Sometimes the simplest things are the best. Pretty pretty pretty!

They're like candy! Beautiful.

Yea!! Pretty, warm, utile. Very good. And I won't even try to wrestle with you.

They're just lovely - I could see people wanting to wrestle for them.

I have a crush on your mittens too.

So beautiful! I would tussle for them in a moment.

Beautiful. I've had some mawata for ages without a clue about what to do with it and I'm on a mitten kick. Perfect. Do you just knit double when working in a new strand?

What beautiful colors. The simple design makes them elegant.

How is working with this silk if your hands aren't super soft - think winter rough skin, after several years of gardening.

Oh so pretty! How many hankies does it take to make a pair of mittens? Great job, missy!

OOOOOH! Beautiful, functional, and you made them. What more is there to love? So, is there a favorite link about mawata? What's next?

LOVE those mittens!!

Gorgeous! and isn't it fun to finish things!! (and put the needles in their cases, I really like that part, too)

Lol @ hand pillow ovens! Do you think you'll be making some matching foot pillow ovens? That yarn is so beautiful I want to see it in multiple forms!

Well, that's cooler than cool! Love em!! I also love that they are yours. You make so much stuff for other people that you totally deserve something awesome for yourself (socks don't count since the yarn involved does not actually count in the stash).

I'd love to know how many hankies it took! I guess I could weight the mawata that I have and see if I have 30 grams... They're beautiful!

i lurve them.

Those are absolutely lovely - makes me want to go right out and do a pair myself!

Could you possibly do a little tutorial on how to knit from a silk hankie like that? That's something I'd like to try one day!

Just beautiful!

Now THAT is a great idea. I won't wrestle you for them, but will be heading to the yarn closet immediately to see what became of the mawata I have stashed there. All other projects on hold. Thanks!

So pretty, the colors, and they're cushy you say. Sign me up! Sign me up! I need new mittens!!

I had always steered really clear of those hankies because my spinning isn't very fine. BUT THIS?!?!?!?!? OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Simply FABULOUS!

I have resisted taking your Knitting with Mawata class thinking there was nothing I really needed to knit from mawata. I was wrong.

Oh, they are lovely! I'm with you on the silk - I have a silk duvet, and although it's thin it's wonderfully warm.

Those are absolutely gorgeous and awe inspiring! I am sooo going to have to tackle mittens...

LOL, you WILL do "their" laundry for the rest of your life — Lovely mittens. Enjoy them. Especially the laundry.

I also have some mawata that I dyed myself from the Knot Hysteria Silk Retreat. This looks like just the thing for that project. Is there any chance that you'd be willing to share your ordinary mitten pattern???

YUP I have a crush on them too!!! SO pretty.

I can understand why your friend would try to get them away from you. But wrestling - not a good suggestion. She should have thought of something so enticing you'd have trouble resisting. Only problem is I certainly can't think of anything that would entice me to give up those gorgeous mittens.

I can't wait to make a pair! I have loads of undyed hankies, so I just have to decide if I dye first or after they are knit.

... I'll do your dishes for a month for them.

Totally stunning. Want a pair, just like the beer mittens yesterday!

HOLY CRAP THOSE ARE SO PRETTY!

*wanders over to Blue Moon to look at silk hankies*

Hmmmm...hankies into mittens...beautiful, warm, soft AND...capable of wiping a runny nose, in a pinch! (I apologize.....)

(running to stash to find hankies to dye, feverishly looking for tutorial on how to knit) Crap there's not enough hours in the day for all the beauty that can be made with two needles!

I never had an urge to knit from mawata... but now I do. Your mittens are so inspiring!

oh yes - they are beautiful. sigh. This is pretty much what I was thinking about for some silk I have at home. 30 g you say?...

They're lovely! They've strengthened my resolve to try muwata knitting this spring. How much does a pair of mittens need?

I have a couple of mawatas that I bought just because they're beautiful and soft and I take them out and pet them once in a while... I could make mittens in that style... it never occurred to me to actually, you know, KNIT with them. I just pet them and admire their beauty.

Second the request for a tutorial, these are lovely!

Those are gorgeous! Since you're already married, you obviously can't have them. You should give them to me. Of course, we'll ignore the fact that I'm married too. I'd leave my love for those, though.

I would like to know how you got the idea to re-purpose the hankies into something you could actually make into mittens. How hard was it to knit?

For Natalie at 4:17 p.m., if you can't wait for a class, see http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter05/FEATsilkhankies.html and http://www.northeastfiberarts.com/fiberchallenge/knittingfromcoccoon.php. Basically you jump in and give it a try. The number of layers of silk (cocoons) you'll need depends on how thick or thin you draft before knitting.

Having said that, *I* have 2 or 4 dyed silk hankies somewhere in my house with a scarf pattern and now this mitten idea....

but, but .... I *NEED* them in Texas today! Holy Moley they are predicting SNOW on Friday!

Enticing.

I bet that Blue Moon has more hits today, and their monthly sales will be high too. Love it. You are enabling.

Absolutely beautiful!!

How wonderful for me that I live in Panama! I don't need them - no matter how much I desire them!

oooh! I have some of that kind of silk and wasn't especially enjoying spinning it. Now I know what to do! yay!

Your mittens are beautiful! Can see why you love them and want to keep them! Would love your mitten pattern---is it in Knitting Rules?? I should go check, I guess--I use your sock pattern all the time--thanks!

The mittens are more gorgeous than the hankies would lead me to believe. They ended up being a lovely muted rainbow. It's amazing how handpainted fiber can create a completely different item once knitted.

Those are so freaking gorgeous it's crazy. How many hankies did you use? Seriously - I NEED TO KNOW!!!!

I want them.

Aw. Remember when that woman in Rosie's Yarn Celler in Philly showed you she knit socks out of those silk hankies? I was there and the look on your face of PURE ASTONISHMENT was so wonderful. I think mittens make much more sense. In fact, I was looking thru old photos today and found that pic of you watching her do it. I completely understand why you love them so much. XXOO Anj

Oooooh, gorgeous! So, I guess I'm not the only one who's been in "finish ALL the things" mode? ;)

I had no idea you could do this with silk. This could be THE answer I have been looking for in terms of mitts warm enough to be a match for Canadian winters. Beautiful!

