Two for one!

I have two finished projects to report!

Noro Morning Mitts and Indigo Ripples

My Noro Morning Mitts are great. They are cozy and cute. I love the colors and they match my scarf!

Specs: Noro Morning Mitts
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden
Amount: 1 skein
Pattern: Maine Morning Mitts from Knitter's Book of Yarn
Needles: US7
Started: Jan 08
Finished: 16 Feb 08
Ravelry link

However. The poor little mitts are completely overshadowed by my love for this skirt.

Specs: Indigo Ripples Skirt
Yarn: Elann Den-M-Nit in Dark Indigo
Amount: 11 skeins
Pattern: Indigo Ripples Skirt
Needles: US5
Started: Aug 07
Finished: 19 Feb 08
Ravelry link

This skirt is quite possibly the coolest thing I have ever knit.

I wore it to work on Thursday and it drew unsolicited compliments from coworkers... to which I replied "I MADE IT!!!" Everyone was amused impressed.

I made some mods to the pattern:

• I cast-on more stitches than the pattern called for in my size and then did less hip increases to give the skirt a lower rise.
• I also had to fudge the stitch count because my gauge was off.
• I knit 16.5" of (unshrunken) stockinette before starting the lace pattern because a) I'm tall and b) I'm modest... or more modest than the pattern was written.
• I ended up completing all 60 lace rows to make the skirt fall right below my knee.
• I braided a drawstring for the skirt rather than make an i-cord.

Some other notes:

• Because of my mods, I ended up using 11 balls of yarn.
• The ruffle itself, uses an entire ball of yarn.
• The fancy bind off uses another half of a ball.
• All this yarn-eating ruffle-ege it totally worth it. I LOVE THE RUFFLE.
• Denim yarn is annoying because it dyes your fingers blue and gives me stiff wrists.
• Denim yarn rocks because you can throw it in the washer and dryer.
• After looking at the skirt photos on my computer, it appears that there was a slightly darker ball of yarn used across the hip area. I did not see this in person, so I don't think it's that noticeable.

Everyone should knit this skirt. Seriously. It's so flattering! Just be forewarned... the short, little 10 row ruffle and bind off?? They take as much time as the whole lace portion itself.

VIVA LA INDIGO RIPPLES!!! YAY!