grasp the concepts as well.

In addition you will learn how to use those u hooks and other cabling tools, (I still adore the Cable ring from Leslie Wind.) graph paper, and a really cool pinning board. (This was a new technique for me.) I enjoyed learning how to using an existing cable motif as a spring board for your own ideas, kind of like a recipe- I am horrible at following recipes, but find them to be a good starting place and then change them to my own liking.

Photo via mycentraljersey.com

Fiona has graciously agreed to answer a few questions.

Twenty years ago you began on this knitwear design path, 

what are the biggest changes you have seen in the industry?

The influence of the internet has of course been the biggest change. We are now so much more connected and there are much faster ways sharing of what's new. Also when I first began designing proposals would be mailed as hard copy sketches and actual swatches but then several years ago almost every yarn company and publisher went over to reviewing PDF submission packages. I also now work on final edits with far flung editors in a virtual office via a google document . The edits take place over a couple of days rather than weeks.

You have over 120 designs that are listed on ravelry.com, 

Do you have a favourite?

I don't think I can choose just one so may I choose two? I'm always in love with a latest design (I'm fickle like that) so Granville http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/granville-3 will have to be one.

Photo via Twist Collective

I especially like this cable as it came out of a class swatch I worked for my Morphing Cable workshop (you can read more about that on the Twist Collective blog too) and I am actually knitting something for myself (which rarely happens) from one of my own patterns (even more rare) so Gwendolyn would be my 2nd choice. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gwendolyn-3

Photo via Twist Collective

When I recently ran out of wool wash, soak wash was recently brought to my attention.

The Soak Boxes were a brilliant idea. 

The combination of yarn, nail polish, wool wash and your patterns really are a great way to say

 “What you knit is worth being taken care of and so are you.” 

Do you have a scent preference?

Soakboxes were born out of my quirk for hating to have my nail polish clash with what I'm knitting and by extension loving them match what I'm working on. A colleague who had worked with both me and Jacqueline Sava (director of possibilities at Soak) introduced us and then Jacqueline took my initial idea to whole other level of excellence. I'm loving the brand new fragrance Yuzu...which is included in the latest Soakbox named Elvis Paisley.

What was the first class you taught?

It was one on embellishments and embroidery on knitwear at "The Creative Sewing and Needlework Show". One of my students that day was Mags Kandis the creative genius behind Mission Falls. She was a total delight to meet and teach...tho I did wonder what I could teach her about embellishments.

Your grandmother, if I recall correctly, taught you to knit. 

What do you remember her making?

I don't have strong memories of many projects but I do remember a cardigan with bobbles that fell in, shall we say, rather unfortunate places...my grandmother was rather straight laced and was embarrassed by my fascination with them. I always thing about this when placing patterning details.

There are some wonderful comparisons between 

the celtic knot, interlace, and Khachkars crossing points 

and their mathematics vs charting cables. 

How much do you plan on paper vs on your needles?

I work mostly on the needles but for Celtic patterns I do a little pre-planning before casting on. I always draw them free-hand to begin with, to get a "feel" for the shapes and movement. Then I loosely figure out how many stitches and cast on and go back and forth between knitting and charting (in pencil), before I go to the software to really work on the chart. This allows for happy accidents to occur along the way and for me to see exactly what happens when I change something.

Given the effect of cabling on fabric “cable suckage”,

 do you have a way to predict how the cables will affect the fabric?

I love that expression to describe the compression that cables cause...it's Cookie A's term. She & I had fun with it when we were both teaching at the same retreat...I gave her term a sound effect (a slurping sound). The rule of thumb that I use when I first start designing a cable is to maintain the same width of fabric as if I'm working in St st is to add 1 stitch for each 4 stitch cable cross (if more sts are crossing over each other you need to add more sts). It's only a starting point (but it works pretty well) as sadly there is no substitute for working gauge swatches over all the patterns included in a garment. No short cuts on this one.

What do you like about the craftsy platform?

I have taken classes other than my own and I love that you can re-watch things and take a class at a time that works for me. They are not only informative but entertaining too, so I sometimes watch them instead of other media like films or reading- especially when I am traveling.

From a personal point of view I like that it gave me the opportunity to learn something new about being an instructor...working in a different medium meant I had to change up the way I presented material sometimes. I love having new challenges.

You can receive 50% off Mastering Cable Design by clicking here.