A video from another site for those who learn best that way: http://spinalcat.blogspot.com/2011/01/knitting-with-silk-hankies-video.html. Cats included as a bonus!

Two words -- Mitten Envy!

Lovely!!

Hmmmmm,,,, where are my hand-dyed hankies that I stashed away?

Yeah, those are some pretty awesome mittens. I did not know that lofty silk would be warmer than wool..go figure!

Cool! No, I mean Hot! I am wrestling some sturdy sock yarn from my own sheep into socks with a braided cable down the front. (from A Fine Fleece). Love the colors in your silk. So is this what we would learn in your hanky class? If you come anywhere near me, I'll sign up!

I have seen a lot of beautiful items you have knitted, but the mittens are the most beautiful.

Bwahahaha! Friendship generally excludes violence. That's why one of my best friends and I have literally wrestled over a skein of Wollmeise. It was just a practice run for when a non-friend tries to steal it.

These are gorgeous! I working on finishing up a flower pin that is made out of silk hankies. I didn't know Blue Moon Fiber sold this. Now I will have to look and make a pair of mittens!!

I am still working on my Mawata wrangling but when I get the hang of it, I am going to make me some of those beautiful mittens too. What size needles did you use?

Those are beautiful! So...if you won't wrestle for possession, would you make me a pair to call my own.....

How totally wonderful. They are lovely. In a way they are another attempt on your part to get all of us to come to the spinning side of the fiber force...let's face it those of us that don't spin would not have those silk hankie things. But that's okay, the mittens are darned cute.

Stephanie, they are lovely. How many silk hankies did you need to make one pair of mitts? I have a good friend in Winnipeg that would die for a pair.

Since my feet are often much colder than my hands... do you think it would be possible to make silk-hanky slippers/socks for keeping feet toasty in chilly rooms?

Awesome!

oooh! How do you knit with that wanton lushishness?

You're going to have to impose a new household rule: No one, absolutely no one, leaves your house unless you have those mittens on your hands. Otherwise, one of your daughters will be wearing some beautiful "hand oven pillows".

Beautiful!!!!! Questions, how many hankies, needle size, and what is that colorway?

No bells or whistles needed. love (1000)

I have never seen this technique. I would have never thought you could seperate a silk hanky and "make yarn" out of it. If you are ever in Virginia, I am going to hunt you down and beg you to show me how to do this :)

They look great. My hands are always cold - your description sounds like just what I need. You've convinced me to buy some mawata and dye them with natural dyes - silk dyes so beautifully. I can't wait to try it!

Mitten heaven!!!

Mitten heaven!!!

Oh, my! Those mittens are beautiful! Good luck hanging on to them, lol. :)

I'm amazed...... (And envious)

How beautiful! I had no idea you could do that without having to spin. Love them, and makes me want to try! :)

Love love love! I'm having major mitten envy.

Those are truly gorgeous. I am adding those to my mental list of things I must learn to knit.

I knew I loved those when I spotted them in your post a couple of days ago! I just might need to get some hankies and knit myself some mittens! Those are absolutely gorgeous! (does the mawata snag a lot, either during the knitting or the wearing? My fingers are sometimes rough) Yummy.

Ohhh, very pretty!

Oh, with the snow they remind me of coloured sugars! PRETTY! Good luck with the silk mitten security...

Just stunning. And silk to boot. I'm keeping the Blue Moon connection in the back of my mind - these might get made in the fall.

Of course, don't people know you actually teach a class in this stuff? :)

Those mittens are BEAUTIFUL. I would not have imagined they would end up looking like they did from what the mawata looks like.

Very clever of you. They're beautiful!

P.S. I second what Natalie said-- tutorial on knitting with hankies? How many hankies do you need to make those mittens? Your readers need to know! :-)

Yes, I would also love a tute on this. I've been looking for a basic mitten pattern and can't find a good one for the dk/light worsted weight yarn I have. But the yarn only wants to be a pair of basic mittens with a matching hat, and I won't stray from its destiny.

I see someone else has already suggested a tutorial on how to knit mittens from silk hankies, so I second (or third of fourth) that. They are so pretty and warm is always a good thing.

See, that's what happens when you test-drive a sporty Mawata like that.

Oh no, here I go down another rabbit hole with Stephanie. I just lingered at the Blue Moon hankie page thinking about what I could knit up with these. Must distract myself!

Here I am trying to finish up all my UFO's and you keep tempting me with wonderful new ideas! The mittens are gorgeous (both yesterday's and today's) -- they're going on the to-do list. Thanks!!

I'm with the others who politely request a tutorial (plus your emergency mitten pattern, because your vanilla sock pattern is the only one I knit most days).

I'm really only requesting, politely, so I don't have to fly to Canada and sneak them out of your coat pocket when you're distracted.

GORGEOUS mittens! I'm on board for a full-blown tutorial on how to turn silk hankies into knittable threads/yarn. Any plans to provide one for those of us lusting after a pair of mittens like yours?

That looks like fun. Did you only use one mawata from Blue Moon to make both mittens?

Oh, payday can't come soon enough. That is a wickedly cool FO. More confusing to the muggles- am I knitting, spinning or *both at the same time?*

Oooooh, pretty!

Those are loverly mitties. I didn't expect the silk to be variegated - so pretty.

Perhaps you should invest in mitten clips like the ones my kids have on their coats... :)

Those. Are. Gor. Geous. I want a pair. But I won't wrestle you for them... I'll copy you! That's right. Call me a copy cat. I don't care!

They're very pretty, and now I want to knit up my matawa sans spinning.

Do you find they catch on things easily, though? I find my matawa will catch on a dirty look, so I'd be worried that knit up, if unspun, they'd catch on things like grabbing a door by the edge or sliding along a rail.

2 out of 3, maybe?

I can see why you are so smitten. (pun totally intended) This technique has always intrigued me. Can you recommend where one might find more info about knitting with silk hankies?

More information needed. Mitten obsession fully entrenched in brain. Need. Instructions. For. Silk. Mitten. Pattern. Love (1000000).

