Finished and Started

Posted on by

Only two last Christmas presents to show you, all done and finished well before 12th night.  That means that in the end I only fell down on Joe’s socks, and frankly we’ve been together long enough that I can likely either get away with it or make it up to him, and honestly,  he’s the sort who would only pretend to be bothered by it so I would have to make it up to him, which means that in a roundabout way he’s also probably happy I didn’t finish.  As much as those aren’t done, these pretty Ellie Mitts are.

I’m a little addicted to these, which is funny, because to be completely honest I’ve always thought that fingerless mitts were a little silly.  I mean, if it’s cold enough that your hands might need mitts, wouldn’t your fingers need mitts too?  It’s always my fingers that get so cold, but it turns out that I wear mine all the time, they really do make a difference… and now in the deep of the winter, I’ve been putting them on under my mittens – so that when I inevitably have to take my mitts off to get my keys, or find bus fare, or use my phone – I’m not totally exposed.  Turns out they’re awesome, and it’s hard to beat the MCN kits for these mittens from Indigodragonfly for cozy.  Lovely yarn – and the buttons have me entirely charmed.

(The colourway is "Shall we Tint", exclusively from Shall we Knit.)

This pair (together with the other little thing I finished but haven’t shown you yet) wrapped up my commitment to Christmas knitting, so I did something (other than plod away on Joe’s socks) that I think is super responsible. 

I started a Christmas present for next year.  Any guesses?

138 thoughts on “Finished and Started”

  3. Ooh, here I am almost first in line, and I have no idea! But I’ll second Jessica’s suggestion.

  4. Jessica nailed it, IMHO. My favorite Doctor, and mostly because his scarf is so incredible, and if you’re making a faithful reproduction, 12 ft long!
    Knit like the wind before the garter stitch Daleks get you!

  5. Doctor Who! I made that scarf – weaving in ends nearly did me in. Good job starting now. You just have to stick with it.

  6. Doctor Whooooooo! Are you are knitting it in finer yarn such that the scale of the different color blocks matches the original without your knitting a 12 ft scarf?

  7. We know that YH does not care for intarsia knitting. The photo does not show enough of one colour for it to be a major Fair Isle project, and that many colours is overkill for a small Fair Isle project.
    So. Although I have no knowledge beyond the fact that it exists, I must concur. Dr. Who scarf.
    Next, for whom?

  9. Rats. I though I would be the first to guess Dr. Who scarf.
    I wonder sometimes about the connection between knitting and people’s personalities, or how their brain works (or in some cases…doesn’t work).

  11. Ps. I’ve always worn my fingerless mits over gloves, never under mits. That’s really ingenius! I never would of thought of that!

  15. Doctor Who scarf, did on for my brother during the olympics this year. Nearly thought I’d throttle him with my sticks toward the end, and then I diligently avoided all projects with garter for a long while. Honestly never thought I’d be so tired of the knit, that I purled my heart out a few times, just to remind myself that I was stuck in a time loop.

  16. I love fingerless mitts and I’m so glad you’ve converted! I think that keeping your wrists warm will make your whole self feel warmer regardless of how exposed your fingers are. I also think it helps that blood stays warm right to the base of your fingers – so mitts kinda do keep your fingers warmer even though their not covered.
    I’ve had plenty of time to work out my reasons while knitting Lots and Lots of mitts: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/time-on-my-hands

  19. I would say that, if it IS a Dr. Who scarf, then it would be for Hank.
    However, and call me a maverick here by all means, but I suspect that it isn’t a Dr. Who scarf; though in that case I have no clue what it could be.
    I’m still knitting socks like a madwoman, because not content with making me knit socks right up until Christmas to fill all my orders, my lovely customers decided that January is the perfect time to go Cross-Country skiing in – wait for it – knee length boot socks. Oh well, taking it philosophically, it’s more of what I enjoy, right? (Doesn’t hurt that it leads to spending-money for my vacation, either.)

