9/12/2011
I started a swatch for this, then I realized that, although I was fairly certain I should be checking gauge with the stitch pattern used for most of the mitts, I still didn’t know quite what to do to the swatch before measuring it. Should I block it? If so, how? So I decided they’re small enough that I’d skip the swatch and start over if I needed to.

I decided to do the ribbing with needles a size smaller than recommended, just because that’s typical for ribbing, even thought the pattern didn’t mention it. Then, as it got long enough to try on, I started thinking it was too loose. I decided to just turn it into a swatch. I did a repeat of the lace pattern with the same needles, then went up to a size 4 (the recommended size) to do another repeat. Then I switched to size 2s for more ribbing before I bound off.

After I washed it, before it finished drying, I thought it still seemed loose, so I went ahead and started with size 1 1/2 needles for the ribbing. Once the swatch dried, I realized 2s would have been fine, and maybe even 3s, but 1 1/2 seemed fine, too. (Ribbing is magic!) So I continued with size 3 needles for the rest of the mitt, thinking that smalled needles, if unnecessary, would only mean the lace would open up more. I was so excited about being close to finished that I forgot to switch back to 1 1/2s for the ribbing at the top! It flared out, though, so I redid it.

I’m now about to finish the thumb, which will complete the first mitt. it seems to work well. This is recycled yarn, so washing it shouldn’t change the size drastically. Right now it looks like I could have even used smaller needles to open up the lace more. We’ll see what I think once they’re washed.

If I were to knit these again, I think I’d just use stockinette for the palm. This is fine, too, though. I did add four rows to the ribbing at the wrist so they cover a little more. More lace repeats could also be added before the thumb gusset without any trouble.

9/16/2011
Michele saw these at Chicks with Sticks tonight, tried them on, and loved them. It seemed to make her day when I offered them to her! She asked me how much they were, and I said I didn’t need money for them…I even made them out of recycled yarn. I think she was only more impressed about the recycled yarn! So, long story short, she’s going to give me some yarn for them. I’m excited to see what I get!

When I first finished them, one looked bigger than the other. I worried a little, but I washed them before I made any decisions. Sure enough, they turned out to be the same size!