I have never had any desire to knit mittens, mostly because I live in a part of OZ that rarely goes below 10 degrees Celsius in winter (and goes well over 40 degrees Celsius in Summer - today its only 34). So the need for mittens is extremely low. But I love the colours of yours and the slight slubbiness of them, and I would be really happy to own a pair of mitts like that - even if I could only wear them a couple of days a year.

Wow! Those are beautiful! What a happy pair of mittens to have on grey SNOWY days like today. I'm quite intrigued by the technique, I've never seen or thought about knitting mittens like this. Would you recommend it for anyone? And the pattern seems so nice and simple, which is what I've been craving lately. I need some easy peasy emergency mittens bc I've been walking around Toronto sans mitts (craziness I tell ya).

I love love love your mittens. And would really enjoy trying this. How many silk hankies should I buy for a pair of mittens?

Perhaps beloved mittens could be brought to Sock Summit for some show and tell

How many silk hankies did it take to make the mittens?

SO. PRETTY. MUST. MAKE. NOW! :)

I can see why everybody loves your mittens... I do too!

SA WOON! I love the colourway - knitted perfection. It would be sad if you left them behind (don't do that)

They are so pretty, but really, silk is warmer than wool? I never would have imagined that. I showed my husband the picture and he still doesn't believe they would be warmer. Hmmm, maybe if you sent me the mittens I could how him and convince him. :)

Gorgeous and I find myself wanting to knit a pair. Please give more details. How do you knit from the Mawatas? Or did you spin the yarn? How much did you need for the mittens? What is the pattern?

Gorgeous, simply gorgeous!

Could you explain how you turn hankies into yarn? Would that work with a silk scarf too? I have no silk hankies but I have many silk scarves.

I'd marry them too! They are beautiful, amazing, drool worthy. :) So instead of stealing them (grin) how would one go about obtaining and using silk hankies? Off to go stalk BMFA....

You're right. The mittens are amazing. Blue Moon sells silk hankies, you say?

Could you explain more about hankies and mawata? You took apart silk hankies and... spun it?

Going to Stitches West 2011 - mental note to self.....MUST BUY SILK HANKIES! Absolutely yummy!

Wow! They are beyond gorgeous! Can't imagine how intense the love would be with being able to touch them. You must figure out a security system to safe gaurd them.

Oh, WOW! These are really, super awesome! The color-excellent. On my way to purchase silk hankies.....

I think I'm feeling covetous. The cure for that is learning to make my own. Thanks for even more inspiration.

Now, just checking, was this in that basket of things to finish up? Does this mean that you are cured?

I hope not (poor Gansey).

Wow, those are gorgeous! I'm surprised too that silk is warmer than yarn; I thought it was used for undershirts and stuff because of its moisture-wicking properties. I'm relatively new to spinning, but silk hankies look like something I could use in my life!

Absolutley gorgeous! Could you please educate us on the process of pulling apart silk hankies to knit with? Can they be any sort of silk hankies? Or are these ones special?

those mitties are too pretty for dumb old mitten strings...you need some proper MRDs, as we call them here - mitten retention devices!
they are so beautiful - blue moon, here i come...

Now this looks like so much fun. Also points out the difference between an evolved urban lifestyle -- yours,one in which mittens clearly suffice -- as compared to mine, an overly frantic (I meant frenetic, but frantic does just fine) one, in which I feel that I MUST wear gloves 24/7 when outside. The idea of walking through an urban winterscape wearing mittens is, well, just darn civilized. Am not a spinner, but what you've just explained would be a great, fun start. Thanks once again for a creative "spin" on knitting! Have not posted much recently, but please still know I follow you religiously.

NewarkKnitter, aka Mary Sue

Good to know that silk is warmer than wool, especially this week! So a wool/silk blend should be super warm. Beautiful mittens by the way. I would also do their laundry.

Now this looks like so much fun. Also points out the difference between an evolved urban lifestyle -- yours,one in which mittens clearly suffice -- as compared to mine, an overly frantic (I meant frenetic, but frantic does just fine) one, in which I feel that I MUST wear gloves 24/7 when outside. The idea of walking through an urban winterscape wearing mittens is, well, just darn civilized. Am not a spinner, but what you've just explained would be a great, fun start. Thanks once again for a creative "spin" on knitting! Have not posted much recently, but please still know I follow you religiously.

Now this looks like so much fun. Also points out the difference between an evolved urban lifestyle -- yours, one in which mittens clearly suffice -- as compared to mine, an overly frantic (I meant frenetic, but frantic does just fine) one, in which I feel that I MUST wear gloves 24/7 when outside. The idea of walking through an urban winterscape wearing mittens is, well, just darn civilized. Am not a spinner, but what you've just explained would be a great, fun start. Thanks once again for a creative "spin" on knitting! Have not posted much recently, but please still know I follow you religiously.

I have a brilliant idea, just brilliant!

If you won't let us wrestle for them, and if we can't steal them because you'll probably put a GPS-tracker on them, how about this: how about if you auction them off and the proceeds can go to Doctors Without Borders? If you are still blessed with Finishitupitis, you may be able to make another pair before the next snow storm hits. The winning bidder gets the most beautiful pair of mittens I've ever seen, and DWB gets a fat check -- or cheque if you're Canadian.

I think it's win-win. What do you say?

(Even if you'd rather not, they really are just beautiful.)

Stunning! Those are so wonderful. I must make a pair. I am on a yarn diet right now, but you know what? Mawatas aren't yarn. So I can go buy some. Bwah-hah-hah!! You are the best enabler ever!

OK, you got me. I'm going to have to try this. The colors are luscious, and the strands look so fluffy!

Those are great.

I'm nearing the end of a FO, and I took inspiration from you on steeking!

http://michelleknits-durham.blogspot.com/2011/02/cutting-up-perfectly-good-knitting.html

Enjoy!

Pretty, but I could never wear them. No matter what I wear, it ends up getting snagged on something. They'd make good liners for a bigger
mitten.

Lovely, great colours too! Where can we learn more about the hankies and how to undo them?

Wow! I would really like to try this.
Sounds fabulous.

Bee u tee full

OMG! They are luscious! I've been thinking about the silk hankie thing - this has put me over the top! MUST HAVE!

Those are beautiful mittens! I bet they are comfy, too, but I've never gotten a chance to feel silk mittens.