Side Note: If you are looking for an example of what Intwined Pattern Studio Charts look like, watch this class and several others on Craftsy. IPS is currently working with Fiona to create several new cable stitches. You can expect that in your next free IPS software update.

Seekrit Buch Knitting

Over the last 4 months there have been contracts, testing, ideas and yarn.
ALOT of yarn. There was delivered over 8,600 yards of yarn. The colours are amazing.
Yak to Merino, Cashmere to Silk.
And I am horrible at keeping it seekrit!
So here is a little teaser from the project that will be off my needles today!

IndigoDragonFly yarn, EarthFaire Beads, Knitter's Prides Karbonz needles (they look like they have super powers don't they?!) and of course Slipped Stitch Studios MiWallet to keep me on track and contain all the changes.
Slipped Stitch Studios has been creating some seekrit stuff for the buch. So keep an eye out!
When the book is published we will have contests and give aways!

I can't wait to show you all the things that have been on the needles!

Roses For Ireland

As many of you know I have had a great opportunity to go on several trips with my friend Sally Klein O'Connor A Tour Of Roses. In 2010 we went to Nurenburg, Germany and Krakow, Poland, plus a few other smaller places through out Poland.
While there the team held several concerts and spoke about reconciliation, healing and remembering the Holocaust with regret and forgiveness. In beautiful halls on grand pianos, in a Franciscan Monastery,  in a Polish Baptist church, in parks, train stations, and street corners. Sometimes Sally sang with a keyboard propped on buckets or a trash can, on on the grass. Sometimes she sang while sitting on the grounds of a concentration camp like Treblinka, Sobibor, Auchwitz.... OR in Zeppelin Field in that box hitler gave speeches from.

.

We were often asked why we were handing out the roses. Depending on which team member Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, Polish, German, British or American the answer varied. It was usually along the lines of "We are Jewish, from America and we just want  to give you a gift and say that we love Germany/Poland."
The responses were anywhere from being hugged and kissed to even a crumbling and crushing of the rose. There are so many wounds.

In 2012 we handed out 5,000 roses in Warsaw. This sounds very lovely, but was A LOT of work. We had to acquire roses, clean then, de-thorn them. (Who wants to be stabbed by a rose?!) And then the walking and carrying the roses, or when we were very lucky DRIVING the roses to a location.
Almost every day began before 7am and we fell into bed around 10 pm, exhausted physically and emotionally some nights.

Word has spread about the roses. Tangible expressions of beauty and the Love of G-d.

What does 2013 hold?

A Tour of Roses has been invited to go to Ireland this April. Roses and concerts but not for the healing of the pain of from the  Holocaust. To help others find healing from their own pain and conflict. It is not a place I ever expected to go. I will be helping to host of a women's conference and there are other public speaking events, and OF COURSE roses and concerts (I am not singing! heehee.)
In the fall there might even be a second trip to another place, but that is still just a possibility.

The trips are not paid for by any one. We raise our own money. I have sold Homemade BBQ sauce (strawberry jalapeno) and used the "tax return" to pay for plane tickets.

We don't stay in fancy hotels, we eat a lot of sandwiches. It is definitely not a vacation. However these moments have changed my life so completely. I will never forget walking a dirt road in Poland and having a "grandmotherly" woman with a scarf tied under her chin, kissing my face repeatedly, "Thank you for coming. Thank you for not hating us."

So here is the hard part. This year has been hard. You saw all the emergency room visits of last summer! One of the paychecks we rely on has been reduced by 1/3. Plus we now have 4 teenagers!
I can not go on my own without help.

For my expenses I need $2,200. Which is 110 people giving $20. It is not alot when you break it down.

So here is my request:

Would you like to be apart of giving a rose? 

Would you like to help be a part of Tikkun Olam, Healing the World? One rose, one life at a time.

This is a project I believe in. All of the money donated goes directly to ATOR. ALL OF IT. There is no administration fees or any other place that it goes to. It is just to spread kindness via roses.

Here is a look at the COST SHEET for this trip. (There is after all more than just my costs. A team of possibly 10 people, $4000 roses, concert venues and all the other costs involved.) However, I did notice TEA and cough drops are not on the list to help keep Sally singing strong!

If you are a knitter, I have a special pattern I designed, Tour of Roses Mittens, that is available as a thank you for donating. (Just mention in the notes when donating that you would like to have a copy.)

