New: Greenfinch Mitts
Continuing on the birdy theme, the pattern for my new Greenfinch Mitts is out today!
It’s all in the detail⠀
They say the devil is in the detail, but in knitting that’s where the good stuff often dwells. And the sweet spot is often found when you get the balance of detail and easy going knitting that feels good.
These mitts have a bit of both - plain stocking stitch to the palms - for practicality , with a dash of birdy feet to the back of the hands and a smattering of easy mock cable rib.
Inspired by birdsong and the promise of spring, the Greenfinch Mitts are the second in my Feathered Friends collection and it’s out today. Knitted in the round, it has a mock eyelet cable rib to the cuff and top edges, while the main hand part is in stocking stitch with a panel of my signature birdy feet formed with twisted stitches. These stitch patterns are easy to memorise so it’s not an arduous knit - though you will need to keep a gently eye on what you are doing. If you can knit and purl confidently you’ll be able to do this just fine, and if you are an experienced hand it’ll be a satisfying and quick project.
The yarn I used (Juniper Moon Farm Findley DK) is sadly discontinued, but that’s not a worry as the pattern is evergreen - it’s in a standard weight DK so you’ll have endless possibilities for a suitable yarn.
To show off the stitch work and feel good against your neck I recommend using a wool/silk mix, high twist is good, and solid or semi solid colours. For guidance on choosing the right yarn for showing off your fancy stitchwork go here, and for tips on substituting yarns, see this post.⠀
Trials and tribulations of a knitting designer
It’s been rather challenging taking decent knitting photos for patterns during these unmentionable times. Since I can’t safely get close enough to a human to take some shots, I’veresorted to using mannequin handsor draping things nonchalantly around the garden.
In an attempt to try and show them on a real hand I’ve even tried taking one handed shots - this is trickier than you might imagine, requiring strange contortions (and strange involuntary noises!) of the photographer.
The results are just about good enough....... on the plus side though it’s given my neighbours some much needed hilarity.
Get your mitts on!
The pattern for the Greenfinch Mitts is now up on ravelry, and you can use the code CHIRP10 to get 10% off until midnight (UK/GMT) on Mon 22 March (or if you're one of my lovely email subscribers, you’ll have a bigger discount code awaiting in your inbox). If you aren’t subscribed yet it’s too late for the special discount this time, but you can sign up below if you don’t want to miss out in future.
The mitts are a companion to the Greenfinch Cowl which is already out - if you fancy getting the matching pair you’ll get a 25% reduction on the full price for both patterns - no coupon code required. And if you bought the Cowl previously, whatever you spent on it will be counted towards the price of the set - so long as you’re logged into the same ravelry account when you make both purchases.
Click Here to go to Donna’s Ravelry Store
Some of you have asked already about the Feathered Friends Collection - this is a collection of 6 designs relating to garden birds which I’m currently creating and I’ll be releasing gradually over the Spring and through to the Autumn (or so!). As each one comes to life they’ll join their feathered friends in my ravelry store, with discounts for those who would like several or all of them.
If you want the head’s up when the next feathered friend is released into the wild, then sign up to my mailing list below.