Entangled in Fingerless Gloves

This post is just a quick show and tell for a fairly recent finished object (I don't have time to write a ton- I want to spend all of my time knitting my enchanted forest body!). Here are my Entangled Fingerless Gloves.


I've been ogling the Entangled Stitches gloves pattern for several months now, but I didn't have the energy during the school year to start such an intricate undertaking. I had just looked at the pattern enough, however, to know that I would be modifying it to make the gloves fingerless- I figured it would be tempting fate too much to spend so much time on a piece of winter outerwear I would inevitably lose. But at the beginning of May, with exams done and our annual Oregon vacation just a week away, I decided it was high time to dive in- I wanted a pair of fingerless gloves for chilly morning hikes and misty walks on the beach. Now, a logical girl might have turned toward a quick, bulky mitt like Leafy, which has also been in my queue for some time. But logic escaped me altogether when I walked into Loopy Yarns and found a skein of Malabrigo sock in the vibrant Solis- the ideal yarn for entangled.

When the first day of knitting found me only ten rows into a hundred row chart, I knew I didn't stand a chance of wearing these beauties in Oregon this year. But I loved the way they were turning out so much that I kept knitting them, even packing them as my primary trip project. I had a few qualms about trying to follow such an intricate chart while also trying to spot every waterfall hidden on the side of the road, taking in coastal scenery, and picking the cutest roadside espresso stand- but I decided to try it.

I'm so glad I did- because now each section of the pattern is linked with a beautiful trip memory. One part of the hand was knit while I was sitting in delicious anticipation of our takeoff at Midway Airport, another while Lopho and I were sipping delectable mochas from adorable Pirate's Coffee in Depoe Bay as we drove up the coast. The little finger happened as we crossed the coast range toward Portland, while the thumb got finished as I drank an incredible iced latte from the rural but fabulous Java Stop outside Salem. I even got compliments on the tiny gauge- one from the adorable older lady who sold us a pass to Wildwood Recreation Area, and another from the cheerful knitter who made our drinks at the Dutch Bros. in Saint Helens. (Yes, obsessive consumption of espresso drinks is an integral part of our vacations to Oregon- how did you possibly guess?!)


I adore these gloves because they are exquisitely gorgeous- yet they will be eminently practical once the weather cools down enough to wear them. I want to knit more small and beautiful projects like these that I am not afraid to use, but that also make me happy just looking at them.

And speaking of projects that make me happy- I am almost done with the body of the Enchanted Forest! I should have some pictures of that next week... I'm hoping I'll even be able to wear it to the Midwest Folk and Fiber Fest.

Storming thorugh an enchanted forest

I'm thrilled that my current knitting project can be the first one that I chronicle on my blog because it absolutely deserves that honor. It's the most challenging, absorbing, and exciting pattern that I've ever attempted. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the spectacular enchanted forest cardigan.


This cardigan is actually called #3 Leaf Cardigan from the Japanese book Sekai No Amimono 2008-2009 Autumn/Winter, which title I have seen translated elsewhere as Knitting Around the World. When I found it at my local Mitsuwa marketplace, it was love at first sight- one of those rare patterns I had to start knitting it immediately.

I've actually been planning to knit a Japanese design for years, ever since I saw other English-speaking bloggers using them with awesome results. Now, I don't scare easily (okay, really at all) when it comes to crafting, but knitting a pattern written in a different language had suggested the possibility of enough complications to cause me to procrastinate until I found the perfect pattern.

Now, however, perfect pattern in hand, I had to jump in. And I was pleasantly surprised to discover that knitting a Japanese pattern was pretty darned easy. Of course, the bulk of the pattern was charted. And the resources in the Japanese Knitting and Crochet group on Ravelry had all the information I needed to decipher the rest. This tutorial and this list were especially helpful. Of course, the results were enough to keep me motivated...


I swatched extensively before picking the yarn for this sweater, which is really rare for me- usually I just pick a yarn, knit a rectangle with different needles until I get gauge, and then proceed with the garment. The pattern called for a worsted wool, so I reached for the default Cascade 220. Unfortunately, to get the twisted stitch vines in the pattern to look not wonky, I had to knit with a size 4 needle, which gave a fabric as stiff as steel.

Then I went to my next favorite worsted, Tatamy tweed- the cotton-acrylic blend I used to knit my Arwen vest. The wonkiness was even worse, regardless of needle size. Next, I tried some Lorna's Laces Worsted that I was hoping to get rid of. Same problem.

Finally, I was inspired to try the cheapest yarn in my stash- a tencel-acrylic blend that I bought for $2 a ball at a craft store in Oregon. I had used a yarn that was identical in composition and feel (although, oddly, different in brand), for another vest I started knitting last year, and had loved its softness, smoothness on my hands, and slightly slubby texture.


And it was magic! Although it wouldn't give me quite as crisp stitches as the Cascade did when knit tightly, the slub factor of Flinders obscured the wonkiness of the vines on a size 7, allowing me the lovely drape that this sort of flared cardigan demands. Additionally, I loved the way the leafy pattern looked in the soft purple.

After spending a week swatching, I whipped up the first sleeve in a week. The leaf pattern is so much fun to knit. Even though no two rows are the same and it is necessary to follow the chart very closely, the complexity of the design produces results that are more picture than stitch pattern. I also adore the bottom border- there is a unique stitch that involves passing the third stitch on the left needle over the first two that gives an attractive, flat edge.


My only concern at this point is going to be fit. Observe me holding the sleeve up to my shoulder. It hits above my elbow. Now scroll back up to the model in the pattern pic. Her sleeve hits a few inches above her wrist. I am not sure where the body will fall- my calculations suggest just under my breasts. Hopefully, that will be flattering for a cropped shrug-style sweater. Otherwise, there will be some serious modifying to do!


I've actually knit pretty far into the body now- these pictures are about a week old, and I'm really blazing through this! I'll post another update as soon as I settle my fit concerns and get some more photos taken. Now, back to my mad knitting...

Dipping a tentative flagella into the blogosphere

Hello! Welcome to my blog. Come in, sit down, make yourself comfortable. Would you like a nice cup of iced coffee and a big slice of maple banana bread?

My name is Peritrichous, but you can call me Peri. In real life, I'm a twentysomething medical student who lives in the Chicago suburbs with an adorkable husband, Lophotrichous (or Lopho). I'd describe myself as a science geek, voracious reader, outdoors lover, trail tromper, and avid crafter. And I'm starting this blog to chronicle my creative adventures.

For as long as I can remember, I've been an inveterate maker of stuff. Right now, knitting and baking are my chief crafty obsessions, but I also dabble in sewing, cross stitch, weaving, and beading- and I'm looking forward to writing about it all here! I hope that joining the creative cacophony of craft bloggers will encourage me to finish more projects and keep better records of both process and product.

If you're curious, my bloggy name originates from my love of microbiology. Peritrichous is a word that describes bacteria, like E. coli, that have flagella coming out in all different directions (whereas Lophotrichous bacteria have a tuft of flagella in one direction). I've always identified with it because my interests likewise spread every which way. But don't worry, I'm (usually) non-pathogenic and (hopefully) completely human- see?

I'll be back in a day or so with the real goodies: details of my latest knitting project. And there's always likely to be another tasty morsel around, too. Thanks for stopping by!