To Donate Click on the Top Right Button that says "Help Send Roses" (Under the computer sock). Took me awhile to figure out the tech, but it works now. :)

THANK YOU!

It was along post, but thanks for reading all the way to the end.

Fantine of Les Misérables

These are the hardest gloves to find a good clear picture of. These are an absolute guess!
If I ever get a good clear picture of the center lace panel, I will make a new pattern.
They really are a great portrayal of the character. Desperately clinging to her dignity and feminity, a bit of lace down the center. Have you ever just needed a little piece of something beautiful in those dark moments?

Fantine's Desperation

US 2 3mm

Fingering weight iron oxide colourway

Arm

Cast on 45 stitches, loosely. Carefully join in the round, being careful not to twist. Place marker to mark beginning of round.

The mitts in the movie curl, if you want an edge that does not curl work:

Round 1: Purl.

Round 2: Knit.

Chart Placement

Left: PM Chart over back of hand (trank of glove) 25 sts, PM, K20

Right: K20, PM, Chart over back of hand (trank of glove) 25 sts, PM

At round 5 of chart for short cuffs or round 15 for longer cuffs, begin thumb gusset according to placement for right or left.

Thumb Gusset

Round 1 : 2 stitches before first marker, place a new (different colour if desired) marker for thumb, M1, knit two stitches, M1, slip marker,  work the rest of the round with chart between markers and stockinette on palm side. The thumb stitches between the markers are to be knit.

Rounds 2 & 3: Knit thumb stitches. Follow chart between markers.

Repeat rounds 1-3 a total of eight times, increasing and maintaining chart pattern on tranks. You will have 60 stitches total on the needles, and you will have 18 stitches between the two markers.

Hold Stitches for Thumb: Slip 18 stitches to waste yarn to hold for thumb. Cast on 2 stitches onto right-hand needle. Work 2 stitches from left-hand needle rejoining the knitting in the round. Continue knitting chart on tranks between markers and stockinette in the round for the hand stitches (total of 45 stitches for hand).

Hand: Knit as established until ½ inch less than desired length.

No Curl Mod Only-Round 1: Purl. Round 2: Knit.

Bind off purlwise.

Thumb Place 18 stitches from waste yarn onto needles. Join yarn and knit. Pick up and knit 3 stitches across cast on edge above thumb – 21 stitches. Work in knit for  1inch .

No Curl Mod Only Round 1: Purl. Round 2: Knit.

Bind off purlwise.

charted made with Intwined Pattern Studio 1.5

DOWNLOADABLE PDF HERE

Thénardier of Les Misérables

It may be that you were so totally distracted by the Singing that you missed the knits in Les Miserables.
Was I right? Well lets fix that! (Don't worry we will go back to dwarves and hobbits shortly.)
Knitting is mention in the book of course, it is a key to a great novel to mention knitting.
"From time to time, Cosette raised her eyes from her knitting, and looked sadly at them as they were playing." -Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Of course there is Russel Crowe, a knitter's long time favourite. Gotta love a man who can knit and sword fight.

Helena Bonham Carter must have had a blast playing this over the top character. She always gets such crazy roles.
Madame Thénardier's has these insane costumes with lots of colour and "slapped together from the rag bin" style.

Madame Thénardier's Pauper Gloves 

Les Miserables #1

Grey Fingering Wt and US2 3mm

Arm

Cast on 45 stitches,loosely. Carefully join in the round, being careful not to twist. Place marker to mark beginning of round.

Round 1: Purl.

Round 2: Knit.

Round 3: [k1tbl, p2] to end of round.

Continue in k1tbl, p2 ribbing for 3 inches or desired length.

Thumb Gusset

Round 1 : M1, purl two stitches, M1, place marker, k1tbl and work the rest of the round as established (p2,k1tbl). The thumb stitches between the markers are to be in the same ribbing.

Rounds 2 & 3: Knit in established ribbing.

Repeat rounds 1-3 eight more times increasing and maintaining ribbing pattern. You will have 60 stitches total on the needles, and you will have 18 stitches between the two markers.

Hold Stitches for Thumb: Slip 18 stitches to waste yarn to hold for thumb. Cast on 2 stitches onto right-hand needle. Work 2 stitches from left-hand needle rejoining the knitting in the round. Continue knitting in K1tbl,P2 ribbing in the round for the hand stitches (total of 45 stitches for hand).

