a weekend's work

This past weekend was a long one in Canada - our Thanksgiving. That means a trip to the cottage, lots of food (mmm, turkey...) and lots of downtime.

Downtime or the kids means time spent outside as a pack, playing Manhunt, swimming (yes, there was swimming), and generally hanging around being kids. Downtime for the grownups ranges from lots of time spent with books, naps, tv and for me - knitting, to putting boats and other outdoor things away.

The Brown University mittens are coming along. Of course, I can't seem to do anything the easy way, like maybe just knitting BROWN mittens, no, I have to come up with an intarsia pattern for the Brown mascot. And not just intarsia, but intarsia in the round. Good thing I love my niece.

This intarsia in the round is interesting - it's back and forth knitting, so there is colourwork on both the knit and purl sides, and an interesting yarn over and k2tog or p2tog combo at the end of the rows. It works, and other than a small ridge (which blocking should take care of), there's no indication that these were not just knitted in the round. (the ridge is above, and while it looks pretty prominent here, that's more a trick of lighting and cream coloured wool - it's not that noticeable.

The second mitten was started, but I didin't want to knit this in the car on the way home (the patern was only onscreen on my laptop (no printer at the cottage), so the green Rowan sweater saw a little action - I have about 6 inches of sleeve left, some bottom edging then the front bands left.

But I'm having fun with the mittens. Once these are done, there's some Team Canada ones to make, then, just to use up the excess brown wool, I will actually make some plain brown mittens, using the dark brown and heathered brown in combination (maybe with some red thrown in). She should be well stocked and warm by the time she goes to Providence...