Pattern: Calorimetry from Knitty.com: more than a headband but less than a hat
Needles: 4mm (size 6) straights
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in color "Chocolate"
I knit my new accessories with Wool of the Andes. It’s not too scratchy, has a nice halo and good stitch definition - and of course it’s inexpensive - but it is stretchy. After wearing Calorimetry once, it grew way too large for me.
After frogging Calorimetry and washing the yarn to get the kinks out, I switched to 4mm needles and reknit it. The new circumference is perfect, but the width is still too wide across the top of my head. Another time, I would knit less rows.
Calorimetry Mods (updated January 2007):
The second time I knit this, I tried to wrap when I turned to avoid holes (except for a couple buttonholes). However, there are still small holes because I didn't knit together the wrap and the wrapped stitch (I just realized this was one of my mistakes).
Not only did I still have small holes, I w&t-ed all the holes when increasing my Calorimetry, so I eliminated all the buttonholes! Stupid stupid stupid. Best of all: I didn’t realize this until I had woven in the ends then tied on the button - when I tried to button my Calorimetry closed, that’s when I noticed. Argh! (Stupid stupid stupid stupid.)
Instead of a button, I sewed on snaps to close it. The close snaps are a pain in the ass to unsnap, and I need to sew them on better. I’m using a button to cover up my crap sewing, but it doesn’t match. I’m annoyed with myself for frackin’ up the buttonholes. However, I’ll definitely wear this when I wear my hair up on a cold winter day… until I knit another, better Calorimetry.
My boyfriend asked why I can’t knit a whole anything: I knit just the shoulders of a sweater (Ribbed Lace Bolero), a half-hat (Calorimetry), and now gloves without fingers (Fetching). One day I'll knit a whole sweater!
Pattern: Fetching from Knitty.com
Needles: 4mm (size 6) dpns
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in color "Chocolate"
The Fetching pattern is very cute and very easy. I was nervous before starting the thumbs, but I could easily see my stitches to grab off my waste yarn.
Fetching Mods:
For this pair, I knit the standard size with some extra length, but they are too roomy in the palms and too short. I have a 7” wrist, thin hands, and thin, long fingers. If I were to knit this again, I would definitely decrease a repeat or two in the palm (and possibly cast on one less repeat). I’d also make the thumb-hole opening much smaller, and I knit this a little longer to partially cover my fingers (this pair only covers my palms). Despite all the sizing issues, I love them! They are my first pair of fingerless mitts that I have ever worn, and they are functional and awesome! They are perfect for hiking and/or photographing in the cold.
Altogether, I used less than two skeins of yarn, and since it's cheap Wool of the Andes, my awesome autumn accessories cost only $4. Four dollars! And they are super quick to knit. My Calorimetry might be too wide and my Fetching mitts might be too big, but I love them both and wear them all the time. I will have to knit them again in the proper sizes because they rock!
