Selbu Knitting Style

In between my zillions of other WIPs I suddenly decided to cast on for something new.  I had the yarn in my stash (Satakieli from Schoolhouse) since early this year just waiting for the moment to start these mittens.  I love learning new things, I've knitted stranded mittens before but never in the selbu style.  The pattern is NHM#7 from Terri's Selbuvotter Knitting Book.  I'm using these as a warm up before I tackle other colorwork projects this winter, I know I wanted to tackle a set of gloves and perhaps my first garment.

Ever wonder what a difference needle size can make even if it's very small?  I know I do - whenever a pattern calls for 2.25mm I always debate how much different it would turn out if I used a 2.5 instead.  Seems pretty close right???  Only .25 of a difference? 

I use the cuff on mittens as my swatch to measure gauge.  On the left is a 2.25 needle (called for in the pattern) and on the right is a 2.5 needle.  The difference is pretty significant yet subtle - about 1/2 inch.  I went with the 2.5, the smaller size made the cuff a bit too tight.  I think it would have turned out child-size instead, kinda like Tiennie's recent problem. =)

And I couldn't wait to share this with you - I am so very proud of this spinning I just finished!  The batts were a gift from Erica when I was visiting in Germany, to Rachel and I.  Rachel spun hers up months ago but I was waiting to get a little better before I tackled such a yummy present.  And I have to tell you - I am a TOTAL batt convert!  These were so yummy and well prepped they were a dream to spin.  I am now seriously contemplating the need for my own drum carder so I can make some myself - they are THAT yummy!  Erica has an etsy shop if you're interested - I have another set of batts from her waiting in my fiber drawer that she custom dyed for me.  Yum - O!

This turned out about a fingering -- dk weight and is next to the skin soft so I'm contemplating a cowl that I might design myself.  I have about 305 yds to play with.  What do you think?  Cables or lace for the cowl?   I can't decide.

And I had a lovely surprise waiting for me in my mailbox the other day! I had won a blogiversary contest from Kim-Chi and she sent me such yummy pressies!  Koigu and the cutest little Koala notions container and a pretty little zippered pouch.  I feel so lucky - it was a truly awesome package, thanks so much! =)

Comments

[rohanknitter]

Those mittens are going to be so pretty, and the spinning is gorgeous.
I haven't tried any stranded knitting yet, I feel like I still need to get better at what I do know how to do. ; )
The little koala is adorable!

[Gena]

Love the mittens! And the koala, too!

[Erica]

The mittens are going to be fabulous! I have yet to take a serious look at the book myself. Your spinning is wonderful too! I just love how the colors worked out together. I'm so glad you enjoyed the batts.

[Angelika]

Boah, those mittens are so great. Makes me want to change from Endpapers over to those. Very yummy. Your spinning is getting great.

[Pat]

Selbu mittens are your warm up?? They would be my finale!

[Marina]

Are you using one or two needles on the mittens? One day, I'll need to learn how to do that. It's looking quite lovely!

Hmm, lace?

[cathyknit]

Lovely mittens! Thanks for the info on the different needle sizes too...hm-mm-m something to keep in mind!
Thanks also for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. It's always nice to hear from others!

[Beth]

Your yarn looks great!

[Hilary]

Oh my gosh, Keri, the mitten and the handspun are both GORGEOUS!!!

[Debi]

Those mittens are going to be stunning Keri!

[barefoot rooster]

Your puppies are adorable -- and these mittens are beautiful. As you can tell from my Rusted Root, I have a thing for purple these days. I think a cowl is a great idea. I just made a simple one from Last Minute Knitted Gifts that is getting a lot of early morning use these days, but I also like the feather and fan one from Tracy Ullman's book, and I just saw a very pretty Cherry Garcia (from Hello Yarn, I think - hope the name is right, I know it has an ice cream name!) on flickr...

[theLady]

Have you checked out Loop on Etsy? She has BEAUTIFUL colors (for spinning).

[tiennie]

Your yarn is amazing! Those knits are going to be gorgeous. Now I want to copy you and knit those too. Thanks for the shout-out I think. My troubles with tension! :)

[catherine]

beautiful! absolutely beautiful colorwork... i love that book! your spinning is pretty too, you should proudly show us all of it ! yummy ;)

[kimchi]

awww, you're welcome!!!
i'm so glad you like the stuff and that you can put it all to use! :o)
oh geez, your spinning puts mines to shame!!! but i'm going to a friend's place tomorrow to try out her ashford wheel--my first serious attempt at spinning on a wheel. but my drop spindle spinning is going muuuuuch better. :o)
i would use the handspun for lace but cables sound great too! a cabled cowl...that sounds very soft and warm!!!
and isn't it amazing how such a small different in needle size can make such a big difference in the end product?! :o)ek.

[lisa]

Beautiful cuffs started there! Love the yellow zippered pouch-very funny with the ball of yarn inside.

[nuttnbunny]

Lovely spinning!!!

[Rachel]

I always wondered just how much difference that .25mm makes between needle sizes. Now I know!

Your spinning is awesome! The yarn is so pretty. Batts are wonderful, aren't they? I'm seriously considering the purchase of a drum carder...

[Lynne]

Well, good for you tackling gloves! And leave it to you, doing them in such a beautiful colorwork! I can't wait to see them, Keri!

[Lazuli]

What beautiful skeins! And the gloves look great, too. (I'm looking forward to SAFF this weekend, aren't you? ... and yes, I've been away from blogs for a while but might work my way back!)