Hand: Knit in established ribbing until ½ inch less than desired length.

Then:

Round 1: Purl. Round 2: Knit. Bind off purlwise.

Thumb Place 18 stitches from waste yarn onto needles. Join yarn and work in established ribbing. Pick up and knit 3 stitches across cast on edge above thumb – 21 stitches. Work in K1tbl,p2 ribbing for  1inch . Round 1: Purl. Round 2: Knit. Bind off purlwise.

More to come! But I want to get to bed before midight.

DOWNLOADABLE PDF HERE

Dwarven Gear #3 Ori Mitts

I know you are totally distracted by Ori's sweater and you THINK his mitts are garter stitch, but they are not. We are still arguing over Twisted Rib vs Half Twisted Rib or Rick Rack.
My money is on a modified RickRack. Rick Rack ribbing? But let's be clear on one thing: not garter stitch.

Look at the puffy hands! Heehee, I love the way they make these actors actually become dwarves!
My only regret is Thorin wasn't wearing knitting so we could stare at Richard Armitage. You know he is awesome when 3 generations of women in one family sigh when he comes on screen.

Back to Ori. He really has the most textural knitting in his costume. Some day I aspire to knit for Anne Maskrey. Really just beautiful!

How to knit Ori's Mitts
US 10
Knit Picks City Tweed held double

These are a bit harder than the first 2 sets of Dwarven Mitts.

Cast on 40[46,52] stitches. 

Row 1 (right side): P1, *skip first stitch, knit in back loop of second stitch (leaving stitch on left needle), knit in front of first stitch (remove both stitches off of left needle), p1, repeat from * to end of row.

Row 2 (wrong side): K1, *purl into second stitch (leave stitch on left needle), purl into first stitch (remove both stitches off of left needle), k1, repeat from * to end of row.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until 9", ending having knit Row 2.

Bind off with right side row facing in [p1, k2] pattern. Seam leaving a hole for your thumb.

Dwarven Gear #2 Bombur Mitts

This year with the book knitting and magazine knitting,, there is really no time for holiday knitting for 6 kids, a husband, dad, mom, 2 brother and a sister. (Do  not even mention my aunt's annual socks.)

But easy knits from The Hobbit movie? this I can do!
I took a note pad to sketch Ori's sweater. OK. Sketching in the dark looks really lame and stupid once it is in day light. BUT i know which yarns to use to replicate it: Indigo Dragonfly SilkMerino in RiverSong and the UNREALESED sekrit book colourway. or the firelfy gold colourway Kim has.

So back to easy knits:
Bombur.
These are linen stitch with a patch of seed stitch sewn on.
With most of their costumes, they are supposed to "BULK" up the dwarven actors.

Being semi-normal humans, we don't need the bulk.

I used knitpicks tweed in Charcoal 2 balls, held double. ( I LOVE THE WAY THIS YARN FEELS)

US 10

Cast On 42 [48] sts (small- CO 36)

Knit in Linen Stitch for 7.5 [8, 9] inches as follows:
Row 1: [K1, wyif, S1 purlwise, yb] repeat across, end k2
Row 2: [P1, wyib, S1 purlwise, yarn forward] repeat across, end p2
Essentially the stitches you slip on one row will be the stitches you knit or purl on the following row. (think tricky seed stitch). This fabric will not be stretchy.

Bind off and seam side closed leaving a hole for thumb. If you have the time and are feeling fancy you can knit these in the round and even add a thumb gusset. BUT come on, we are running out of holiday knitting time! They are designed to bee loose like Bombur's. For a tighter fit, work until it folds around your arm, just becareful as there is VERY little stretch.

TERMS:
wyif-with yarn in front
wyib-with yarn behind
yb/yf yarn behind/forward NOT to be confused with the british term Yarn Forward which is an american yarn over. Essentially return the yarn to a normal position for working the next stitch.

Seed Stitch Patch
Bulky Yarn
US 13


CO 4-6 sts depending on the width of your own hand. (2.5 sts per inch)
Row1: [K1,p1] across. Row 2: [P1,k1] across.
Knit 8-12 rows (depending on hand size), Bind off in pattern.
Attach to back of mitt.

Obviously you should make 2 of these for a pair of hands.