Enabler! I just ordered 2 x Mawatas/Silk Hankies - Dilly Dilly from Blue Moon.

I need another project like I need 6 more inches of snow - and I'm digging out of the Chicago Blizzard.

I seriously want those mittens. Good thing you live about a million miles away in Canada or I would be at your door...

Oh dear. So long, other projects in the basket. ::le swoon::

All I can say is thank you for showing me the way of mawata. I'd never heard of nor seen of this stuff and now I think I NEED some.

Those mittens look super comfy! I bet they were fantastic to knit, the silk looks impossibly soft.
I've been meaning to make myself a pair of mittens or the like because its been getting strangely cold in dc lately, but I keep getting distracted by other projects...

Could you come to Nova Scotia to teach a class on turning silk hankies into mittens?

That way we could all have silk mitts with no wrestling involved at all.

I'll supply you with Garrison beer.

So...one hankie per mitten? Do you need a pair to make a pair?

They look great! Are they thrum mittens? If so, can we see an inside pic? :D If not they look great!!! :D

Totally, wonderfully awesome! ...Just in time for "the storm that wasn't".
I've seen yarn made from recycled silk saris, but never from hankies. ...Can you write a how to please?

Lovely- is your mitten pattern available anywhere? I'd love to try these.

Ok, thats awesome and I want to try... its easier than wrestling.

Just gorgeous! I LOVE the colors! All that and warm as ovens... doesn't get better than that!

I'd pretty much deep-sixed the hankies from Knot Hysteria, figuring that my gardening and dyeing hands would never be smooth enough to handle that finer than fine, cobwebby, exasperating fiber. Now I'm wondering what colors would be nice for my NY nephew. How hard can it be to knit wearing surgical gloves? Really. How hard?

What colorway did you use? And how much (many?) do you need to make a pair of mittens?

My personal theory is that finishing your latest manuscript is what has given you this amazing burst of knitting vitality. Rock on, can't wait to see what's next!

There's really very little that's cuter than a 42 year old woman wearing mittens on a string (according to my husband). :)

Gorgeous yarn!!!Love the colors. Well done you!

Would you PLEASE put a facebook thingy on your site so that I can share your funniest commentary and also show your beautiful work ??

Please !!!

LOVE! WANT!
Although, to be perfectly honest, in this climate I have no need of really warm mittens.Or, most of the time, mittens. But they are so pretty I might have to learn how to make my own anyway.I will display them on a plinth.

How much silk does it take to make the mittens? Did it need more than 1 hankie? It would be great it you'd let us know so we can try it! Thanks!

Not even thumb-wrestle? Actually, those mittens are too pretty to be won in a thumb-wresting match.

Teach me. Or else, I will chase you. And I am quite quick too!

Beyond gorgeous. My hands despite all my efforts are so dry and snaggy I don't know if I could knit with silk; once knit would rough skin snag them in the wearing too? We need more info!

Laundry for life? Really? Those are some serious mittens.

...and of course the blue moon link you provided us had limks to tutorials...silly me!

youre gonna make me dig out that little baby hat arent you.

Muwata. Wow. So inspiring. These are beautiful!

What an interesting way to get material for knitting! The mittens are beautiful! Since your post yesterday, I looked up thrummed mittens (new to me) and up came your posts about them from some years ago and the fantastic pictures on Google Images, which were all great to see! Thank you for teaching us and pointing us to great fiber.

I am deeply, deeply in love! If you and I were in the same knitting group, I would have to sneak these away from you some evening! Just pop them under my sweater and off I'd go! They are truly beautiful and you are such an inspiration to me!

Whoosh. All of a sudden an hour is gone and I have 100g of silk hankies on their way to me. How does that happen?

Please post the muwata mitten pattern — they are beautiful and I would love to make them!

They are beaUtiful!

But would you trade them for yarn? :D
What size needle are you using?

I didn't think a pair of mittens could steal my breath away...

My, what a nice pair of mittens. And what I need for the utterly cold weather [for us that is: 0C].

The mittens are beautiful! How much of the muwata did you need for one pair of mittens?

Plus, you get to say Mawata a bunch of times. It's like the cherry on top! Mawata!

Are those the ones you were working on in the airport awhile back? Hand ovens, you say? I want some. I live in Mississauga, and every day, several times a day, I willingly step outside into the deep freeze in which we live, to walk the dog. I always wear gloves or mittens which I have knitted myself, and they're adequately warm.
But to have a pair of hand ovens, that would be heavenly. I'm assuming that the silk, when knitted up, is not sticky and catchy like the raw hankies.

Order Mawata.
- check
Research mitten patterns.
- check
Scour the internet for tutorials.
- check
Must have these now. I don't think this winter is ever gonna end. Thanks for sharing something so bright and cheery.

Well. Dammit. Now I have to buy more silk hankies. So much for my self imposed fiber diet. I have spun silk hankies, but I never thought to just knit with them. Awesome.

Beautiful colours! The best thing in winter, especially when warm too!

wow!

WOW. seriously, wow. How many hankies did you need? I have never even heard of being able to do this. Now I like everyone else, MUST try this! I'd need to know how many to order though.
tips?
thank you so very much for sharing!

They are stunning. I suggest investing in a Taser, strictly so that you will be able to protect them.

Yes, please do share! I would love to make a pair to call all mine!!!

You finished them!! After trying on one of them at the retreat, I can indeed, attest to the fact they are very warm. This post, along with a few of my dyed hankies leaping from my shelves, must be a sign it's time to cast on for my own. They are lovely.

gorgeous! i want!...but wouldn't ever fight you for them! i know you need them with your weather in Canada...it's 22F in KY...so I have no stake.

Explain to us how you take that handkerchief apart. I want to try that some time.

These are seriously the most beautiful mittens I have ever seen! I need to figure out this mawata thing one of these days ... and then go someplace where it's cold enough to wear them! Wow, I bet these will keep your hands warm AND make every day sunny!

How could I have survived 51+ years on this planet and not have known silk is warmer than wool?

Thanks again for teaching that class in NY and letting me in , Now if Blue Moon doesn't sell out of the color hankie I need to finish my own pair I'll be set. (FYI it still amazes me how many people tried on that mitten and you still got it back)

I know what my next project is going to be! I went stash diving and found a hand-dyed hankie that I bought at Lettuce Knits a few years ago.

