Along about Wednesday it became obvious that the Quarterly Descent into Hell had commenced without my really noticing or getting ready ahead of time.
Intellectually, I am aware the QDiH is coming regardless of any preparations on my part. No matter where I am in the year, I am less than six weeks away from another QDiH. It always hangs over my head like a locomotive* released from high altitude and plummeting towards me. It’s always just a matter of time before before hits the ground at terminal velocity and squishes me like the sorry bag of endoskeletal protoplasm I am.
I knit to survive. Last time around, I started on a very intricate wrap. Previous quarters have seen socks, hats and a cardigan. Complicated scarves are especially good QDiH projects. I have dreams of someday working the Pi Shawl over the January QDiH (which lasts into May). But this time, I got hit unawares.
Stupid, rookie mistake.
When I climbed out from under the dropped box car of overtime and bitter tears on Wednesday, I knew I needed a project, and I needed one FAST! The first thing that came to hand was a ball of New Mexican-raised merino that I had purchased in Taos last year and then never used, and the first idea that popped into my head was a pair of nubby mitts, so that’s what I did. Forty stitches cast onto 3.5 mm needles, 50 rounds of mistake rib, thumb hole, another 15 rounds of mistake rib, cast off. Done.
I am really pleased with how they turned out. They were fast, they were simple, they fit in with my QDiH mental picture, which usually involves a lot of circa 1993 angst, loud music and heavy boots.
Fisticuffs
100 grams aran or worsted-weight wool (Cascade 220 would be great here)
3.5 mm double point needles
Cast on 40 stitches
Round 1: *K2, p2*
Round 2: K1, *p2, k2* to last stitch, K1
Work rounds one and two for 50 rounds, or until glove reaches desired length.
Round 51: Using waste yarn, knit 5 at beginning of next round. Slip these five stitches purl-wise back onto left hand needle. Knit over the top in pattern and complete round.
Work in mistake rib pattern for 15 rounds.
Bind off.
Thumb:
Carefully remove waste yarn and pick up live stitches onto needle — there should be nine total. Pick up and knit live stitches, as well as two stitches between top and bottom of the opening on each side. You should have a total of 13 stitches. Loosely bind off the stitches and weave in loose ends.
Repeat for the second glove.
Rock out.
*Interestingly enough, if my math is right (and I’d like to think that it is) it appears a locomotive’s terminal velocity would be approximately 195 miles an hour. Squish.