Pattern: Easy Mitten Pattern by Claudia Krisniski (free via Ravelry)

Yarn:  My own handspun.  Yay!

Needles: Takumi Bamboo US 2s and 4s

Began:  January 15, 2009;  Completed:  January 17, 2009

Notes:  For those following along: it’s freaking cold in Michigan.  Over the past week, we’ve routinely had highs that read 2 degrees, with lows well below zero.  I got some lovely gloves for Christmas (I rock the Isotoners, and they’re still the best in my opinion), they just weren’t keeping out the sub-zero wind chill.  I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with my favorite handspun to date.  I love the colors, and I love the navajo plying, but the mohair made it just too itchy for anything near my neck.  Mittens seemed like the answer.

And boy are they! The yarn knitted up even better than I imagined; the small circumference of the mittens allowed the color transitions from the navajo plying to really shine through.  I used the regular two-ply for the cuffs, and then switched to the navajo for the body of the mitts.  About two thirds of the way through the second mitten, I had to switch to another ball of yarn.  It must have been slightly bulkier than the first, as my gauge got a little bigger, but it’s not really that noticeable.  I’m declaring it a design feature and moving on.

The pattern is super quick, easy, and clear.  I tested the finished mittens last night and today in the cold, and they are definitely up to snuff.  I am officially naming them a success.  I really loved knitting with my handspun again; it was so much fun to see the colors change, and it made the mittens feel even more special.  The good news is that I have plenty left over; I think I’ll knit a Turn a Square with the leftover navajo plied.  Exciting!