  20. If that’s a Dr. Who scarf, it’s the daintiest one I’ve seen! Most of them have ginormous stripes. Or perhaps that’s a swatch? But your color scheme is nice, no matter what it is!

  22. The Fourth Doctor’s scarf! Good luck getting it done by Christmas…and the ends woven in!

  24. Yay, a Doctor Who scarf! I’ve made 4 so far, and have a fifth on the needles right now. It becomes an obsession, you know.

  25. Joining in the chorus to say Doctor who scarf! With those colors, it’s a dead giveaway! Hope whoever you’re making it for really deserves it!

  27. Both my children and my mother have their birthdays in january, so I’m still knitting presents… I’m really looking forward to february so I can knit without a deadline!
    I agree with everyone, that last picture sure looks like the beginnings of a Dr. Who scarf! I hope you have a lot more wool… 🙂

  28. That has to be a Dr. Who scarf. You’re starting it now?
    You are a wise, wise woman.

  30. That’s a Doctor Who scarf! On the cross-stitch board I manage, we’re doing a KAL for that scarf.
    I think I need to acquire some yarn and join in!

  31. First thought: Doctor Who scarf. I’ve been meaning to make one, but aren’t there a bunch of different ones? Doctor Who (the show) has always confused me because I can’t figure out what order to watch it in.

  32. If it’s not a Dr Who scarf, I’m going to say baby blanket for a baby whose future arrival has not yet been revealed on the blog… (but maybe it’s being 8 months pregnant that’s making me think all knitting is for babies)

  33. I sent drawings of my hands and my personal knitter-pal made me special gloves, for my long, long fingers, with the tips of the index finger and thumb partially exposed. They are saddling and bridling my horses in winter. The tips of those two digits pull up a cinch strap, slide a bit into a mouth, clip on and buckle the breast collar, then buckle the narrow cheek strap. Imperfection is beautiful.

  36. There is enough yarn there for a fair isle sweater if it uses multiple colours. Many patterns, like Ivy League or Autumn Rose don’t use more than 2 skeins of each colour. The yarn looks like Jamieson Spindrift which seems a bit thin for a Dr Who scarf

  38. Tis a 12th Doctor Scarf.
    Been there, done that! Miles and miles of garter stitch … but the important question is: Who is the recipient?

  39. I used to feel that way about vests. It’s usually my arms that are cold, so how is a vest going to keep me warm, no matter how puffy? But then my work switched to vest made of sweatshirt material and I discovered just how bloody warm a vest can actually make you. I figure fingerless mitts operate on a similar concept, and I do like having them sometimes.

  40. I too am doing the scarf- I under estimated how much Firecracker Red from Knit Picks which is out of stock until the end of January, so I have an excuse not to be done. Besides, anyone who wants a 12 foot scarf should not be fussy about which Christmas they receive it!

  41. Fourth Doctor Scarf–DK/Light Worsted, Season 12.5 to 14?
    Presumably using the pattern from doctorwhoscarf.com because wittylittleknitter.com’s says 30sts.
    (There’s too much information about this on the internet and I have read a lot of it. Sorry if this comes off as rude.)

  43. A Dr. Who scarf, of course! And, the last time I was in Little Red Mitten in St Thomas they were selling Dr Who scarf kits. So my guess is, you got a kit there in the fall. Fantastic, and best of all the doctors, no disrespect intended to my second favourite, Matt Smith.

  45. I’d say a Dr. Who scarf as well, because it is enough mondo amounts of garter stitch that starting now might just be a requirement.

  46. I’ve been wearing my season 12 doctor who scarf every day that is below zero and it is magnificent! May the future recipient love it even half as much as I love mine!

  47. I live in Minnesota, so I used to be like-minded about the concept of fingerless mitts. (To tell the truth, I have little use for knitted mittens of any sort, because they aren’t warm enough for our winters.) Then I realized I could wear them INDOORS while doing sedentary things like working on the computer. Couldn’t believe what a difference they made.

