I made a knitting pattern! I’m always quite proud of myself when I actually publish a pattern. Although I have been designing hats for decades and since I learned to knit have been designing much of what I wear, I am truly a horrible note taker. I scribble my process on the back of napkins, my hat patterns live in several different shoe boxes. My sweaters are scribbled in many note books, crossed out, written on top. Understanding my own notes is a challenge. I would be lying if I said that this “process” works for me. It’s chaotic. Properly writing out a knitting pattern means slowing down and meticulously putting all the information in one place, so that the knitter succeeds. Well, I am very pleased with the finished pattern. My friend, Micheline, lent me her tech editor and graphic design skills, so that the pattern is correct and easy to read. I am also working very hard to be a better note taker.

These mitts have a sweet story behind them. Luella is the sister of Louise (who has a hat named after her). Luella lives in Sweden and was visiting Louise. They both came to my studio and bought some hats…and we talked knitting, of course. Luella and her hats went home to Gotland.

A few months later a package arrived in the mail from Sweden. How exciting just to see the Swedish stamps. How extra exciting to find that the envelope contained three skeins of Gotland yarn. Luella sent me yarn! It absolutely blows my mind that I have customers who send me gifts. A little kindness goes a long way. The two greys are the natural sheep shades and the purple was naturally dyed with Cochineal. It took me a year to figure out what this yarn wanted to become.

Yarn speaks when it’s ready. To be perfectly honest, one of the things holding me back was the purple. I don’t wear a lot of purple. But a few months ago I found myself mysteriously drawn to this colour and inspired to make myself some pretty purple and grey mitts.

I love my first pair knit with Luella’s yarn, but I wasn’t 100% satisfied with the design. I won’t bore you with the technicalities, but I’m really not a let it go kind of gal and I had to try again.

This was my second attempt. I love these colours together, but they weren’t solving the problem I was trying to solve. My third attempt (the red, blue and orange pair are the version that I am very happy with.) I will definitely be revisiting these colours.

Once the pattern was tech edited for errors, I put out a call for test knitters. This pair was knit by Rose. I love how she combined, Suri Alpaca with wool. It’s really very exciting for me to see other people knit my designs. So many possible colour combinations.

I love Katherine’s soft, natural shades.

If you would like to knit a pair you can find the pattern HERE on my website, and also on RAVELRY. Helping knitters is really a great joy, so if you need a bit of help please don’t be shy. I’m always here.