Steph, I was going to do the responsible thing, and order my own painted mawatas from Blue Moon, but it's hard to navigate back and forth between the colorways and the mawata page, and the first several colors I picked aren't offered in mawatas. What colorway did you use? I only ask because yours are, of course, perfect in every way.

...goes to look through my Yarn Harlot books for mitten pattern....must have those mittens....

Good for you - I'm glad you're keeping them because you deserve to have them! You give away so much that you should have the right to keep the things you love! They are beautiful!

I needed this idea and the silk a few weeks ago so I would have hand oven pillows for myself before record temps hit Texas. Better yet, since we are stranded in our houses due to ice on the roads (they don't tend to keep road clearing equipment here) I know what to fill my time with.

Those are really so simple and charming at the same time. While I *do* have some dyed silk hankies (that I've not previously known what to do with), I'm afraid that my work and winter-dry hands would have pretty instant, velcro-ed on, silk mittens as soon as I started handling the hankies! Do you know any fabulous exfoliants and hand creams available in Canada that allow for less frustration? Thank you for mitten loveliness! ;)

I have a dumb question. Do you somehow join the (presumably) short lengths together as they're stretched out, or are there just a lot of ends to weave in later? I ask because I have a pretty hefty stash of silk hankies, and I know I have some really awesome dyed ones I've been pondering doing something with, so....yeah. Perhaps a tutorial of some sort? Because these look amazing, and awesome, and I would love to know how to do this like right now. Well, not *right* now because I have to post this comment and then go toss the stash at nearly 11pm in the very cold stash room to find those hankies, but yes. Please? Share the technique love?

Lovely. Just lovely.

Whoa. Those are seriously gorgeous.

Those mittens are just gorgeous, no need for bells and whistles when you have fibre like that.

I hope you will tell us how many hankies are needed. My guess is 2. Thanks for all the great reads.

Silk is four times warmer than wool? Why did I not know this before! All of a sudden those delicious silk-wool blends look like such a good idea. And oh dear, I've just remembered the Blue Sky silk-alpaca that I resisted before, which will now be even harder to resist!

(And I do like the mittens too, they are very pretty. Not quite my style, so I won't be chasing you for them, but they do please the eye.)

Oh my god, I just had to come out of hiding (I don't really hide, I just save my commenting time for blogs with not so many commenters), to say how utterly gorgeous those mittens are, and that I really wish it got cold enough here to wear mittens for more than about ten mornings a year. (No snow here, just heat and cyclones- oh yeah, and floods!) No wonder you're smitten. Me too.

Wow......so many people with dry cracked hands. As a pharmacist, I suggest any hand lotion with 10 to 15 % Urea. Use it twice a day, every day and in 2 weeks you'll be applying for a job as a hand model. Go say "Hi" to your Friendly Neighbourhood Pharmacist and ask him / her for a recommendation. Also, NEVER go out in winter without gloves / mitts. Not even for a quick trip to the mailbox.

What a great idea for us non-spinners!

How many hankies (from Blue Moon) Will I need to make a pair? Can't wait! shopping cart open/credit card in hand.

You are such an inspiration. What fun!

I don't know anything about this method of procurring silk "yarn," but I adore those mittens. (I'm not particularly violent, but I probably do weigh twice what you weigh, and could easily sit on you and steal them. I'm just sayin...) I'm off to google and look for a tutorial.

"Attenuated"? Is that anything like spin?

I was looking forward to your matawa class enough, this just makes me look forward to it even more! Beautiful. :)

*is it matawa or mawata? the squam site says matawa, your post says mawata. i'd never heard of it before signing up for your class.

Awesome mittens. They look a lot like a pair I recently made, using three strands of multicolor sock yarn (one of them was mostly greys). However, I am sure yours are lighter, warmer, and just way more amazing than mine.

Hang on to those puppies!

Stephanie - can you elaborate on "attenuated"? You imply not spun, but I'm not clear on what you did. There! - took care of what you can write about tomorrow.

I am in awe of your finishing streak, Go Girl! But I have to ask, has the wedding sweater reappeared yet ? And thankyou for telling me how much spillyjane's mittens weigh, it helps to decide what mitten-making stash to lay in: I want several colours but not too much of each.

Waah! I didn't manage to get into your class at Squam (so my fault for sending in registration in week 2). I wonder if I can figure it out on my own. I'm a reasonably smart person (and I wonder if you can do that with other rovings).

I never thought I'd be able to get into spinning, as I am allergic to all animal wools, but I might just have to learn how to do this. Those mittens are absolutely gorgeous!

These are incredible...all the colors! I would love a tutorial also. What is a thrummed mitten?

D: Those are the most beautiful mittens I have seen in many long times. My mouth is hanging open as though to catch flies because they are so lovely.

(Also, I wouldn't wrestle you for them. I suspect you would be a ruthless sort who fights dirty - and you have knitting needles)

Those are stunning--beyond lovely. I completely understand your feelings about them. I've never worked with silk hankies and echo the suggestions for a tutorial on using them.

Love them! Which colorway is this?

Please tell us how many silk hankies it would take to make mittens. I normally make wrist warmes so it wouldn't take quite as much.

I'm in! Although they are probably sold out of everything by now :-o.

Yeah - what they said! Pretty!, how many handkerchiefs, what about winter hands, spin/knit at the same time? And I'll add my own - 4 times as warm?!?! I wouldn't wrestle for them either, I would however give a swift kick to the shins of anyone trying to get them.

I'm on the 2nd item I've ever knit, so I have many questions.

Beautiful!!! As much as I would love to try knitting with the silk hankies, I can't imagine myself doing it. They're perfect.

Swoon....yes please- a tutorial...

Dangit, I thought I was done knitting mittens for awhile. I just finished well over a dozen Christmas mittens. But...how many hankies do those mittens take? Because they are amazingly, drop dead gorgeous.

Gorgeous. And I would also love a tutorial on how to knit from silk hankies!

I may have missed it in the past but could you share the pattern for these beautiful mittens?
Thanks, love your blog and books (I have your first one and you signed it for me when you visted Mt. Vernon, Ohio several years ago). Happy Winter!

