FIL mitt, the left

Here’s where I stopped knitting last night, photographed a few minutes ago:

Dashing Still Life with Noro: Snapshot of a Project

I chose the Dashing pattern, which suits the gauge of the Noro Silk Garden. As you can see, I have modified the cuff section, making it with only one cable cross and that after row 16. Why? I was worried I might run out of yarn if I did the cuff as designed. Also I plan to fashion a mitten top on the mitt, attaching it on the back, plus a thumb capper, so my FIL can wear the set as actual mittens if he doesn’t want/need his fingers/thumbs exposed.

I’ll probably use the Podster Glove pattern for help with that, as it has those elements, albeit at a very different gauge than mine. Still, that pattern could give me some valuable insight into good convertible-mitten design. And I can use the help, ya know?

That full skein of Noro in the picture is a new purchase. I called my LYS yesterday morning and asked Barbara to set it aside for me (giving her 3 colorways as likely candidates, in case she was missing my first choice), then I sent the BC19 to pick it up for his poor sick mama. (Yes, it’s manipulative, I know, but a poor sick mama’s gotta do what a poor sick mama’s gotta do!)

Luckily, Barbara had the exact colorway and lot number I used on the first mitt. It’s color 244, lot B. I find that pretty amazing, as it’s been months and months since I bought the first skein. The knitting goddess must have been taking pity smiling on my current project! (All hail the knitting goddess!)

I haven’t started the right mitt yet, but I will after I finish this blog post. As it’s already after 4 a.m., I doubt I’ll get that mitt completed today. And after both mitts are finished, I’ll get on to the mitten/thumb toppers. And if worse comes to worst and I don’t like how they turn out, I can always remove those parts and still have a viable set of Dashing mitts. Gorgeous Dashing mitts, out of glorious Noro.

I love a win-win situation!

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The pussnesses were less impressed with my productivity last night.

Here’s what Puffer was doing while I knit:

Ahhh, the electric blankie is on!

The furry boys? Oh, they were following Puffer’s example, albeit on a different blanket.

Don't they look like an impressionist painting? "Fur on Fake Flowers"

Such beauty is a joy to behold, even if it doesn’t compliment one’s knitting.

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For the record, the low tonight was 25 F. It has warmed up to 30 F now, but the windchill is at 24 F. Brrrrrr!

Healthwise, my headcold kept me from sleeping well today. I managed a few two-hour naps, with awake breaks to drink something, put a cold pack on my head (to counter the headache that I always get when my sinuses are frakked up), let the kitty in the room, go tinkle, blow my nose. Not overly restful, and I am pretty pooped, even though I just got up 5 hours ago. Wish me luck getting some sleep later this morning and into the afternoon, as tonight’s a 12-hour work night.

I say “tonight’s a 12-hour work night” that like it’s something unusual, but my “normal” workshift is now 12 hours long, as of Jan 5. I just haven’t wrapped my brain all the way around that yet, I guess. Or my body, which still wants to go to sleep between 1-3 p.m. and sleep until 9:30. As I now work 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., this causes a bit of a conflict, to say the least. And getting sick now has not helped me adjust my inner clock, ’cause my body is on its own recuperating schedule and I am at its mercy.

On the positive side, where I always like to look, at least it’s still in my head and not in my chest. I do not have time for bronchitis or pneumonia or any of that crud. Let’s hope that resting and being kind to my body now prevent that sort of thing.

If you’ll excuse me now, I have a cup of hot tea to make and some knitting to cast on.

Stay warm and well!

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[Updated to add: I got more done than I'd expected. The right mitt still needs a thumb, but it's otherwise finished. I'll post a picture in my next post, provided I remember to take one. Guess I'll have to figure out that mitten cap and thumb cap sooner than anticipated. Ah, well, off to bed. Wish me luck with that whole sleeping thing, kay? Thanks.]

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