Mondays Are Long Days.

Everything is back to the normal routine around here. The holidays that kept friends and family from work or school are gone and It's just me with the kids again. I don't mind spending the time with my children, in fact I cherish it and I'm thankful that I can be here to watch them grow everyday. Though after a fun filled week with lots of friends and late bedtimes Monday did sneak up on me. I'm swimming in laundry, cleaning, toys and work and it's going to take me all week to catch up.


Right now I'm working on two free St. Patrick's Day cloths for everyone. I designed a larger cloth and a matching smaller scrubber as well. Hopefully I'll have everything up in a day or two so there will be plenty of time to make them for March 17th.


I took some time to myself last week to knit a few things for baby showers that keep popping up. My Mom's boss and a friend's cousin are both having baby boys next month and as soon as I take the pictures out of my camera I'll post them up.


Spring has been calling to me, even though the temperatures haven't. We've been stuck in this house for too long. I don't have the car during the day so if we need to get out for something it takes about half an hour just to locate everything to bundle up and walk out the door. Hopefully March won't bring too much snow, I'm ready for June.

I'll leave you with Ella's "I didn't do it." face. This little baby cracks me up to no end. Hopefully she'll leave you all with a smile as well.

Citrus...

It feels so great to finally get these mittens out. I was hoping for a January pattern release but with the kids and other family issues it just wasn't possible. I've been working on the pattern for these since the end of December and I'm so pleased with how they turned out. It's truly amazing to have an idea and then make it come full circle as a finished wearable accessory. I'm in love with stranded colorwork at the moment so these were a lot of fun to knit up.

If you've never tried any standed colorwork or traditional fair isle knitting before, there is a great video you might want to check out here. I use the traditional two-handed fair isle technique and knitted these mittens on two circular needles.

I knitted a size small to fit my hands

These mittens will be an ultra warm treat for anyone as the finished fabric is thicker than knitting with one yarn. They also have a traditional double thickness internal cuff.
Great for intermediate and advanced beginner knitters as the charts and instructions are easy to follow. Knitted in the round, using DPN’s or circular needles. Sizing is achieved by changing needle size and gauge.

Sizes
Women’s Small (Medium)
For additional length or width change the needle size. Knit Picks’ Palette yarn is on the lighter side of fingering weight. For a larger mitten go up a needle one size or use a lightly thicker fingering weight yarn. For a smaller mitten use a smaller needle. As with any pattern be sure to check your gauge first!

Finished Measurements for Small
After Blocking, Palm Circumference: 8"
Length: 8½" From bottom of cuff to top of mitten

Materials
Set of 4 or 5, 2.5 mm/US 1 double pointed needles (2.75/US 2 for larger mitten) or a 32" or longer circular needle, or two circular needles.
Knit Picks Palette:

1 ball (MC) or approx. 200 yds of fingering weight yarn for main color
1 ball (CC) or approx. 100 yds of fingering weight yarn for contrast color

Two stitch markers
Waste yarn in fingering weight
Tapestry needle

Gauge
40 sts and 48 rnds = 4" in chart pattern after blocking
10 sts and 12 rnds = 1" in chart pattern after blocking

This pattern is available as a PDF download and priced at $5.50. You can purchase this pattern if you are a Ravelry member by clicking the "Buy Now" button below. The Citrus mittens are also available in my Pattern Store here as a Ravelry Download. There are 6 pages total and the download is sized at 4.8MB. If you have any questions about the pattern or payment options, please feel free to contact me via email at KrisPatay4@yahoo.com or on Ravelry, KristenKnits.

Here is a link to this pattern's Ravelry page. I might be knitting a few more pairs, some friends have hinted they would love a "cremesicle" or "pink lemonade" version of these.

Birthday Cake and Messy Babies...

Today the kids and I made a birthday cake for their Dad's birthday. Lil' Victor helped me the whole way, mixing the batter and pouring it into the pan. He even managed to frost most of the cake with my guidance. It wasn't the prettiest cake we've ever made but I think they had more fun eating it.

I know I haven't posted in awhile. We've all been keeping busy in the house and possibly moving again so thats where most of my free time is going. Right now I'm working on a design for a pair of stranded colorwork mittens that I hope to get out before winter's over. I am also going to try for a spring set of cloths in the next few weeks. Hope everyone is doing well.