Out With the Old!

I ended 2009 by starting a new project and creating a new blog.  Both seem to be coming along nicely.

The project is a pair of 2-Needle Fingerless Mittens that I got at http://www.knitpicks.com/.  It's pretty simple and is progressing rapidly.  I have about three inches done on the first glove.  I'm using some Regia sock yarn that I purchased some time back.  It's pretty colorful and should go with just about anything I'll wear to work. 

I downloaded the pattern day before yesterday and couldn't wait on my order to arrive with my circular needles.  I thought I had the correct size in my collection, but didn't.  I didn't want to wait until my order arrived before I started on this so I decided to improvise.  I have a set of DPN's with the correct size so am using them as mini straight needles until my circs arrive.  The only real disadvantage is that I intended to do both at the same time on the circs so everything would be even.  I like the idea of "when you're done, you're done".

I've never worked with sock yarn before and for the first couple of rows I thought I would go blind!  My eyes aren't as young as they used to be.  Once I got going, it got much simpler.   I think the thing that has surprised me the most is how quickly it has been going.  I mean, the stitches are tiny and I seem to be flying on this.  It's truly mind-boggling to me...but, then, it doesn't take much.

I decided on this pattern because it seemed to fit my needs.  In the last 2-3 years, I've started experiencing a fair amount of hand pain once the weather starts getting cold.  It doesn't seem to matter whether I'm inside or out, either.  They hurt all the time--and not my fingers, either.  It's the thumb joints.  I've felt like I've assaulted my coworkers' nostrils enough with my support of the BenGay makers.  That stuff can just about drive me out of my cube when I use it. 

I've got some beautiful yarn coming from Knit Picks to make more of these with.  I'll post more pictures as I make more progress.  I'm also going to try and keep my Ravelry posts up to date with the progress, as well.