How many hankies did they take? Must.knit.now!!!

Ooooooooooohhhhhhhh.....Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh......

Gorgeous!! I've decided I HAVE to learn to knit with silk hankies this year. Will you be doing a class in Toronto at all? Pretty please?

those are PERFECT

Love them! I'm looking at the tops and am trying to figure out if you kitchenered them. It kind of looks like you did, but it's hard to tell.

AWESOME MITTENS.

Thank you for the tip about silk being so warm. I battle Raynaud's Syndrome, which means I need to wear layers of wool socks and mittens to try to keep warm.

I'm thinking that a pair of silk as a first layer might be an excellent idea. Much appreciated, Stephanie.

LOVE LOVE LOVE silk, this is something I've got to try!!!! I'm echoing previous posts...brief tutorial -- how much is needed, etc...

Did I understand this correctly: Both mittens together weigh 30g?

Absolutely perfect!

definately wrestle-worthy mittens. just lovely

Wow! Warm and beautiful. That's quite a combination.

They're gorgeous, Steph, and such a clever method of making yarn too!! Don't let them out of your sight, they'll go walkies for sure :-)

They are beautiful. If only I had your eye for making things like this. I am working on a pair of socks from Cat's 2nd book, and having fun doing it.

Tina

Beautiful mittens & I love the process of how they came into being.

I'll add to the many comments, and ask: how many mawata did it take? What colorway? These are beautiful!

Mmmmmmmittens!!! Yum! Show us mmmmmmmmmmmmore mmmmmmmmmmmmmmittens!

I can't go to Squam :( so am missing both your matawa class and Denny's spinning one, not to mention the cool inventing stitch patterns one on Sunday, but I'm curious. How sturdy is unspun matawa? I've a ten-year old bookworm boy who would probably LOVE such toasty warm mittens in a dark blue, but hey, dude is still a ten yo; mittens for him need to be able to take a recess/snowshoeing beating...

Oh and @Betty, thanks for posting those links! I'm going to be check them out! :-)

Honored to have been invited to touch one while the pair was in progress: "Whose mitten is it???" "It's your mitten!!"

Stephanie, I finished my mawata bonnet that I started in your class at Vogue Knitting Live. I'm proud of my ability to manage the silk hankies, and thankful for your faith in my early progress. You were right, it came out as "perfect" as a first mawata project could.

So, how many hankies does it take for a pair of mittens? Is it pretty easy to separate the layers to produce the strands of roving? You should do a tutorial, detailing the making of The Mittens.

Will you adopt me? I know you already have three daughters, but I do my own laundry and can feed myself. I am not cool enough to be your friend, but if you will take pity on me and adopt me that will be just as good. I want to be just like you when I grow up. I will even become Canadian.

Great. Something else I need to try. Okay, Stephanie you will have to give us the recipe so we can buy out Blue Moon.

Those are so pretty! Now I really want to learn to spin/knit from those hankies. *follows some of the other comment people over to Blue Moon*

Perfect beauty and warmth for your hands , who could ask for more. I've never seen silk hankies to knit but wish I would and how to get it into knitting yarn. Keep a close watch on those beauties.

ABFAB! I'm thinking I could shred some hankies and just knit them up. Spinning doesn't seem like something I could learn to do well enough at my age. I really only like to knit with very fine stuff, but those gorgeous cotton candy ovens certainly don't look bulky. I believe you about the warmth factor, but I wonder about what happens when they get wet? We all know wool retains heat even when wet, but does silk? (Wouldn't have thought of that except for your shot with them half buried in the snow.)

I'm heading for Blue Moon to scout things out.

I WANT to learn how do knit with mawata. They are gorgeous and I covet. Maybe you'll rock/paper/scissors for them?

Wowza. I am always amazed to see people knit from silk hankies...

Where can I find the mitten pattern? Is it in one of your books that I don't have?

Woowwzzaa Those are gorgeous!
Must have mawata - now.
How many for a pair of mittens? One - two?

Can't stop staring at your lovely hand toasters. They look so good it kinda makes you want to lick them. It seems from the comments that you might be on the hook to blog a little tutorial....in your copious spare time. Thanks Steph!!!

I am begging my LYS for a class on this! Do you think someone who has never spun could get the hang of this?

Hey Cynthia at February 3, 2011 1:10 AM: try a hand scrub made with sugar or salt and olive oil. You scrub your hands with it for a few days and soon you have smoother, softer hands. Mine crack at the fingertips in the winter unless I use that stuff. I make small batches and use lemon EO for fragrance. Also, before you put on your gloves or mittens, put on some lotion or balm; the gloves leach moisture form your skin. Hope that helps!

I *really* want to learn how to make those. They sound like they would be perfect for our Minnesota winters.

Best install a mittten alarm. They are just lovely. :)

They are beautiful, I have got to make some - how many hankies do I need?

must have.....
MUST HAVE........
mitten pattern!
puuuuuuuuuuleeeeeeeze????

oooh! I am so jealous of all of the satisfaction you are getting lately!! How much of the mawata is left?

I have some lovely variegated alpaca and there might be enough for mittens. I had not thought of mittens for that yarn. Mittens don't take long so if I use more than half on one mitten, I can just frog it.

The mittens are beautiful. I've always wondered what I could do with silk hankies aside from spin them; my hands are too rough to even try. I see a pair of these mittens in my future.

Whoa! This skill is above and way beyond mine. I'm intrigued, amazed and baffled all the same time.

Stephanie, how many hankies did it take to make your mittens?

I want a pair!!! Granted I live in Los Angeles so to have a pair would probably be ludicrous,, but I love the color...I could probably get some use out of right now though..it's a whoping 64 degrees out here :)

oh I forgot to ask if they sell that already spun? I'm not yet into the whole spinning my yarn thing

I've never commented here before but I just must now - I LOVE these! I am inspired to try something new and make my own. I've never even knit mittens before! But I feel that I. Must. Have. These. NOW! It's super cold and snowy (for OK) here right now so that's fueling the "I want it NOW". :)

Lovely mittens! Where can I find the pattern for these lovely mittens? Just getting comfortable knitting socks, but I hear these mittens calling me to learn to knit mittens-NOW, not that my hands are cold or anything.....

