So, I’ve been making the fingerless mittens (two patterns so far) for my order and have decided that I should try to write an entry about increases for those of you who knit … or want to learn!

The thumb gusset (or any place where you’re going to add stitches in almost any pattern) will look sooooo much better with increases that lean in the direction of the rest of the pattern. So, in the case of increasing a mitten or glove for a thumb …. since you start the increases just above the wrist (in order to have the needed number of stitches to accommodate the thumb) it ends up being the shape of a “V”. Stitches that lean to the right (on the right side) or the left (on the left side) of the “V” will blend in and seamlessly add stitches to your garment.

Enter M1r and M1L

As you knit, you’ll add the stitches to the right side of the “V” first (knitting from right to left) and that’s where you’re going to make the M1R (make one stitch leaning to the right).

Do you see the bar between the two stitches? (One stitch is knitted on the right needle and the left needle stitch is, as yet, unknit.)

The stitch to pick up

Left hand needle should pick up this stitch from the row below from the back to the front.

Now, simply knit the stitch as normal.

For the M1L at the other side of the “V”, again you want to pick up the stitch from the row/round below …

See the purple "bar" between the yellow-y green stitches?

Pick up this stitch with the left hand needle from the front to the back.

Knit into the back of this stitch to complete the M1l (make one left-leaning).

Ta Da! You’ve got it! Two stitches increased … one leaning to the right and one to the left so that the thumb gusset is pretty! See?

Practice this  … practice makes perfect!

Gone knitting!

Red Skelton was a comic (and many youngsters won’t even know who he is) in our parents’ day. I remember him, too but he was really old when I was a kid.

Regardless, if this doesn’t bring a tear to your eye or make you think about how fortunate we are to be Americans, well … have a listen!

On this Veteran’s Day 2011 (11-11-11), I thank all of the Veterans and those still serving in our military for their service. It’s by their generosity and bravery that we all can still pledge our allegiance to the American flag.

A special “shout out” to my father in heaven. Thanks, Dad, for your service. You never ate another hot dog after being aboard your ships and you returned hating monkeys – the one you had on board was smelly and messy as I can recall the story. I love you and miss you every day.

God bless the United States of America and those who serve her.

Abundantly Beautiful!

I love to talk. Yup, I do.

I also love to listen. We’ve been talking about our attitudes toward life and how those attitudes and beliefs can change our paths. When I got divorced, I left an unhappy situation where I was continually feeling trapped and inadequate. In the time since, my life has opened up and wonderful opportunities have presented themselves … and while at times it’s really frightening, I am so grateful for having my friends and family who can talk me off the precipice when the going gets rough.

When I talk about how my life has opened up, I almost always spread my arms wide. My heart opens and fills. I have a wonderful man in my life who loves me. We may not be perfect but I’m committed to making us work and there’s really nobody I’d rather grow old with. He’s my buddy and he loves me through thick and thin … even when I have my emotional crazy hormonal “moments” (that often last a couple of days or a week.) I have three healthy, productive, interesting kids and they make me so proud. (I’m also proud of myself because I raised them and guided them and I did a good job. The most important job I could ever have!)

Revisiting Childhood

I’ve reconnected with my brothers and I have a new brother to love (I’ve blogged about it before … check out the older posts). The family is growing and flourishing and supporting each other – and that’s as it should be. I have reconnected with my cousins and am getting to know their families. I am growing too – getting to know myself and learning to appreciate my talents and knowing that I can do whatever it is that I want to do – whether it’s moving to a strange (yes, Florida is strange) city, start a knitwear design line, make a living knitting (well, not quite yet, but it’s happening!) or help my brother tie up some loose ends and simplify his life.

I believe that the abundance of good things in my life are a direct result of my being open to having good and feeling deserving of good. I also believe that it’s because I’m willing to be generous and share – my thoughts, my talents, my time, my money, my food – with others. I used to be fearful and worry about not having enough and closed myself but I’m practicing abundance and wonder and love … and it’s happening!

Gotta love it – but I’ve talked enough for now.

Gone knitting!

I need some new inspiration and so I have decided to enlist the help of the Knitting Guild and take a class.

I was going to start at the Masters Level 1 but changed my mind at the eleventh hour and decided to take the Basics class instead … just to get my head in the right place, set the intention (so-to-speak) and get myself thinking more about my knitting process. The packet was delivered Saturday and I’m really excited about starting but must wrap up a couple of projects already on the needles.

My Kate Middleton shawl is zipping along (yeah, well, not really… it’s slow going when you’re increasing only one stitch every other row!) I really like this pattern and if I could require myself to sit and work on it for a couple of days, I’d be half way through! It’s going to be worth it though and I adore the color I picked.

I have not one but four socks to finish … one more “birthday party” sock to match the finished one, must knit the feet of the two socks on one needle and finish them up, and I cast on a new sock promised to my son (he actually has asked for a black pair of socks!) and I’d like to get them done by Christmas. So … once again, I’m up to my eyeballs in projects and haven’t started to re-work the cabled sweater for the Prima Dogma line.

Test knitters have the Señorita Lolita sweater and I hope it will be a smooth process for them … I’m eager to see how it knits up. I’d love to make a couple more that I could leave in California on consignment to see how they sell. I’m not sure it’ll happen for this next trip … but time will tell!

For now, I’m going to sneak in a little bit of knitting while Aunt and Uncle are still sleeping. Then off to an art museum and the little dogs have an appointment with their Uncle Doctor for check-ups this afternoon.