Saturday, March 28, 2009

Twined Noro Mittens

First of all I want to thank you all for your kind comments of my Margaret Cardigan. Sometimes a process is quite mysterious and you really don't know beforehand what you are going to end up with and that is what happened with Margaret. I was lucky. But the ride after her has been somewhat rough - and that is an under statement. I don't care to think of how many false starts I had before I finally gave up. And it got so depressing I did not even want to record any of it...

I think I sort of survived knitting fatigue and exhaustion; there was plenty of trial but nothing I was happy with. I did some sewing - as I can't live without handwork at all times - and occasionally did some knitting and finally I was able to start two projects of which the first one is done.


Last fall I bought few skeins of Noro Sock Yarn. The colors are so beautiful and tempting but for some reason this yarn has not wanted to become socks. I have looked at it ever so often wondering what I am going to knit with it. I looked at it and held it in my hands and looked a bit closer and realized that it is z-spun singles. Oh yes, Z-spun is perfect for twined projects. I took out my little dpns (2,25mm) and made a pair of mittens.
I think the fabric is most pleasing to the eye. The color number is S188. This would make a lovely sweater or a cardigan, the fabric has very nice feel but I would probably use thicker needles for that.

I have thought about crocheting some simple forms (with free form crocheting you can make just about any shape you want to) and then appliquéing those forms onto a knitted fabric.
I finally tried it here and crocheted few circles and then attached them with various embroidery stitches to the mittens. This was more like playing than embroidering.The winter seems to stay here. We have very low night temperatures and it is still cold during the day also but definitely there is the anticipation of spring. The amount of light is overwhelming, think lots of white clean pure snow and then bright sun rays and you almost go blind the moment you go out of the door. All my animals have crinkled foreheads when they sunbathe in the warm spots outside!

I have been picking up my quilting work more often now than knitting, but on most nights the knitting sort of walks into my lap and I am just about done with my other project too. More of it later. It is lace and it is black and it is dramatic.


Lene

47 comments:

  1. Anonymous01:23

    So glad to have you back again. Your voice is always welcome and inspiring.
    Patsy

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  2. glad you persevered and carried on. the outcome is certainly handsome.

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  3. I luv how your knitting is always so unique because of your lovely embroidery. Beautifully done. I saw that Noro sock yarn at my lys and might try it too.

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  4. Aldona04:17

    Hi Lene
    It's so nice to see a new post and your lovely new mittens. Our spring is advancing a bit too quickly for my taste--not nearly enough skiing this year. I've been meaning to knit some sweaters for myself and those little daffodil shoots just make it seem silly now.

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  5. The mittens are very lovely.

    It is hard to blog about the disappointments. Too many of other people's voices crowd out your own voice that tells you what you need to do.

    I doubt and so I stall.

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  6. Hi Lene,

    Glad you are back!

    Those mittens are lovely. I didn't have any trouble knitting my Noro into socks, but I have certainly had that trouble with some other yarn. (Lorna's Laces, I'm looking at you!)

    One of the things I like about your knitting is the little embellishments that you use. I never think about embellishments but yours always look really nice. The mittens are quite beautiful but the crochet/embroidery really highlights both the mitten's color as well as the mitten as a whole. Very lovely.

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  7. I am so in love with these mittens. The crochet/embroidery make them so special!

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  8. Your twined mittens are such little treats to the eye as well as hands, keeping them warm and toasty. The embellishments are delightful.
    How funny, the wrinkled foreheads, due to the brightness perhaps?

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  9. Anonymous07:16

    Love the mittens!
    margie in maryland

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  10. Anonymous07:56

    It's wonderful to read another post from you. I can understand having a hard time with knitting after such an amazing accomplishment as your Margaret Cardigan. Like living in a dark valley after being on the mountain top, a mental adjustment has to be made to continue on.

    The mittens look just right. Love the crochet work and embroidery.

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  11. Those mittens are so, so beautiful - I love the little crochet pieces. And I eagerly await black lacy drama!

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  12. simply stunning -- and they make me want to learn how to embroider things well.

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  13. I *thought* those colors looked familiar! I used that same colorway for my Noro Entrelac Socks for February Sockdown! on Ravelry. [I'm Ravelledsleave over there.]