  48. Now I feel better. For a variety of reasons I didn’t get my husbands socks done till almost New Years Eve. I keep forgetting the it counts as Christmas until Twelfth Night. I mean I know it but I feel compelled to have Christmas gifts done by, well, Christmas. Thanks. And a happy and blessed 2013 to you and your family.

  49. Omg! You’re knitting the Doctor Who scarf? You’re far braver than I!
    Those mitts are gorgeous and I need to look into it. My hands get so cold at work but I need my fingers to type so it’s a great solution.

  50. Fingerless mitts are kind of like a worsted weight sweater with short sleeves (!)
    Although they DO look cool, and that is a good idea to wear a mitten over them
    Happy New Year!

  52. I guessed a Dr. Who scarf right away, although my son calls it a Tom Baker scarf since he was the one that wore it. I finished making one of those in Sept. and it’s about 12 1/2 feet long. Now I’m working on a Harry Potter scarf.

  53. PS My kids gave me one of your books for Christmas without even knowing I read you all the time.

  54. Oh ye gods, you’re doing a Who Scarf! I need to get mine out of the Procrastination Bin and finish it.
    Best of luck!

  55. That is totally a Doctor Who scarf, I know those colours intimately! I just finished mine on Sunday 🙂

  56. Oh SNAP. Somebody is going to LOOOVE you. It’s an awfully good thing you’re starting that now.

  57. I gave fingerless gloves to my friend who has major circulation problems. She loves to read in bed, and
    she wears the gloves because they keep her hands warm but she can still turn the pages.

  58. Aaand my mom just said you should be able to whip one of those out in a couple of days if you really went at it. Yes, she knows they’re about a million feet long. But it’s just straight knitting, right? hahaha

  62. It looks to me like a Doctor Who scarf! Very fitting since it’s the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who. I can’t wait until next year to see if we are all correct.

  64. It’s got to be a Fourth Doctor scarf–excellent! (And good on you starting now!)
    Love the mitts as well. I’ve also started layering fingerless mitts under mittens–it works nicely!

  67. Doctor Who! Or, as my friend Colleen called it when she made it for her husband, the “I must love him” scarf.

  68. I love those mitts.. I call them wristers.. they do make life better!
    I think I need to join the 21st century and watch both Dr. Who and Downton Abbey.

  70. I, too, vote for a Dr. Who scarf. They take FOREVER! (Or to the next winter solstice.)

  71. Entirely different line of thought…..Are you planning a (CA) Bay Area trip this year? I seem always to be making my infrequent jaunts elsewhere exactly when you are making an appearance in my neighborhood. If you know you’ll be in these parts, please post. Many thanks!

  72. I’m going to buck the trend here. It may be a scarf styled like the one on Doctor Who, but it is not a replica.
    I Googled images of the Doctor, and none had the Doctor (any of them) wearing a scarf with those same colors in it. The best images indicated the scarf seen on TV had shades of a slate-y blue, a mauve-y barf pink, and a deep reddish-purple shade somewhere between burgundy and eggplant.
    The colors also aren’t quite right for a Cosby-style sweater (to say nothing of the absence of pattern stitches in the sample shown).
    Therefore, I’m going to guess that the project is a colorful serape or poncho.
    P.S. to Steph: If a certain unfinished gray gansey has been sapping your will to knit, maybe you should knit Joe a Cosby sweater instead? Just used subdued colors so there’s half a chance he’ll actually wear it more than once.

  73. P.P.S. to Steph: Or, you could just suck it up and knit him those socks. . . ;-)!

  75. Oooh! I know, I know! Because I made one myself this summer. So much fun. Astonishingly, all that garter stitch never gets boring…
    The mitts are beautiful. If I hadn’t made a New Year’s pledge to buy no new yarn this year (apart from specific commission work) I would snatch up one of those kits in a heartbeat…

  76. I am going to buck the trend and guess the Moderne Log Cabin Blanket from Mason Dixon Knitting. I know it is a long shot, but if there is a prize I won’t have to split it 99 ways!