Seriously gorgeous! I've never heard of anything like this 'yarn' before - and one thing's for sure - I ain't gonna find it anyplace over her in the UK! Which is probably a good thing as I have big hands!

I don't usually "do" mittens - here in NM, it's rarely cold enough. However, today started at -3, and promises to only rise to 24 for the high (that's in Fahrenheit). My general question is - how long did it take you to knit the pair? I know you're incredibly fast, and I'll feel like a snail, or slug, or something, but I'm curious.

My god, you're right. They're really cool. I mean REALLY REALLY cool. They might come in handy here. You could donate them to a charitable cause. Cold Minnesota Mothers With Furnaces That Can't Keep Up With The Old Damn House.

That does look like a really neat way to knit a little somethin'-somethin'. Do I see a tutorial in our future? I think I know where I can get some supplies...or perhaps you can point us in a few directions...
Your finished works of art are truly inspirational, keep 'em coming!
Anybody from the 'startitis' camp infringing on your finishing party yet?

Beautiful! And thanks, now I have to learn how to knit off a silk hankie. . . .

those are just lovely.

They're amazing! And by proxy, so are you. : )

I want to touch them! Can they go on tour with you?

This is interesting. I never knew you could knit from silk hankies without spinning them first. How is it? Could you knit pre-drafted wool roving in the same manner too?

I'm delurking after years of readership to say Wow! Those are some beauties. I have a silk hankie at home and I am immediately going to leave work and find it and start making mittens. Luckily I'm self-employed so the boss completely understands...

Wow...why do we work so hard on patterns etc in life, when the "ordinary" can be so beautiful.

Oh my goodness, I read this post before bed last night and actually dreamed I was making these...I want these now!...so I have three questions:

1. How much silk does this require?
2. It looks like you knitted the mittens with unspun drafted silk fiber, is that correct?
3. Do you have a basic pattern recommendation or any pattern suggestions due to using the silk fiber?

This is knit-love(lust). if ever I have had it.

They're *gorgeous*! I have absolutely no need for mittens, especially the "hand oven" sort, but -- IwantIwantIwantIwant!

These are Gorgeous! I bought silk hankies so I could make some as well. I only bought 2 silk hankies will it be enough?

You might have to do a series of them, like the series of stripey DIC cardigans that you knitted a few years, back. And imagine their Christmas present potential!

After your class at Knot Hysteria silk retreat, I got hooked, and made mittens for my grandchildren, my son-in-law and glove for my husband out of silk hankies. Now I am all out of silk hankies. It is wonderful stuff to work with when you know how.. Thank you Steph! Now I have to go spin the silk I got at the auction at Sock Summit two years ago. So much yarn/fiber...so little time.

I think you need to give them up. Your love for them sounds unhealthy. Do their laundry for the rest of their life?! Don't sell your soul for a pretty face... er, I mean mitten!

Ooooo, I love, love, love the way that yarn came out. I love all the little bits of color everywhere. No pooling or striping. Beautiful.

I hope you get a special price from Blue Moon because $40 for a pair of mittens is ouchie! The do look ultra yummie though - sigh

They are beautiful! I have never seen silk hankies for sale...where can you get them? And it looks like you knit it right off the hankie, you don't spin it? Confused in Kansas

These mittens belong on a pedestal under glass in a museum of fine art. No other objects would be deserving enough to stand within their aura. Beautifully done!

A true friend would not have offered to wrestle you for them. A true friend would have offered to do your laundry for life--if she/he really wanted them, that is.

Nothing does color like silk. They are lovely.

I am in love with your mittens too!
I have Reynaud's syndrome and my hands get sooo cold. I would love these!

yum. I need to pull out my hankies and start mittens....

(Can you come and infect me with Finishitus? So I can finish something before bouncing to the next project?)

oh what pretty colors! can only longingly imagine the softness...

Those are amazing;y beautiful! I need to resist pulling my fibre stash apart in a mad rush to find the silk hankies, dye them, & knit my own pair... (Or maybe that's exactly what I should do!)

Love 'em.
De-lightful!
Will they slowly grow, or is this kind of silk knitting fairly stable?

Attenuated? According to Webster's that means
: to reduce the severity of (a disease) or virulence or vitality of (a pathogenic agent)

How do you do that to silk?

I wondered when I saw those in the background of your earlier post! I thought....is she knitting with roving? But the knitting doesn't look like it! What is that?

And now -- all is revealed. Those are beyond awesome. (And my hands currently being exposed to a -16C wind chill -- at least they will in moments when I get up and go outside and move the car -- are quite jealous of your hands. But your mittens wouldn't probably fit my hands anyway.

And you're implying this is accessible to others of us who do not usually play with silk hankies??

Delicious. Just plain delicious.

They are beautiful. I would love to make them! How many mawata would I order?

If you are keeping a tally, add me to the list requesting a tutorial as well as your mental mitten pattern. Those mittens are beautiful, and would have been so nice yesterday when we shoveled the 4 foot drifts in our driveway!

Those are absolutely, staggeringly, and stunningly beautiful.

Tell us more about this "attenuating." Am I to understand that you just sort of pull the hanky apart into a strip and knit it? Really?

They are fabulous!

Beautiful. I, like everyone else, would love to know the colorway (I've been drooling over at Blue Moon)and just how many I would need to knit a basic pair of mittens. Thank you for all your inspiration.

omg... great idea!!! I have a bunch (69g) of hankies that I just couldn't bring myself to spin anymore (it's too hard on my hands/wrists), but knitting from unspun hankies.... woot woot, I certainly can do that!!

To die for, but not worth wrestling for with the ensuing medical bills and law suits, but wonderful just the same. I predict that Blue Moon will soon sell out of matawa. Colorway: fab. Idea of silk mittens: fab. You: fab. Also -- I'm glad that someone else keeps a mitten pattern in her head for just these moments. I've had my mom's in my head since high school and it is so handy.

...now I know what to do with all that silk I have in my stash....YEP, YEP, YEP!!

I also have to ask: what's the pattern, please! I looooovvve mittens!

I want a pair of those puppies, even if I have to knit them myself.... Just how DO you do that? Where do you get the matwata? Is there a tutorial? PUH-leez!?! Must. Know. How.

