Edelweiss Mittens

I have had an unhealthy obsession with all things Swiss and Scandinavian since coming home from Europe last May. I have amassed little quirky things around the house to satiate the urge to move. there. right. now. and have found a love of primary colors I never knew existed -- especially tomato red. To perpetuate my little fixation, I was fortunate enough to find a bright red winter coat in January (on sale no less!) adorned with blue, white, yellow and green Edelweiss ribbon on the placket. The only thing missing in my little get-up was a pair of Fair Isle mittens to match, as everything else I had clashed horribly with the primary colors (oh, the horror!)

The thought of holding a hot beverage in this mug in 95 deg weather made me a little queasy. Pardon the absence.

To make life simple, I had every intention of knitting a pair of mittens from one of the many many amazing classic Fair Isle books we have at the store, but eventually came up with an mix of a few different patterns, cultures and techniques. I am not sure what took me so long to finish the first mitten, but I picked it up again at about 65% completion after coming home from TNNA. That one, and the second, were easily finished within the past 2 weeks.

The mitten starts off with 2 rows of an Estonian braid and ends with a traditional Selbu pointed fingertip. I really love they way the cast on looks and will definitely be using it again. And the pointed tip makes me feel like an elf. Stepping away from tradition, the main pattern travels around the entire hand. If you squint a bit and use your imagination, the motif looks like a flower. Perhaps even and Edelweiss.

I have been on a project monogamy binge lately -- starting with the Springtime in Philadelphia beret v.1, then v.2.0 (which didn't get blog time -- raveled here), The Terra Feb Me Sweater 2.0 (again, sans blog -- raveled here) and now these mittens.

I like finishing things.

Specs:
Pattern: Edelweiss Mittens by me! (oh, did I mention? I made a free .pdf download for you. Here you go.)
Yarn: Vermont Organic Fiber Company O-Wool 2-ply. 1 skein each in Slate, Natural. 1/3 skein Robin's Egg.*
Needles: KnitPicks size 1, 32" circs - magic loop
Gauge: 32 sts and 36 rows = 4" in Fair Isle pattern
Start Date: Sometime January 2008
Finished: June 27th, 2008.
Raveled Here

*I cannot say enough good things about this yarn. It is the perfect spin and feels as if it is ever so slightly in the grease --but still a dream to work with -- while you are knitting it. After washing, it blooms and turns into one of the softest merinos I have ever felt. Good stitch definition. Perfect gauge. And its organic.