  77. I also think that you have decided to knit the 12 soul-sucking feet of garter stitch known as the Dr. Who scarf. I beg you to step away and knit socks or a nice sweater before things get ugly.

  78. Hee hee! My husband is also knitting a Dr Who scarf, to be worn at a SF/fantasy Con in Atlanta, GA next September. He’s a not quite beginner knitter, so I will be interested to see which one of you finishes first. ;~)

  81. Thanks for the comments on fingerless mitts. I have always been with you thinking they were silly!

  82. Thanks for the fingerless gloves pattern. I’ve been wanting a pair for a while now – my oldest daughter takes riding lessons, and I always take my knitting but sometimes it’s just TOO COLD. I thought that maybe fingerless gloves would allow me to knit anyway. Well, it’s worth a try.

  83. I’m so happy to see that the Harlot is knitting a Dr. Who scarf too! I’m about 5 feet into mine, which was supposed to be a present for this Christmas, but then I decided (and told my husband, the intended recipient) that it’s a TIME TRAVELER’S SCARF, so really it doesn’t matter when it gets done, because it can travel back in time and be ready by last Christmas.

  84. I am guessing a Dr. Who scarf given the colors and the number of skeins shown in the photo. More yarn could make an awesome Dr. Who vest or sweater for Joe or another lucky recipient.

  85. That totally is a Doctor Who scarf! I been wanting to make one for years. It’s just uber expensive to start from scratch with the yarn. Looks like Steph has leftovers that she is knitting from.

  87. It looks like you’ve started a blanket. Probably a big one since you are starting it now.
    I also didn’t finish a pair of socks for my husband! I don’t have the number of FO’s that you do though, to explain my lack of finishing. I just waited too long to start. Oops!

  88. Definitely a Dr. Who scarf! Can’t wait to see who the Whovian in your life turns out to be.

  89. All thoise different colours of J&S – it has to be a Betty Mouat cowl. Be warned they are totally addictive. I’ve done several and am still charmed by the pattern and alll the lovely colour possibilities.

  90. I first thought baby blanket, then reading the comments I have to agree that it looks like a Dr. Who scarf.
    When I knit one, I practiced Russian joins so the only ends to weave in were the beginning and end. Worked like a charm!

  91. My immediate thought was a Log Cabin blanket, but the Dr Who scarf people are very passionate about their guesses!

  92. Sigh – Steph, you are showing your age!! 😉 Here I am knitting a tweed waistcoat and bowtie for my son-in-law à la Dr. Who and you remind us all of Tom Baker (who, it has to be said is also “my” Dr. Who!!!)…

  93. I was going to go with a new nephew sweater – given the anticipated rate of growth of either it would not be unreasonable to start now but the Dr Who faction are very persistent and I am starting to wonder whether I’m seeing a little Tom Baker …

  94. I don’t have a guess for the mystery project but I have to add my praise for fingerless mitts. They are so comfortable to wear in the house when sitting still at the computer, etc. My hands are naturally cold all winter but not since I made my first pair of fingerless mitts! I have knitted many pairs as gifts and have got repeat requests. I have 6 pairs myself so I can match them a bit to what I am wearing.
    It is a great way to use up sock yarn!

  95. I think it’s a Dr. Who scarf. I knit one for my brother-in-law for Christmas this year. Actually, I knit it during the Olympics – earliest finished Christmas project ever!

  97. Must be a Dr. Who scarf is the consensus. I don’t keep up on that, but this Christmas, I made my 30 year old son (who plays Live Action Role Playing Games) an illusion Dark Mark scarf and it was a big hit with everyone! I am now turned on by illusion knitting and must try more soon. Although garter stitch, it remains interesting because you follow a chart.

  98. I’ll bet it’s for Hank. My granddaughter requested one at Christmas and without getting all the details I said “Sure, I’ll make you one”.
    Luckily it will clear out a lot of my stash.

