Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Plugging Away and An Upcoming Project


 This morning I find my right forearm is sore from all the blanket knitting I've been doing as of late.  I have been diligently plugging away and finished another square ring yesterday.  While I'm pleased I'm a bit overwhelmed that there are still 2 more skeins left to knit the final edging.  There will be some leftover yarn to be sure, but it's still quite a lot of yarn to knit when I just want to get this project done and out of my WIP pile.  Actually, I want to put it into use as the weather has turned colder and in our drafty house you can feel the difference (not that you can tell by my barefooted short sleeve t-shirt wearing son but that's another story.)

Since I don't have too much new to show you on that project I thought I'd show you a future project I have planned that I'm both excited and a bit nervous about.  When reading the Interweave Press KNITS magazine Santa so kindly left in my stocking this Christmas, I ran across an article about some very unique yarn.  It's called Silver Spun and as the name implies it actually has silver spun into the yarn.  The contents to be exact are 87% Combed Cotton / 5% Silver / 5% Nylon / 3 % Spandex.  We all know what cotton is, nylon I know is added for durability and strength but I was thrown for a loop as to what the silver and Spandex would accomplish.  Well it turns out the silver makes the yarn therapeutic because it has excellent thermal properties as well as making it conductive.  The Spandex is then used to keep the silver from breaking apart.  Interesting no?  The conductive properties really hooked me because that means you could wear gloves made out of this yarn and still use your smart phone.  The Feel Good Yarn Company who makes this yarn thought of that too and put together the above kits with this free pattern for making just such a pair of gloves.  I instantly thought of my husband who is in the tech trade and gets many business calls on his cell phone, sometimes at less than opportune times as he is on call 24/7.  For example, he was walking home from the bus stop this winter with his hands laden down with many bags and got a call on his phone.  He managed to get it out of his pocket but with only three rings before voice mail kicks in there was no time to take off gloves so what did he do?  Why used his tongue of course!  Can I get an ewww!  Yes, that was my reaction too.

Anyway, I purchased this kit right away after I read the article in December, but they have yet to knit themselves into gloves so I thought I'd give myself a deadline.  My plan being to knit these up for Dan's birthday which falls on the last day of March.  Plenty of time of course, but they'll come after this blanket, a hostess gift I'm knitting for a friend who's hosting me on my trip to Washington DC at the end of February and of course since I'm going on a trip I want to knit this scarf to wear while there...  So, I'll probably won't start these gloves until I'm on my plane to see my friend Anna.  They are the perfect travel knit though as they are small and will tuck easily into my purse.  The only reservation I have is knitting 10 individual fingers knit in the round on US size 2 needles.  Sounds very laborious, but hopefully they will knit up fast.

Joining in with Nicole for Keep Calm Craft On and Ginny for Yarn Along.

10 comments:

  1. Looks like an interesting pattern. I hope the fingers do knit up quickly.

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    1. Thanks! I'm already thinking how I can "cheat" and maybe make the fingers as i-cords and then just close up the top. Hmm...

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  2. That silver yarn looks lovely - how interesting. I've certainly never heard of it before. The blanket looks great. I have been contemplating starting a blanket - a pinwheel style - but have been daunted by the amount of knitting involved. I guess if you just keep at it!

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    1. You know I think a blanket is worth the copious knitting. It's so soft and squishy. Much nicer than store bought. But, yes it is a commitment.

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  3. There are just some projects that don't seem like they will ever be finished! Make sure you take care of that arm - don't want any knitting injuries!

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    1. Thanks Donna! Yes, I agree some projects feel positively endless.

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  4. Wow - thank you for sharing about that yarn - that sounds wonderful.

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    1. They are located on the East coast like you, but south in the Carolinas (can't remember which one.) Maybe one to try for your yarn journey as all the cotton is raised locally and the mill is local too.

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  5. The gloves sound like an excellent idea and no more phone licking - we hope!!

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