16 Apr 2012

The bead makes the Beeton; the button makes the glove.

Yes, there will be a podcast today tomorrow. Let’s just get that out of the way right up front. In fact, I shouldn’t be posting at all, as the podcast timer went “bing” about 42 minutes ago. Time’s a wasting.

However.

Will ya look at that. MORE KNITTING!

I know. Sometimes I am amazed, myself.

First up, Driving Miss Daisy Gloves, photography by Tonia (who’s home today with a very stiff upper back, and who would have rather been resting than taking photos, but there is no rest at all for the weary) modelled by yours truly. Yes, that is my new iPad, displaying the current incarnation of the pattern. (I’ll be revamping the layout on this pattern later this week.)

I knit these from Lion Brand Baby Alpaca and they are like BUTTAH. I knit the fingers longer than I usually do, leaving just the fingertip exposed. I think this is a reaction to the return of a standard chilly Welsh spring, after a month of glorious summer-like weather. The weather was so nice, for so many weeks, that I put all my winter clothes away. I think the extra long fingers are as much a response to that, as they are a sample garment for the Creative Glove Design classes I’m teaching in a scant few weeks.

So, the left glove is done, all but the button, and the right glove is, as you see in the top photo, sans fingers and about halfway there. I began with two full balls of Baby Alpaca, but gloves take such a small amount of yarn (another reason I love knitting them) that I might… just *might* be able to squeak the second glove out of the rest of one ball. I’ll keep you posted.

The button choice for these gloves, always an important decision, was made even more so by the pale colour of the yarn. My friend, Katie, who visited last week, pored over my button box with the sort of intense concentration that only a fellow button hoarder is capable of. Katie had never seen my button stash. She was impressed.

What you see on the glove in the third photo is the button short list, which includes a range of blacks, browns, and even a red. I thought I had made my mind up completely but, well, today anyway, I find myself undecided. It’s an important decision. The button really does make or break these gloves. I think it’s worth taking the time to get it just right.

Following Driving Miss Daisy off the needles, meet the new Mrs Beeton. In preparation for the classes next month I’ve knit a sample garment (again, using Lion Brand yarns; merino, and their kid mohair and silk) and I cannot tell you how glad I am that I knit this pattern again. Here’s why:

First, it’s one of the older patterns in my design library, and the pattern was not as well laid out as it would have been had it been designed today. In preparation for the beaded knitting classes I’m teaching I totally revamped the pattern. The pictures are now HUGE, and you can see every stitch, and the pattern is much easier to read than the old layout. Plus, it looks just great on the iPad. I love it on the iPad.

The real reason I’m so chuffed with Mrs Beeton today is that I’d kind of forgotten how delightful it is to knit with beads. Seriously. It’s one of the cheapest ways to add a little panache to your knitting (a tube of seed beads will set you back all of $3) and it’s so, so easy. Plus, beaded knitting has such a great weight to it. It’s substantial. And it sparkles. What is not to love? Nothing!

But know this: Which bead is as important a question as which button. Do not rush the selection process. The beads I chose this week tone perfectly with the kid mohair and silk yarn. They are a subtle choice. You can miss them altogether until the light catches them, just so, and they begin to sing. I love this about them.

If all that isn’t reason enough to break out the yarn, and start stringing beads, just listen to the upcoming podcast for details about an awesome tool that makes this project even better!

I really am turning on the mic now. Talk to you soon!

Posted on April 16, in Blog

12 Comments

  1. Alison wrote:

    Yeahhhh. Just found you and I am busy listening to the archive – I rate this as one of my favourite programmes – just love it!

    Posted on 4.16.12 ·
  2. Alison wrote:

    And I have just realised we have the same iPad cover – why should that give me such a buzz?

    Posted on 4.16.12 ·
  3. Sandi wrote:

    I like the red and the pearly brown closest to the fingers. Wish I could take a class from you, but it’s not going to happen this trip. Maybe next time; I’m looking forward to the buzz..

    Posted on 4.17.12 ·
  4. Annie wrote:

    Those are nice gloves! Well, first I thought those buttons were the final button edition! I even wanted to say that I love the fact that you’re going to use five different colours…

    Posted on 4.17.12 ·
  5. Cathryn wrote:

    I’m with Annie. I thought the selection of all the buttons together was lovely!

    Posted on 4.17.12 ·
  6. Holly wrote:

    I think I love the blue best or the brown, but that could have something to do with the colors I’ve been knitting lately.

    Posted on 4.19.12 ·
  7. vickie wrote:

    I like the red buttons 🙂

    Posted on 4.19.12 ·
  8. Catherine wrote:

    Hi Brenda

    I do so agree about knitting gloves being the perfect quick project. I made driving miss daisy for a friend’s Christmas present with hand dyed cashmere – and took ages over button choice – there is a picture here
    http://chopkins2011.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/in-more-detail.html

    I also have Mrs Beeton on the needles – my first ever attempt at bead knitting!

    xc

    Posted on 4.20.12 ·
  9. Ansley wrote:

    Grey buttons!

    Posted on 4.23.12 ·
  10. Jon-Edward wrote:

    My choice would probably be the terracotta … although I really can see why you might go with any of them. This is definitely a “no right answer” question.

    Posted on 4.25.12 ·
  11. janice wrote:

    What is your Twitter name so I can follow you on your tour?

    Posted on 4.28.12 ·
  12. Hi Janice,

    I’m knitsib on twitter. Should have probably mentioned that, huh?

    Posted on 4.28.12 ·

Comments are closed.