Friday, March 16, 2007

Fiber Friday - Thrum Kit

This lovely hank of fibers is a kit is for thrum mittens by Fleece Artist. The hank includes 125 grams of Blue Face Leicester Aran weight yarn to knit the mittens and 60 grams of roving for the thrums. This color combination is called Late Winter Early Spring.

Until recently I wasn't really familiar with thrumming and what it is all about. But I saw an excellent tutorial of the process at Hello Yarn entitled "How I Thrum". There is a clear explanation with pictures on how to create the thrums from the roving and how to knit them into the mitten.

After reading the tutorial, I really though it would be fun to try, but I wasn't sure that I really needed thrum mittens in North Carolina. Then I saw the color combinations in this hank and I immediately decided that thrum mittens would be a great idea. And I have no idea how I've lived without them all my life.

I figure I can wear them walking the dog in the winter months. My hands are always cold when we are out for the last or first walk of the day in winter. I have to hold the leash and can't really have both of my hands tucked into pockets. We also visit family in the Midwest during the winter holidays on occasion.

Well you can see the result of my logic - I bought the kit. And besides, I already had the recommended needles (3.5 mm / US 4). I can talk myself into almost anything. If you ever need help justifying a knitting purchase - call me. I can always come up with something.

In other knitting news, I have started my husband's man socks. I'm doing them toe up so I can have him try the socks on as I knit. I'm still working on the toes - so I haven't decided on a stitch pattern yet - but I'm getting to that point.

Hopefully I'll have something worthy of a photo sometime over the weekend. We are big college basketball fans so almost all weekend will be spent in front of the television for the NCAA tournament. I'm looking forward to the knitting time.

15 comments:

Batty said...

I just bought a thrummed mitten kit too!

Your colors are stunning. I love the fact that even the roving they included is bright and colorful. Mine is its natural color, which is OK, but I'm thinking of dyeing it first. Who'd have thought that yellows, blues, purples and pinks could look so good together?

cpurl17 said...

ooh don't worry about the logic of knitting mittens for N. Carolina-I can justify knitting anything and I live in California!! Usually it's something like, "Hmm, in case there's a freak snowstorm, I better be prepared"

Sue J. said...

Who needs logic to knit and pruchse fiber? Your color choices are just gorgeous! I can't wait to see this finished mittens. Hope you will post pics along the way.

Anonymous said...

The colors are beautiful. I thought it was mandatory that if you already had the correct size needles for a project - you had to buy the yarn?!!?

Zonda said...

Gorgeous colors there!! Can't wait to see them! Have a good knitty weekend! :)

Bezzie said...

We're due for another ice age soon so you're just very well prepared!

Gorgeous colors on that yarn and fleece. Have you seen your pics in bloglines? They're so huge! That camera is amazing!

And thanks for the tutorial link. I had never really "got" thrums til I read that.

String said...

Thanks for your kind comment, i will keep that in mind

Anonymous said...

Perfect logic, m'dear...beautiful fiber equals necessity. I'm in:)

Ang

gray la gran said...

i never bother to justify a yarn purchase. instead, i just think, "hmmm ... this means i can't turn the heat back on with this cold snap!" "hmmm ... good thing i can insulate myself from this cold snap with all my yarn !" i might have to pull the bulky wool bin out tonight ;)
i look forward to seeing the winter/spring mitties :)

Stacie said...

those colors make me wanna cry! I have never heard of thrumming, but I checked out the link and that is cool beans!

HPNY KNITS said...

this is fabulous!!I love it. such rich colors, and the combo is terrific! can't wait to see it in action!

turtlegirl76 said...

I like the way your mom thinks. And if I'da seen that, I'da snapped it up too! Gorgeous!

The Kelly Green Rogue said...

gorgeous yarn! Can't wait to see the finished mittens!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful colors! I never really knew what thrummed mittens were until I went to SPA. I was able to put one on and OMG they are sooooo soooooft! I need to make some too.

gilraen said...

Oh lovely colours!! I'm looking forward to seeing these mittens finished. The fiber and yarn looks soft? :)