February already?, and Christmas tradition knitting

Oh gosh, February already?

I'm still on my finishing streak - something that has been really surprising to me. This month alone, two pairs of socks, two hats, and two languishing WIPs have been finished. I'm determined to get these photographed sometime soon, but for now they are getting lots of warmth in the frigid temperatures of Connecticut winters!
 
I remembered I've never shared my Snapdragon Mittens! The pattern is for flip-top mitts (which I made about 3 or 4 years ago and lost; coincidentally, I've also made the "matching" hat - it's one of my favorites these days) but I didn't want flip-tops this time, so I extended the hand into mittens. Much easier and faster to knit, and, for me, more useful most of the time.

They are lovely, soft, and warm, everything you want a mitten to be. Perfect for in the car driving to work on cold mornings, or mid-day walks outside.

Project Details:
Pattern: Snapdragon flip-tops by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: Pagewood Farm Kissi in "lime" - didn't get to weigh the yarn, but it used only about 2/3 of a skein
Needles: US 5 / 3.75mm
Mods: I made the cuff longer (15 rounds instead of the 6 suggested) and I made them full mittens instead of flip-tops.
Ravelry Page!

These mittens belong to the rich tradition of my Christmas knitting. For the past three holiday seasons,  I've started and finished a knitting project while I was visiting my mom. I never intend to do this, but it seems that having very few things to knit, and very few obligations, means that I get slightly myopic and work like crazy on the one or two things I do have with me. In 2010 (before I was blogging here!) I worked up this little lap blanket in record time. In 2011 I started Ishbel on the plane and finished (and blocked!) it there, and also had time to knit most of two pairs of slippers.

For 2012: I had to wait in the airport about 5 hours this time around, so I finished up a hat:

Once at my mom's, I knit an entire hat for charity (love those because they're so fast!!) and bought the beautiful green yarn for the mittens on sale for $5.

The best part was that I was able to use the new yarn bowl my mom had gotten me for Christmas while working on these. Isn't it adorable?