  99. My son tried to talk me into a Dr. Who scarf for Christmas last year… so I taught him to knit and bought him all the yarn 🙂 I just couldn’t bear 16 feet of garter stitch, and to be honest, seems he can’t either. Your scarf is already further along than his.

  100. The fingerless mitts work so well because the blood supply to your fingers is so close to the skin on the back of your hand. Keeping the blood warmer keeps your fingers a bit warmer.
    Speaking of Doctor Who, I believe I am going to be a fan of this new Oswin companion. The actress’s two episodes have been great!

  101. I’m going to go against the grain, and say it’s a baby sweater for Luis. Those lovely colors are masculine enough for any boy. It’s small, so I’m guessing you’re starting with the back. Please tell us, because the suspense is killing us all! 🙂

  103. A Reader’s Digest condensed version of the 4th Doctor scarf. I can’t imagine you wanting to knit all 14 feet of one (and there were several).

  105. I am a HUGE fan of fingerless mitts for a few reasons. First, I am that odd person who always has hot hands and feet. But that doesn’t mean that I want to put those hands on an ice cold steering wheel in the morning. It keeps me warm enough without over heating. The second reason is that most people have cold hands and this can be a nice stylish way to keep your hands warm while you’re at work or a party or, well anywhere that people would look at you funny if you kept your mittens on.

  106. ordered the mitt pattern this morning. can’t wait to get started. after i saw yours, i have to make these!

  107. Other than it’s huge proportion, I’m not familiar with the Dr. Who scarf pattern or colours….My guess is a Ron Weasley blanket?

  108. Looks like a dr scarf. Made one for my husband, but almost had a break down when it was time to do the fringe… by that point I never wanted to see it again 🙂 good luck!

  110. that exact pile of yarn is sitting on my shelf next to the 5 feet of scarf I did not finish knitting for christmas ( so very very many feet of garter stitch!) If it is not a Dr who scarf I am oh so very curious ….

  111. I’m a big fan of fingerless mitts, even for colder climes. I make them a little bit big and wear cheap glove liners inside. That way my fingers are covered but still usable, and the bulk of my hands get an extra cozy layer of knitted lovliness.

  112. Oh, don’t get yourself started with the Dr. Who scarf. I started mine when I first started knitting, and didn’t know any better. 6 years later, I’m not even halfway done! It’s soooooo boring, I can’t stand to work on it. Just miles and miles of garter stitch. Yuck!

  113. I’m going to say temperature scarf only because it seems to be very popular on ravelry at the moment and it will take a year to make!

  114. I didn’t know where else to post this, but I wanted to share my celebration with someone, and my roommates would think I was crazy. I just finished my first hank of plied handspun!

  115. I did NO Christmas knitting for 2012 so I guess I had better start on 2013 right now…
    bjr

  116. Haha, I just looked at the yarn colors and knew it was a Doctor Who scarf, even before I saw the beginning. Well done for starting it so early. =)

  117. Purchased this pattern today after seeing yours. I am confused by the divide for wrist instructions. How do you knit back and forth in rows on dpns? Also the pattern says “make a purl ridge and a button loop ” but does not explain how to do this. Maybe i am out of my league on this one. I can knit socks so i thought this would be easy for me. 🙁

  118. I love fingerless mitts, they’re perfect for Northern CA, easier than socks, and great for quick gifts. And, of course, the Dr. Who (Tom Baker) scarf is a great idea to start now, and plug away at through the year… A few inches of mindlessly relaxing garter stitch every now and then, and before you know it, yards of lovely scarf!