    Beautiful mittens, Lene, and the crocheting and embroidery are the perfect final touch.

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  14. Anonymous15:53

    Breathtakingly beautiful mittens! Our cats are starved for sun this time of year, aren't they?
    Kati

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  15. Your mittens are very original and lovely. Glad to know that spring is coming and the days are getting longer.

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  16. Tess17:44

    Such a treat to click on your blog and find a new entry! And twined Noro - more Lene genius!!! Am going stashdiving right now to try that.

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  17. Very pretty mitts! I am glad you shared the free form crochet idea. I was wondering what it looked like. Glad to see it here. Your cat is precious with the crinkled forehead. A.xx

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  18. Oh, Lene, so glad to have you back! I missed your post. Your knitting is always so inspiring!
    We all have times when things seems to get stuck, and nothing goes like we want too. I am glad you persevered :-)))
    Those mittens are gorgeous.

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  19. I love how you always add your individual touch to a project, and how pleasing the results are!

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  20. I am so glad you are back. Your fans have missed you. The mittens are lovely - and so is the cat - he/she looks just like our black cat's friend Charlie next door.

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  21. The mittens are beautiful. Your embellishments are always so creative and artistic.

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  22. I have been slow to pick up my needles lately too, but the most uninspiring project of my brief knitting career is nearing an end.

    I do thoroughly enjoy looking at your projects. Your words and photos are an inspiration.

    I wonder if I can make my fingers remember how to do the twined knitting. I have not played with it in a long time.

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  23. Carol02:00

    Good to see you back! I do love your eye for color and design. The mittens look wonderful, and I can't wait to see your dramatic balck lace!

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  24. I am so glad you are back. The mittens are beautiful. I keep hoping spring is coming soon.

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  25. your mittens are truly beautiful.

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  26. Janeen15:06

    leni, those are absolutely stunning mittens!
    so glad to see your beautiful, creative knitting is back with you again :-)
    best, janeen

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  27. Nice to hear and see from you again :)
    Those mittens are absolutely stunning, more than my words can express right now. I love the "flowers", they remind me of your drawings!

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  28. I am always speechless at your creations, they are amazingly beautiful and very little else compares to it in originality. Keep knitting.

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  29. Oh, your mittens are pretty. I just went over to Knitty.com to look up twined knitting and I'll definitely be having a go at it some time.

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  30. I just tried "two-end-knitting" for the first time. Your lovely mittens really inspired me to continue learning this knitting technique.

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  31. Wow! your mittens are beautiful. and in my favourite colour Jane

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  32. welcome back. gorgeous mittens - the colors, the embroidery, very striking.

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  33. oh these are simply beautiful!!

    Your detailing is just fantastic. Inspiring too.

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  34. What works of art. I've just been reading on twined knitting--haven't started anything yet. I will have to scroll back and relish some other work of yours.

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  35. Stunning Noro Mittens . . . they are simple and stunning.

    Glad of your taking time to share with us!

    Thank you!

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  36. The mittens are wonderful. I love the way you embellish your knitting. I also love your blog and miss you when you're "gone". Hope spring comes soon to your part of the world.

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  37. Irmeli09:50

    I just found your blog. Your works are very beautiful and I love those colours!

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  38. what wonderful mittens that you have put a "sun" on ... and we all of course look forward to seeing your upcoming lace project.

    When do you get spring, by the way? :)

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  39. Lovely! Thank you for sharing your mittens with us. They are whimsical and make me smile.

    I've never knit mittens before and wonder: do you prefer a thumb gusset, or not?

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  40. Anonymous08:46

    i love your twined mittens! i was trying to count your stitches...did you use 64? i'd love to try these....
    mitt

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  41. Love the accents on the mittens. Perfect touch!

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  42. Your work is so beautiful it almost hurts my eyes to look at it! I'm a new knitter and this is what I aspire to. Thanks for sharing!!!

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  43. beautifully done. Lovely!

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  44. I just love the look of the mittens, and I think that the appliqued circles are wonderful.

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  45. Stunning mittens! I love the circles you crocheted on, lovely!

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  46. Belegajn trikotajxojn vi faras!

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