Knitting plans: New mittens and hat

I received a new coat for Christmas from my dad, who was horrified not pleased that I was tooling around in only a down vest. So, I have the coat equivalent of my cheerful pink vest in a cheerful turquoise.

I knew I’d be knitting the accessories to match in bulky or superbulky yarn, because I’m a post-graduate student with a full-time career as well, and I’d like to wear the hat and mittens this winter. I chose Knit Picks’ Wool of the Andes Bulky in Caribou.

The mittens’ pattern was inspired by the mittens Bella wears in Twilight and New Moon (Ravelry).

As a companion hat, I chose one I’ve been wanting to knit for a while: the Irish hiking hat
(Ravelry).

Looking forward to seeing these chunky cables appear on my needles!

Noro love

I am in love with Noro Silk Garden. The color is astounding, and the texture of the wool spun with silk is so attractive. I’ve only made two small projects with it (a slouchy hat, and a cowl), but it’s already one of my favorite yarns. If only it weren’t so dear in price…

Project 1: the Slouchy Copy Cat Hat

I used Terra Jamieson’s pattern; it only took one skein of colorway 225.

I think I need to block it a little further, since a big, Irish head + slouchy = not so slouchy.

Project 2: Noro Brioche Cowl

This pattern was self-engineered; I chose a lace pattern from a Barbara G. Walker stitch dictionary, added a garter stitch border on either side, and knitted two skeins of Noro Silk Garden, colorway 272, until I had just enough yarn to bind off. Then I twisted the entire strip once, and sewed the two ends together, creating a Möbius strip.

• Noro Silk Garden @ yarndex
• Noro Silk Garden @ Ravelry