Shaky Start

So, I diligently started the Andalus Mittens on July 1...and things went badly.  I wanted to do a different hem (just a provisional cast-on, a quick four rows of plain  stockinette, a purl row, four more rows of plain stockinette, and then join the live stitches with the provisional cast-on before starting the color work).  Total failure.  My color work gauge is so much tighter than my regular gauge (and I am a tight knitter to begin with) that I couldn't knit tightly enough in plain stockinette to match my color work gauge and I didn't want to decrease the stitch count.  (Did I mention these mittens are going to be bulletproof?)  So after multiple tries...*cast-on, knit, rip, repeat from *...I finally gave up and did the called for four rows of k2, p2.

I worked through the wrist pattern and decided I wasn't happy that I wouldn't be able to wear it when I was done.  So, I went stash diving...I came up with some Bonkers Handmade Originals Hand Dyed Sport Wool (given to me by Teri) and some Mission Falls 136 Merino Superwash.  I had not yet learned my lesson, so I tried to do the different hem with the same tragic results...*cast-on, knit, rip, repeat from *.

I finally decided to do it (mostly) as written and now, the first mitten is done!

Onward!

Nothing more to see here.  Knit along...