At first I couldn’t decide what to knit on the plane. While I was thinking about it I took out the leftover Tonalita and idly knit fifteen rounds of ribbing, then some stockinette, then started to increase for a gusset. I just sort of made them up as I went along, and I wrote down everything I’d done so that I could have some hope of making a second armwarmer just like the first one.

By the end of the flight I’d gotten up to the part where I would set aside stitches for the thumb, decided that I wouldn’t make individual fingers on these due to the thickness of the yarn, and written down what I think will be the rest of the pattern. I could probably finish the first one in less than an hour, and the second one will take about two hours to knock out.

If I were being more picky about the “as I go along” armwarmers, I would put four more stitches into the ribbing to make it easier to get over my hand, even though it’s the right size for my scrawny wrist. I’d spread out the gusset increases over a few more rounds, because I reached the target number of stitches before I’d reached the base of my thumb. But I’m not being picky, because they’ll look totally fine, and I have no plans to write up or publish this pattern.

Last weekend, while my house in Virginia was buried in more than two feet of snow, I went to Canada. Ironically, the weather there was beautiful and clear, if really cold. It was even too cold for me to want to skate on the canal. Instead, my sworn-sister the Ninja and I, along with our friend Amy, took an afternoon to visit yarn stores.

Our first stop was Wool N’ Things in Orleans, where I was thrilled to find some of the discontinued Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed, the same yarn that I used to knit my Fleep-Tops. I picked up two skeins in Cedar, a gorgeous dark green with red and yellow flecks. They’ll probably become another pair of Fleeps, as backup for when my first pair inevitably wears out. The green totally doesn’t match my dark blue winter coat, but it’s time for a new coat anyway. Perhaps something in green, or preferably black. Black goes with everything.

Then we headed over to Yarn Forward in Ottawa proper, where I bought two skeins of this super-soft (and superwash!) Lang Merino DK in a gray so dark it’s almost black. My first thought was that it might make a pair of Fleeps for Michael, but he wanted something thicker and tweedier, so I’m going to use it for a pair of classy office armwarmers for myself and pick up some Rowan Felted Tweed in as black as it comes for him. Not that I mind being able to use this pettably soft stuff for myself, not at all! I am thinking about making something like these Cafe au Lait Mitts from SnapperKnits, or perhaps I will come up with my own pattern for them.

I did have a disappointment this year: My old Stellar Toque, now over four years old, may be nearing retirement. It’s gotten stretched out and too large, and lets the wind through to my ears. I am thinking that before next Winterlude, I will knit a colourwork hat with earflaps and line it with fleece. We saw many of them in the Byward Market when we were there for the Stew Cook-Off on Friday, and I was seriously tempted to buy one – but why buy what I can knit? Pirate-Husband suggested that I could salvage the Stellar Toque by knitting earflaps onto it and lining it with fleece, instead of making a whole new hat. I could also felt it a little to shrink it and make it more windproof.

Because it would be a pain in the butt to try to measure out a length of heel color stripe against another stripe, I think I’m just going to start the entire heel over with the next stripe in sequence. Not only will this be easier than measuring, but it will be easy to reproduce on Sock #2.

Today, I was complimented on the policy I have on the Highwayman Armwarmers pattern: Distribute the pattern freely but don’t sell it. You may sell armwarmers made with this pattern if you give me credit for having designed it. Since I don’t plan to make and sell armwarmers, it’s not taking any money out of my pocket if anyone else wants to do so. Feel free! Have at it! Enjoy!

I feel like such a dork saying it, but omg! people are making the armwarmers! I saw someone on the LJ knitting community recommending them, and someone on a UK knitting forum did the same, and someone on Ravelry has cast on for the pattern too! I should probably relax a little bit, but I can’t help squeeing just a little!

It’s still not cool enough to wear the Stripey Striped Scarf, but I’m sure it will be soon! I’ll try to get some pictures of its public debut, possibly under the trees which are just now starting to turn pretty colors.

My wrists have been hurting, so I’ve been trying to knit and type a little less. This is frustrating, but I’d rather take a few days off knitting than have to take a month off after I really overdo it.

And lastly, I know this isn’t exactly knitting-related, but in about ten minutes the realtor is going to pick us up and take us to see our first bunch of houses. I’m *so* excited!

I thought about this for a while and decided that the Highwayman pattern really needed some kind of included copyright information. So I put this on there. Since I don’t plan to make and sell armwarmers, I have no problem if anyone else does – it doesn’t take money away from me. However, it’s important to give me credit for the design. Here’s the copyright notice I came up with:

Important Copyright Information:
This pattern is © 2007 The Knitting Pirate. You may make copies for your own personal use, but you may not sell copies of the pattern. You may sell the armwarmers you make provided that credit is given to the Knitting Pirate for the design. If you have any questions about what you can or can’t do with this pattern, please feel free to contact the Knitting Pirate.

I wonder why most pattern designers don’t want people selling objects made from their pattern?

Thursday night I saw the Yarn Harlot at Borders. As soon as I pull the pictures off my camera, I’ll post them with a recap of the evening. It was fantastic!

Pirate-Husband asked me to design “manly black armwarmers” for him to wear while riding, and explained that he needed something to close the gap between his leather jacket and his gloves. Cables were the first thing that came to mind. He liked them so much that I made a pair for myself as well! These are just the thing for scenic motorcycle rides in the country – or blustery fall days in the city. Made of 100% wool, they are warm without being too bulky, and fit tightly to help keep the wind out.

SIZE: S [L] (shown in size S)
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS: To fit an arm that’s 6 [7.5] inches around at widest point of forearm. Negative ease is included in the pattern.
YARN: Patricia Roberts Lambswool [100% lambswool; 50g/168 yards;] charcoal gray; 1 skein or Filatura Di Crosa Zarina Extrafine Merino [100% merino; 50g/181 yards;] colour 1490: blue; 1 skein or any other sport-DK weight yarn to get gauge.
AND ALSO:

• 1 set(s) US #3/3.25mm double-point needles
• Cable needle
• Tapestry needle
• Round marker

GAUGE: 30 sts/42 rows = 4″ in stockinette stitch

Download the Highwayman Armwarmer Pattern – .pdf format

Highwayman page on Ravelry.com

Important Copyright Information:
This pattern is © 2007 The Knitting Pirate. You may make copies for your own personal use, but you may not sell copies of the pattern. You may sell the armwarmers you make provided that credit is given to the Knitting Pirate for the design. If you have any questions about what you can or can’t do with this pattern, please feel free to contact the Knitting Pirate.

Some more pictures: