A Scarf

Just a reminder to leave me a comment about how you found my blog, and how long you've been reading, to be entered into a draw to win a copy of "Posh Pocket  Sewing Tips".  It's an adorable purse sized book filled with lots of tips to streamline your sewing and keep your creativity flowing.

At the recent machine knitting group I go to, I was having a hard time with a project.  I ran out of yarn for a hat.  Tried again, a bit smaller, but still not enough.  Then I tried another ruffle scarf.  I had picked out a grey/black ball  (66gr--100gr is a full ball) of  Bernat Truffles.  This was in the package of ruffle yarns I had gotten at Value Village, and I chose it that day because it's different than the other mesh ruffle yarns.   It has the edge with the loops that goes on the needles, then a narrow, silky ribbon like section, then the other edge is a thick chenille strand.  It's not very wide.

I thought I'd knit it with some grey yarn as the backing yarn.  No way was this happening.  I could not keep the thin ribbon down and the loops kept popping off the needles, more weight didn't really help.  It was not liking me.  Finally, I gave up and knit it over 5 needles, with 3 out of work needles between each.  I hung every other loop on the loopy edge on each needle and "knit" each stitch by hand.

Even so, it was a very quick knit.  The scarf is lovely, though since it technically is in stockinette stitch, it rolls!  The stitches close in, and with the rolling, it's become a very narrow scarf with a neat look.  Not so overly frou-frou like the other mesh yarns.  Available for  $25.

Later in the week, I picked up another ball, in browns, from Wal-Mart ($5.61; 100gr).  I thought I'd try handknitting it since I needed a travel project.  OMG.  I could manage the stitches, but I realized that by knitting every row, the ruffles end up on both sides, and I found maneuvering the yarn at the start of the row very awkward...I kept wanting to knit it heading back towards the ball somehow!!  I finally gave up.

Then when I went to put the ball of yarn back downstairs, I realized that the bag I got at Value Village had a ball of it in the browns!  So, do I make a double wide scarf (and considering how narrow it is when it rolls, it still won't be wide), or do I make two narrow ones?  I'll have to weigh the ball from VV first.

Then, I had to go to Michaels to pick up some yarn to make a matching diaper cover to go with that adorable pink/beige hat, so I had to pick up a few other balls of yarn while I was there (total: $11.27; 300gr).   I've got a little stack of itty bitty baby items to photograph and weigh before meeting the photographer tomorrow.  So exciting!

Yarn In:  400gr + 17 741gr = 18 141gr
Yarn Out:  66gr+ 14 574gr =  14 640gr
Balance:  3501gr more brought IN than used up
Costs:  $16.88 + $420.20= $437.08/311 days = $1.41

Yay!

We did it!  There's now 50 official followers!
When I first started this blog, I thought I'd have a few readers, local friends and family, some fellow knitters from about.com's knitting forum.  This was in the pre-Ravelry and pre-Facebook days.  I used the blog as a way to journal my family's life, alongside my love of knitting.  Mainly, I was going insane looking after three young kids, two with special needs, while trying to maintain a little piece of my original self.  I always loved to journal, and to write, and to photograph, so a blog seemed like a good idea.

Over the past couple of years, I've wondered where my readers are.  Did I still have readers?  When Blogger introduced the Stats info, it was re-assuring to know that indeed, people were reading my posts, but how many were regular readers, and how many came just because they had googled something?  Comments have been WAY down in the past couple years.  It's like, now that there are the Stats, and the Followers lists, people don't feel the need to make their presence known through the comments.  But without feedback, it gets very lonely here.  I know I've got a good number of visitors, but how many of you visit with me on a regular basis? 

For the give away, let me know how you found yourself here!  Do you have a favourite post?  Is there something you'd like to see more of?  I'll make the random draw on Friday.

My most popular post is the one on the machine knit baby cocoon.  It's had over 2300 visits (and yes, I suppose some of those were from me when I'd look up the post so I could give the link to someone else LOL).  The next most popular one is about learning the ribber on the Singer 327.  Machine knitting blogs are not very popular, and I love being one of the few regular posters about MKing.  I'll never come close to Diana Sullivan's expertise, but I enjoy sharing my experiences as a new MKer, and letting others know that it is totally normal to have one session be awesome and inspiring, and the next session involves getting your face whipped with the antennae, yarn wrapped around the brushes, and the whole work falling off.  LOL.

And for today's new content: 

These are MK hats, my "I Love This Hat" pattern (don't go looking for it today, I'm re-writing the instructions, but if you really want it this week, leave me a comment).  I was going to supply the MK group with the pattern and help anyone who wanted to work on it.  So, I needed to work the pattern again, to see if it needed improving.  First thing I did was sit down at the LK150 and read tension T4* or T4** for a larger size.  I thought, that's dumb, there is no ** on the LK150, just whole numbers and the *.  As soon as I started, I thought, there's no way I knit this at T4, that's way too tight.  At some point, I realized that I wrote the instructions for the SK155; a bulky gauge.  Well, despite getting the same gauge, this hat (the green one on the left) is like a pre-schooler's size.  It's in Patons Decor, and used 104gr--but only one ball, despite the balls being 100gr!

I remembered I had a ball of Bernat Mosaics in my stash.  I had picked it up at Value Village and knew from the weight of it that there'd be A knot, somewhere.  Well.  There was way more than A knot :(  For this hat, I short rowed down to 8 sts on one side and 9 on the other side, to add one more row per wedge.  This also meant each wedge started at opposite sides.  I'm not sure if that would work with two colours.  However, I think I prefer this hat in the self striping yarn rather than two colours.  This one is a smidge big on me.  I think if I had knit it at T6 instead of T6* that it would fit well.  I love that yarn.  It weighs 130grams.

I think I'll leave fessing up to buying yarn till the next post.  It's already rainy and a Monday, LOL.

Yarn In:  17 741gr
Yarn Out:  104gr + 130gr + 14 340gr = 14 574gr
Balance:  3167 more yarn brought IN than used up
Costs:  $420.20/309 days= $1.36/day

Itty Bitty Hats! And a Give Away!

I've mentioned my love-hate relationship with crochet.  When it's going well, I love the speed.  I can follow patterns, to an extent.  However, I am starting to make props for a baby photographer, and crocheting is the fastest way, and most of the best patterns are crocheted.  So I'm sucking it up.  Well, I'll still be knitting some of the items, LOL.

 This is the Cheri Hat with the addition of a button band to make it more boyish/soldier capish.

 It used up all that variegated blue and all a little butterfly of yellow (keep those little bits left over from projects, you never know when you'll need just a little of a colour!).  The blue buttons were one strand of sock yarn, in order to get them small enough!  Weighs in at just 30 grams.

 This precious itty bitty hat was knit sideways on my LK150.  I cast on 30st and short rowed down 6st at one end.  I can't decide which way I like it most, and the picture below makes it a little smaller.  I found a crochet flower pattern on line, and I've put it on a safety pin so the photographer can pick which way she wants the hat for each baby. 

The hat weighs 22grams and the flower is 10grams.  The flower is done in two colours because I wasn't sure I'd have enough to do it all in the matching colour, and I thought it might make it stand out better if the back row of petals was a solid colour.  This hat can easily be handknit too, and I've done many in garter stitch, years ago.  But on the machine....15 minutes :)

 

And now for the give-away!  Early this year, I received an email from a book publisher offering me free books.  I assumed it must be spam, but I did some googling, and the company did exist, and the books listed were soon to be released.  I still couldn't believe that someone found my blog and wanted to give me books!  Finally, I emailed her back.  Indeed, no obligations.  Since then, I've received several books, and I'm like a little child when a package comes!  LOL.  Right now, I'm at 48 followers.  When I get to 50 followers, I'll let you know, and you can leave a comment, and I'll make a random drawing from the comments on that post.  For the first draw, I'm offering the "Posh Pockets Sewing Tips".  This is an adorable little book with tons of great sewing tips.  I learned a few new things!  So, if you're a casual reader, just add yourself to the followers list, and you might become the winner!

 

Yarn In:  17 741gr

Yarn Out:  62gr + 14 278gr = 14 340gr

Balance:  3401gr more brought IN than used

Cost:  $420.20/306 days = $1.37/day

 

Ummm...I was doing good again about not buying yarn, but I grabbed a ball at Wal-Mart, and a couple balls yesterday at Michaels'...the photographer wants matching diaper covers and some more hats!  

Oh Baby!

I've got some baby items to show off!  I'd have even more if I'd get around to seaming a Baby Surprise Jacket, but I only like to seam during the day, and I don't get much "sit on the couch" time these days!  I also need some brighter days to photograph a few other items!

This is the "All in One" sweater done on the LK150.  This was a project the MK group I'm in did last....Oh my, I just went back in my emails to see if I had any record of when the club did it, and it was done last NOVEMBER.  It sat in my knitting drawer until early this month, all it needed was the ribbing around the opening!  So I finally sat down and got to work on that.  I was almost ready to cast off when I realized I had forgotten buttonholes!  So I decided to knit a flower and I'll sew a hidden snap on.
This is the same unknown yarn that I made the baby cocoon in, that you see in the tutorial from this past spring.  I think I have just enough left for a little hat, though I"m unsure of what size to make it.  If I have enough, I'll try to make two hats of slightly different sizes.  Heads grow pretty quickly.  It weighs in at 138gr and is 19" around at the chest.

Yarn In:  17 741gr
Yarn Out:  138gr + 14 140gr = 14 278gr
Balance:  3463gr more brought IN than out
Costs:  $420.20/304 days =  $1.38/day

Clogging

I recently watched a special on TLC about two rival southern US clog dancing studios.  That has nothing to do with these slippers, also known as "clogs".  The shoes that the dancers wear look like jazz shoes with tap dance cleats.  These knitted clogs look more like traditional Dutch wooden clogs.

 Anyway.  Another pair,  241gr of Classic Wool.  I used two colours for the upper main part, changing yarns in the center since it's done with short rows and that's the only spot that works.  Also, on this pair, I did the bumper join a little different.  I've often found that the bumper seems too big, so this time, I picked up the stitches and followed the instructions for the next row, but cast off at the same time.  Oh, and I never bother with picking up the sts with a spare needle (for the sole, the bumper or the cuff). 

These are listed in my online store!

 

Yarn In: 17 741gr
Yarn Out:  241gr + 13 899gr = 14 140gr
Balance: 3601gr more brought IN than out
Costs:  $420.20/302 days =  $1.39/day

No Thanks

I was looking at my stats, and saw an interesting internet address that gave no clue what it was about in the list of referring sites.  So I clicked it.  My anti-virus software popped up saying that a malicious attack was sent from that site!  Here's the address in case you see it in your stats too: 
 www3.t-8jy1o8pij.trickip.net 
Anyone know more about this sort of thing?

Manly Scarves

I know it's really easy, as a woman, to focus on the frilly, feminine, cute knitting projects.  So often men get forgotten, or get a simple stockinette scarf or hat.  I decided last week to make up some men's scarves.  Great one ball projects!

The first one was Sirdar Denim Tweed DK, 50gr.  It's a combo of acrylic, cotton and wool.  The best of each!  I made this on the LK150, using the common tuck pattern of every 4th needle in hold, knit 3 rows, put Russell levers to II and knit a row, then put the center needle of the three that had been in work, into hold.  And repeat.  Crochet cast on and off.  Then a good steam!

The second one, I made on my SK155.  Yes, I got a new tension dial cam and it seems to be doing tuck now (I have found that the tension dial still rises up and will come off the lever thingy, so I just keep a finger on the tension dial as I knit).  This one is Bernat Wool Blend (Natural Blends), 80% acrylic, 20% wool.  I used T10 and it was still a little tighter than I would have liked for a scarf, though it steamed out nice.  It's 102gr.  Interesting.  I wanted to use a punchcard to make the same design as the first scarf, but I can't seem to find that one.  I tried using a standard gauge punchcard, but it didn't work out.  So I used the EON one which gives a ribbed look on one side and a small honeycomb on the back (some people think it looks like moss stitch).

Both these scarves were super quick, even allowing for knitting each one for a bit before deciding they were too wide.  I mean, the actual scarf took maybe an hour.  Super boring knitting, but at least it's only an hour :)

I've listed these on my other site www.tracykmdesigns.weebly.com!

Yarn In:  17 741gr
Yarn Out:  152gr + 13 747gr = 13 899gr
Balance:  3842 more yarn brought IN than used up
Costs:  $420.20/299 days = $1.41/day

Dark Side Scarves

Yes, I went and did it, I knit ruffle scarves as per the current trend.  And, they are adorable.  Maybe not quite my thing, but I think I need to make more, of different yarns, before I find "mine".

I did somethings different than the hand knit versions.  I had seen on a Facebook group for Ultimate Sweater Machine owners how some people were knitting a thinner yarn and adding the ruffle yarn on every 4th row.  Start by casting on around 20sts with the background yarn and knit two rows.  Then, using the non-thick edge of the ruffle yarn, hang loops on the needles.  Depending on the ruffle yarn, and how thick you want it, use about every 6th loop.  I started out with every other loop, but that was not ruffly enough.  Once you have those loops on, hold them down with one hand and knit slowly over them with the background yarn, and then knit 3 more rows with the background yarn.  With the brows/grey one, I was using a sock yarn (28sts/4") and felt that 5 or 6 rows was better spacing.

With the pink one, I used the thick edge of the ruffle yarn.  This was the first one I made, LOL.  On the Red Heart Sashay (the scarf on the right), the thick edge has a glitter strand, so I quickly realized I had made the first one wrong ("Starbella" yarn).  I also thought it seemed a little wide at the end, so I gradually decreased the width until I was getting low on yarn and then started increasing again.  This makes the scarf narrower where you wrap it around your neck.  For the right one, I also made the ends more dense with the ruffles, and less dense through the middle.

I like the idea of the background yarn; it'll make the scarf warmer for winter, and perhaps lessen the "growing" issue I've heard about these scarves.  It also allows me to vary how wide the scarf is as I go along, as well as how thick the ruffles are.  And it uses up some small bits of other yarns!

Pink one:  133gr; beige/grey one:  113gr.  The ruffle yarn is 100gr in each case.  The pink one is quite a bit longer (and less dense) than the brown one.

These scarves are posted for sale in my shop!

Yarn In:  17 741gr
Yarn Out:  246gr + 13 501gr = 13 747gr
Balance:  3994gr more brought IN than used
Costs:   $420.20 /298days = $1.41/day

Can't Blame this on Marg!

Had to do some thrift store running around with Meg to look for costume parts, and of course, I check the yarns!  Value Village had quite a few cones of yarn, including some nice creamy colour, slightly fuzzy.  But no label.  So I passed it by!  I'm so proud of myself, LOL.  However, they did have this bag of ruffle/novelty yarns:

259 grams, for $2.99 + 0.39 tax....$3.38!  Usually this yarn is sold in 100gr balls, so I'll have to check each ball before I start a project.  But with the way I've been doing it on the knitting machine, I can stretch it out further than the HK patterns.

Also, while googling around this weekend, I came across a webpage with instructions on how to make your own novelty ruffly yarn on the knitting machine!  I might give it a try, but using the ribber.  Otherwise, you will have a very curly edge on the "yarn".  It's also going to be more dense than the mesh style ribbon yarns.  But it will be very unique!

Yarn In:  17 482 + 259gr = 17 741gr
Yarn Out:  13 501gr
Balance:  4240gr more brought IN than out
Cost:  $416.82 + $3.38 = $420.20/$1.43 per day

I do have a few completed items to show next week!

It's All Marg's Fault!

I think I  can safely blame this latest yarn haul on Marg.  She's in the same Yahoo machine knitting groups as me, and I joined the Kawartha Karriage Knitters' Klub because of her.  Members of this club like to travel into Toronto to visit a yarn store that also deals with knitting machine stuff.  It's not a trendy, come sit on the sofa and chat, type of store.  It's not on a convenient commuter train or subway line.  For someone like me who doesn't city highway drive, it's not that easy to visit.  But the ladies said they'd pick me up on their way in, so how could I refuse?!

I needed a couple parts for my knitting machines, so really, I HAD to go.  And since I was there, I HAD to get yarn too.  2000 grams.  Oh boy.  Some of it was Patons Classic Wool (oops, forgot to see if they had the Classic Superwash Wool DK!), which I try to keep a good stockpile of for felting.  Some was sock yarn--one bag is manly camo colours which should make a cool scarf or gloves.  One big ball is James Brett Marble Chunky which will make a nice boyish blanket to add to the sell box (I do tend to favour girl colours).  Two balls of Patons Lacette in a plum colour to knit with that huge cone of the pink Lacette that I used for ponchos a few Christmases ago and still have a ton left.  Six balls of "Tent Sale" ruffle yarns for scarves.  I really would have liked to buy more, but I"m trying to behave myself.  As it was, I spent $131 in total, but some of that was the parts.

I've got to get sewing in the next few days, and get some mitts done.  I'm still trying to find a craft sale that I can rent a table at, but I fluctuate between "I don't have nearly enough stuff or time to make stuff" and "I've got some neat stuff".  I've also made a connection with a local photographer who is interested in baby photo props.  I feel like I've got so many things happening right now that I can't give enough to each thing, yet I don't want to give anything up.  And did I mention that the basement is being renovated and everything is being moved into my studio space?! 
Yarn In:  2000gr + 15 482gr = 17 482gr
Yarn Out:  13 501 gr
Balance:  3981gr more brought IN than out
Costs:  $317.59 + $99.23 = $416.82/290 days = $1.44 per day

Move Along....Nothing to See Here....

Well.  I got bit.  By the ruffle scarf bug.  I'd been letting those couple balls I bought hibernate in my basement, but after seeing some ruffle scarves done on the knitting machine, I thought it was high time to knit it up, lest it hibernate itself right out of style.

I'll post pictures tomorrow of the first two scarves.  Today is about what I purchased to make more.  Last week, Michael's had the Sashay and Starbella on sale, $1 off, so I bought a few more balls.  On Thursday.  On Friday we get the new flyer, and they're on sale for even more off.  Argh. 

I've gotten some questions about my "Yarn In/Yarn Out/Balance/Cost" blurbs.  So, to recap--the week after Christmas last year, I decided to start keeping track of how much I knit and how much yarn I buy.  The first few projects were using up old stash and I couldn't figure out yardage, so I decided to go by weight.  It's also easier for most people to visualize 100gr of yarn (a ball of Classic Wool, or Decor, or sock yarn), rather than 220yds (Classic Wool) or 420 yds (sock yarn).  When I'm fully done a project (trimmed ends, etc), I weigh the project.  That's pretty simple.  I don't do a lot of swatching, so I generally am not weighing swatches, unless I actually knit something from that swatch and it's using up the yarn.  If I'm keeping the swatch because there's more yarn, or I'm not ready to use it, then I'm not weighing it.  As for "Yarn In"....I started off the year with a big yarn donation--4820gr.  I did NOT add this to my "bought" yarn total.  I tried initially to keep separate totals for things I made with donated yarn, but I think it caused too much confusion in later posts where items were made from both types of yarn, but I used only the running total from "bought" yarn.  So, I'm going to go back and alter the original posts to reflect TOTAL yarn in (from all sources) and TOTAL yarn out.  When I get that done, I will update this post, so I'm not posting my totals for this purchase, except to say it was 600grams and about $45.

Okay, I've updated.  For those that are interested, previously, on Oct 4, I had posted Yarn In:  9738gr, Yarn Out:  12 643gr; Balance:  2905gr more used than bought.  My new Oct 4 details are Yarn In:  14 828gr; Yarn Out 13 501gr; Balance 1327gr more In than Out.  So, my yarn in grew quite a bit, and my yarn out grew a little, and I've still got more new yarn brought into the house, than yarn that has left the stash (yes, much of it has just changed shape and moved to a different part of the house).  And now are my new totals including the yarn I bought last week:

Yarn In:  14 828gr + 600gr = 15 482gr
Yarn Out:  13 501 gr
Balance:  1927gr more IN than Out
Costs:  $317.59 + $42.86 = $360.45/289 days = $1.25/day

I still think this is quite reasonable; particularly the cost per day.  Less than a cup of coffee!  And, if you divide the 15 482gr by $317.59, you get 48.7cents per gram.  That doesn't sound too bad, though I will admit getting the huge (4829gr) donation early in the year really subsidizes that cost.  If I didn't have that donation, my daily cost would still be the same, but my output would probably have been a little lower too as I made at least 4 baby blankets and many hats/scarves with it!  I was going to figure out how much yarn I use per day, but some of the "yarn out" was donated, not knit.  If I don't buy anymore yarn, and do get more used up...lets say I end the year with 1000gr more brought in than used....times by 17 years of knitting....17 000gr of "surplus" yarn....You really don't think I'm about to get out my scale and weigh all my yarn do you?  LOL!!

Sweet and Simple



I couldn't wait to share this blankie with you.  It's not fussy, difficult, creative, or special (yet) but I think it's because it's not any of those things, that I want to share it.  It's nice to get back to basics once in awhile.

 

I started with the mitered square blanket from Eileen Montgomery.  I have made this before (scroll down to the end), but I can't find the original post.  With the original pattern, you short row by putting one needle out of work and knit two rows.  I found that this doesn't quite make a square (though at a loose gauge, it could probably be blocked fairly close).  While knitting the Bill King Boleros, I thought about how the 3 needles in work, 1 out of work pattern gave a stitch and row gauge that were very close to being equal.  I wanted to try knitting the blanket using that idea. 

Well, I forgot that when I cast on, LOL.  So, I decided to try another way that's been mentioned online.  Put one needle out of work, knit two rows, put two needles out of work, knit two rows.  This more closely replicates the 2/3 or 3/4 stitch to row gauge of stockinette knitting.  My biggest challenge was trying to keep track of 1 vs 2 needles, LOL, but if you don't get disturbed, this blanket could be done in two hours, I'm estimating.  Then it's time for the trim!

 

The original pattern suggests a giant pie crust trim.  I wanted to re-visit a Mary Anne Oger trim that I had done before (Knitwords 41, Summer 2007 and also "Knitting on the Edge"). I was heading to the MK group I go to once a month, so I packed it all up to take.  I wish I had had the chance to try the edging before I left as it took me a bit of time to figure it out again.  It's not nearly as fast as the worm or pie crust trims, but it is quite cute and perhaps a bit more boy-ish than the loopy trims.  It took me a week to finish the trim, but that's only because life got in the way.  A good solid day at the machine would have had it done.

 This edging really needs to be steamed.  You can see the steamed part in the upper center, and compare it to the right edge.

 And from the back side, you can see how the trim sort of rolls where it's joined.  Below, the steamed part is the upper right edge.

 All steamed!  I wasn't too thrilled about this yarn--an old Sears yarn, 100% acrylic.  It had a sort of dry feel.  I washed it before steaming, since it was such an old yarn and had been hanging around my basement, my knitting bag, and who knows where before I got it.  That helped the feel, but the steaming really improved it even more.

 It's 30" square, not including the trim.  I used 60 sts, T7.  I forgot that by putting two needles out of work, it would mean "using up the stitches with fewer rows" so that makes it smaller.  Next time I'll use at least 75 sts.  That's another reason I wanted the wider trim.

The trim is done with the right side on the wrong side of the blanket.  This creates a contrast on both sides of the blanket, making it not really having a wrong side.
Into the sale bin it goes ($30)!  I still have more than enough of this yarn to do another blanket, but I think I'll do some clothes for a change.

Yarn In:  14 828gr
Yarn Out:  234gr +13 267= 13 501gr
Balance:  1327gr more In than Out
Costs:  $317.59/284 days = $1.12/day

Reversible Mittens

Wow, life is really getting in the way of getting much done!  Every time I go out to do something, it takes two trips.  One day last week, I was at the kids' school FOUR times. 

One problem with knitted mittens is that they tend to not be dense enough, particularly against wind.  Yes, you can use thicker yarn, but you still can not eliminate the microscopic gaps between stitches.  You can add an inside, knitted layer, but it's still just two layers of knitting.  I began thinking maybe I could try "plating" to get a thick pair of mittens without using a thick yarn. 

Plating (or, some machines call it "plaiting"), is knitting with two yarns in the carriage.  One is held closest to the needles, and one is held further out.  This means that the knit side of the fabric shows up as one colour, and the purl side as the second colour.  If you were to just hold two yarns together, they twist around each other and appear random on both sides.  This is one of the few things that a knitting machine can do that you just can't do in hand knitting. I'd never done anything with it before, but after the seminar I went to in May, I was eager to try.

My first issue...the ribbing.  If I plated it, then converted the stitches, you actually get vertical stripes of both colours.  I finally realized that I could make the ribbing like a big hem.  Start with the inside colour, knit 20ish rows, change to the outside colour, knit another 20 rows, and then convert it all to ribbing.  Then pick up the first row (done with an open cast on), and put it on the needles, and continue on.  Found out you have to cut the first yarn after it's ribbing though, and re-start it after hanging the hem. 

And since the backside is a different colour than the front...what if they were seamed so they can be reversible?  At this point, I really wish I had a mid-gauge or bulky with a ribber, and could have knit the hand without needing to seam.  The knitting didn't take long (well, not if you don't count the first mitten that I made which I had to unravel after I weighed it and found it took more than half the ball of pink, and I had only one ball).  But the seaming...that was a killer. 

I mattress stitched the pink/purl side and it looked great.  Then I tried several options for the knit/black side.  Ended up sort of duplicate stitching.  It didn't really even need a seam on the outside, but my conscience told me to do it.  LOL.

These ended up fitting about a size 5 (Meg is 6 and a big girl, and they don't fit her).  I've listed them for sale in my webstore at $15.  Basically, that means I worked for $0.01 per hour, after taking off the material costs.  Sorry, not worth it!  However, if you'd like a custom knit pair, I'd be tempted to do that, but I won't be knitting these up as "stock".

Yarn In:  14 828gr
Yarn Out:  13 201+ 66gr = 13 267gr
Balance:  1561gr more In than Out
Costs:  $317.59/282 = $1.13/day
(however, I've bought quite a bit of wool sweaters/fleece in the past week!)