Mitten Mania

We decided to continue the small project fun for the rest of the summer so… welcome to Mitten Mania!

Just like our Sock-A-Palooza, we’re going to run a fun competition to see how many mittens we can get made during the month of July.

You are welcome to join in the fun whether you've never knit a pair or knit 100 pairs. We’ll be doing a few draws at the end and have different ways for you to enter depending on your skill levels. (Check out the details below.)

Want to learn? Sweet Yarns is offering in store classes so you can learn to make mittens. It is a four-part class so you can get through one full mitten and start your second. Contact the store to book your spot or sign up here: https://shop.sweetyarns.ca/products/mitten-class. We’ll be working with worsted weight yarn. You’ll need 3.75/4mm and 4.5 mm long circular needle or dpns. Cost is $70 plus supplies.

Wednesdays (July 9, 16, 23 & 30) from 1PM to 2PM
Or book your own times that suit you better during store hours

Need supplies? I'll be sending in orders shortly if you are looking for needles or specific yarns and colours. We’ve got a variety of yarns perfect for mittens in store right now depending on the weight you want to use.

Need patterns? Ravelry has over 37,000 of them. Some are knit, some are crocheted. Some are plain, some are complicated. Check out the search I started here: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/search#sort=best&inline=&query=mittens .

Mitten Mania is a mitten making competition for the month of July. It's just some fun to see how many mittens we can create in 31 days. And there will be prizes.

Make sure to join in our Knots & Thoughts (Facebook Live chats Thursday nights at 6:30). I'll be sharing tips on mitten knitting and answering your questions throughout the month. And the winners will be announced on our August 7th Knots & Thoughts.

Below are all the details for the fun. Whether you've knit 100 mittens or starting your first pair, there is a place for you.

Mitten Mania Rules:

Beginner - anyone who hasn't knit mittens before or is just learning. You will get an entry for each mitten you complete. (A mitten needs to weigh 30 grams or more.)

Intermediate - anyone who has knit a few mittens but isn't obsessed with knitting them. You will get an entry for each pair you make. (A pair needs to weigh 60 grams or more.)

Advanced - those mitten knitters who always have a pair on the go. You will get an entry for each pair you complete. (A pair needs to weigh 60 grams or more.) Try challenging yourself with something new (ie. new pattern, add a stitch pattern to your plain mittens, etc.).

A "pair of mittens" can be baby mitts, kid mitts, fingerless, etc. but you'll need to knit more than two mittens per entry. The entry needs to weigh at least 60 grams. (A kitchen scale works great for this.)

Mitten pairs don't have to match. If you've got lots of single mitts that need a mate, you can work on them. (Please snap a pic of the singles prior to working on them and then another pic of the matched-up pairs when you are done.)

You can use any weight of yarn from fingering to chunky weight to make mittens. They can be knit or crocheted.

All entries must be posted in our Sweet Yarnies group by July 31st at 11:59PM. (If you can't do this, let me know and we'll work it out.) Make sure to include:
• which group of mitten makers you are in
• the mitten pattern and yarn you used to make them

WIP (work in progress) entries:

Starting WIP – a Starting WIP is a pair of mittens that is already on the needles. To be included as an entry, the WIP needs to be less than halfway through the pair (no farther than thumb sts on hold). One entry per customer. We'll have WIP posting days on June 29th & 30th where you can share your submission for your Starting WIP. Watch for the reminder.

Ending WIP – an Ending WIP is a pair of mittens that you didn’t quite finish during Mitten Mania. The WIP needs to be more than halfway through the pair. One entry per customer. We’ll have a WIP posting day August 1st where you can share your submission for be your Ending WIP. Watch for the reminder.

All entries must be posted in our Sweet Yarnies group on the scheduled days. (If you can't do this, let me know and we'll work it out.) Make sure to include:
• which group of mitten makers you are in
• the mitten pattern and yarn you used to make them

If you have any questions about Mitten Mania, please contact the store and I'd be happy to answer them.