  121. I am mightily impressed. One, that you’ve started this year’s Christmas already. Two, that so many of you knew it was a Doctor Who Scarf. And, three, that you apparently know who Doctor Who is. The closest I’ve come to Doctor Who is the merchandise on sale in catalogs. I also don’t carry a cell phone, and (this is big) I still occasionally iron clothing or pillow cases.
    And for Maggie with the one-year-old, wondering when she’ll get back to knitting. . . When my son was born I switched from knitting to counted cross stitch. That was something I could put down instantly, unlike knitting where I had trained myself to finish a row. I didn’t get back to knitting until he was in school. And then, I knit for other people’s children, not my own. I still have a lot of UFO’s in the attic.
    Among other things, Stephanie encourages me to finish things, especially with her pictures. Slowly, the UFO’s come out to be finished for a different baby than the one for whom it was started.

  122. I made one for a friend here in Peterborough, and she’s jealous now because I’m making another for someone else in town, so she won’t have the only one anymore. I found that Briggs & Little have pretty well the best line matching all the colours in the scarf and you can’t beat either their price or the 100g skeins (and of course made in Nova Scotia Canada)….

  123. Oh my gosh! A Doctor Who scarf!!! I have one that my Mom knit for me several years ago. Every time I wrap up in it, I remember how much she loved me. 🙂 (Nothing says “I love you” like that many feet of garter stitch!)

  124. Okay, Steph, this is an issue that’s really bugging me, and I need an answer to a very technical question….please reply to my email if you can…or anyone else if you know the answer…
    My pattern told me to decrease on a RS row. Okay, well said and done, but then it says to decrease every 6th row—
    Do they mean 6 rows between decrease rows?
    Do they mean the 1st decrease row counts as row 1, and the next decrease row is row 7?
    Inquiring minds really need to know–especially if it means option 1, as I will have to rip back–and make me seriously crazy angry, and probably cause me to toss the sweater into the obscurity of that place where UFO’s that I’m mad at tend to go.

  125. As much as I adore the good doctor, I’m wondering if it is one of those new fangled temperature scarves.

  126. I’ve always thought fingerless mitts were pretty useless, since it’s my fingers that get cold. But, I was handed a pair in a free giveaway at the Ibex store in Boston, and I will admit that my hands were a lot warmer in that cold city as I walked back the couple of miles I had come. Boston at 35F is a lot colder than Fairbanks at -35F.

  127. I also don’t like the gapping that can happen with these kind of mitts so I do the closure that is brilliantly shown in the Phalangees mitts on Knitty.com
    They are a bit tricky at first but then all comes clear as you persist!

  129. I thought Dr. Who, also, but looking closely (as closely as someone with bifocals can) at it, it appears to be stockinette stitch and the good doctor is done in garter stitch. ?? I admit my eyes are not what they used to be…LOVE the fingerless mitts!

  130. I love that we all know about the Dr. Who scarf. I don’t even really watch that show and when I saw the picture I thought to myself, “Hey! That’s a Dr scarf!” Then I read the comments and I feel all warm and cozy inside because I know that I have “people” all over the world. 🙂

  131. I love fingerless mitts but only recently realized why when trying to explain it to someone else. They are like scarves for my wrists! I too just discovered that I can wear my mittens over top of them for a great combo. Too many mittens (I’ve not yet knitted my own) have ribbing that is far too short leaving so much of my wrist and arm exposed to the cold. The fingerless mitt/mitten combo is a win/win.

  132. A very helpful person on ravelry answered my questions on the mitt pattern and now i think i am all set. Looking forward to knitting these.

  133. Looks like a Dr Who scarf to me. Good luck not losing your sanity in acres of garter stitch… But wow for your organisation!
    And I love the fingerless mittens. I play guitar and my hands can get mighty cold in winter. They look like just the thing.

  134. Mmmmmm…..Doctor Who Scarf. I’ve had the yarn in my stash for years and I haven’t started it yet. I’m worried I won’t have enough. I’m planning to not CO quite so many stitches (I think it calls for 60 – I’m planning on 40) in hopes that I’ll have enough yarn. The shop I purchased the yarn from has gone out of business and we no longer live in that area anyway. ::sigh::

  137. Sooooo late to the party on this one but if I could find a sport weight ASJ I would totally make myself one in the Doctor Who scarf colors. I am that much of a geek!

Comments are closed.