You totally made me want some silk mittens, and I don't even wear mittens!

WOW!! This knocked me off my feet! They are gorgeous!! Being a relatively new knitter I never considered spinning anything on my own. After looking at Knitty's tutorial I may have to try it. Cheers :)

::Want::

Pretty pretty pretty

I can only imagine the soft warmth, the color is quite wonderful too. also, I think I will maybe, someday when the dough is right, look into the silk hankies.

I remember trying on, smelling and, if the truth be told, pretty much caressing the first lonely mitt of this pair at knot hysteria in nov - I should have taken my chance and stolen it then and run with the ' I'm australian, I can't help it, nabbing things is part of my cultural heritage! ' line

Nice and colourful, light weight, and so, so warm....you can't ask for anything better in a mitten. Keep your eye on them!

I had to leave work early yesterday so I could start a pair of these! They are my first from Mawatas & they don't look half bad for a firs project.

Totally love these mittens, my colors even! I would wrestle you for them too! Enjoy!!

i like it Yarn whore: destroy mine entirely mine now im your rss reader

Beautiful! I'm making a note of the colors... you gave all the clues between the text and pics, now it's just a matter of trying it out.

Two things: I may have to change careers and become a stalker of those mittens. Also a question: does mawata come in tussah silk?

Those are absolutely, bring a tear to your eye, gorgeous. The juxtaposition of the simplicity of the pattern with the lushness of the yarn is just breathtaking.
Lovely work!

Can you give a quick tutorial on how to turn silk hankies into something knitable? I've looked around and can't find anything satisfying. Some high-level pointers would be great!

OMG...I want to knit a silk hankie! I need silk hankie gloves...NEED....*drools*

WOW! Beautiful mittens. We need more info about the whole process!

These look amazing... I'm moving back home to frigid New Hampshire after six years in California and I think I may need a pair to steel myself! Thanks to the person who posted the spinalcat tutorial. :D

Dear Gas Company,

I regret to inform you my payment will be late this month.
Although I have stuck to a strict yarn diet, a certain Harlot posted a blog about mittens and I was forced to purchase silk hankies rather than send payment to you.
I understand you may have to shut off my heat and that is ok, the mittens will keep me warm.

Sincerely
A deranged knitter

I so want to try this! I tried to convince DH to take me to NY so I could take the class you had at Vogue Knitting last month. Please tell me where I can learn more about this silk hankie knitting. Very cool!

I love these too but I've never seen these silk hankies, nor would I ever have known that you could just rip it apart and make it into mittens. Where do you learn these tricks?

Thumb wrestling might be your style - quick reflexes are a must. *Not* that I am suggesting that ownership of your cushy, beautiful hand ovens should be decided that way ......

Love these mittens!!! Can you tell me how many hankies it takes, what size needles and what pattern you used. I want to make them!!!

Gorgeous!

So, it is now safe to say that 2010 was not a complete miserable disaster, a complete failure with no need to even look back..... I did have the good sense to signup for and get into your Mawata class at Madronna this month. YOOHOO.

I won't threaten to wrestle you for them, but I may need to make some of my own. Gosh, those are gorgeous.

Blue Moon may run out of mawatas....

I had never ever thought of not spinning the silk. How silly of me. What great colors and the mittens are awesome. I have some silk hankies sitting around I will have to try this.

*gasp!* I didn't know you could do that! *Hurrying off to find my silk, soy silk, and whatever other fibers I might be able to knit with without spinning...*

Very pretty. The colors remind me of a bunch of salt water taffy that melted and the colors blended together.

These mittens appear to have a rounded top. Don't you prefer pointy mittens?

Your mittens are so beautiful that I wish (again) that I could get past the snaggy nature of the matawa, but alas, not for me!

Gorgeous, inspiring work!

You have no idea how much I wanted to take your class at the Knitting Vogue Live! I work the weekends at 50th and 6th Ave. but since I will be going on vacation next week could not take the day off. I did have time to make it to the marketplace, and since I have what to me is already a sizeable stash went in the hopes hopes hopes of meeting you. Though I have to preface that by saying had I seen Meg Swansen I would have fallen over sideways. My only purchase then was to buy silk hankies - figuring you were teaching the class they would have some for sale. Alas, not meant to be, there were none being sold. On another note, I am still recovering from the severe twitch I developed that weekend being so close and yet so far.

I love knitting from silk hankies but have only knit scarves and a shawlette. I never thought of knitting mittens because I never knew that they would be so warm. I have a couple of hankies in my stash already so I won't be breaking my "knitting from the stash" goal for the year. ;-}

They are absolutely gorgeous!
Now, I think you have created a new craze - I will definitely have to try this. Silk is my favourite fiber, and 30g seems affordable.
Thank you for a wonderful distraction from quilting :o)

these are quite probably the most beautiful mittens I have ever seen.

Wow, instant lust. Just like that. I've some mawata sitting around here somewhere, I must go weigh it. now.

I NEEEEEED these!

WOW ! They are beautiful. I would never have thought to pull apart a silk hankie and "spin" it into something like yarn and make mittens. Beautiful and warm is a good combination for mittens. I love to see what other artists are doing.

Oh.. my god! My heart stopped! I w. a. n. t. that!

This looks like a GREAT new class for students at my shop. Must work some up. Must dye the dang hankies first, though.

These are so perfect. I love them. Thanks for the inspiration! (And another reason to stock up on more BMFA)

These are the most amazingly lovely mittens I have seen in a long, long time. I tried this out when you first posted about using using attenuated silk hankies as yarn. It's tricky knitting in some ways, but the result is so fantastic, it seems well worth the effort. I'd marry them.
Lovely, lovely, lovely.

Oh that is just perfect! I have the silk, loads of it.Now just find me the patience to knit mittens...

These mittens look like candy for your hands! I am definitely going to have to knit myself a pair of these. Thanks for the wonderful idea.

Marry them??? HECK!! I want to have an affair with them!! Those are so gorgeous and I can just imagine the romance those mittens and I would have together...er...um...I mean...uh...oh my...I better go over to Blue Moon and find my own silk and get started on my own, huh?? hee hee!!

Those look scrumptious!! You are so brave by showing us. LOL Thank you!!