Yuletide Greetings

The knitting needles and dye pots are still going non-stop on this end. I found the perfect holiday cards, and I'm trying to do my part to spread good wool to the people in my life. Now back to knitting, I have a few more things to make by Friday! Happy solstice everyone!

Hat: The Conversationalist
Socks: Wintersmith Socks

Rhinebeck, Long Overdue

Back in October, I traveled to Rhinebeck to spend a wonderful couple of days with a group of lovely friends. I of course took my camera with me, but immediately after the trip, my SD card corrupted itself. Two months later, I managed to rescue these photos.

Rhinebeck is so much more than yarn and fiber - well, it is a lot of yarn and fiber, but for me, it's an opportunity to escape the frantic daily pace and reconnect with people I really care about but rarely get to see. We get to stay together, knit, reconnect, and generally be merry. I came home with only a handful of goodies, but lots of happy memories.

Pattern: Teeny Tiny Mitts Ornament

I had to whip up a little gift for a handmade swap and came up with this adorable little ornament.

Gather up your sock yarn scraps!

Materials:

• US1 or US2 double-pointed needles (gauge is not important)
• Scraps of sock weight yarn (shown here: Toil & Trouble Classic in Persephone)
• Darning needle

Abbreviations:

• K: Knit
• P: Purl
• PM: Place marker
• SM: Slip marker

Leaving a long tail (we will use it at the end), cast on 18 stitches, distributing 6 stitches onto three needles, and join in the round.

Rounds 1-5: *K1, P1, repeat from * to end

Round 6: K all

Round 7: K8, PM, M1R, K2, M1L, PM, K to end (increased 2 stitches)

Round 8: K all

Round 9: K to M, SM, M1R, K to M, M1L, SM, K to end (increased 2 stitches)

Round 10: K all

Round 11: K to M. Remove marker and slip next 6 stitches onto scrap yarn. Cast on 2 stitches to close the thumb, K to end.

Round 12-21: K all

Round 22: SSK, K5, K2tog, SSK, K5, K2tog (decreased 4 stitches)
Round 23: SSK, K3, K2tog, SSK, K3, K2tog (decreased 4 stitches)
Round 24: SSK, K1, K2tog, SSK, K1, K2tog (decreased 4 stitches)

Cut your working yarn leaving a tail. Using a darning needle, weave the yarn through the live stitches and pull tight. Pull the yarn to the inside of the mitten and secure. 

Thumb:

Place live stitches onto needles. 

Round 1: Pick up and knit 2 stitches at the base of the thumb, then knit to the end of the round.

Round 2-4: K all

Round 5: *K2tog, repeat from * to end

Cut your working yarn leaving a tail. Using a darning needle, weave the yarn through the live stitches and pull tight. Pull the yarn to the inside of the mitten and secure. 

Weave in all ends except for the cast on tail. Fold the tail in half and secure it, so you can use it to hang your ornament.Enjoy!