Yummy thrums. All the advice that got here before me is good stuff. I knit them all into the round, then knit the next round (knitting into the back loop of the thrum and stitch) then knit a plain round above. Then I go back and give a really decent tug to the ends to pull them snug. Alpaca is yummy, but a little bit slippery, so be....er...determined. You can try making the thrum a little skinnier in the middle too. helps a bit. Thrumming is a relaxed art.
I'm still on a truely huge mitten kick....
Loving the blackberry mitts beyond reason. I nod in their general direction.

Sandy, I love all of the yarns you purchased. After reading about your mitten mania, it's causing a stir in me to try knitting mittens. Here in SW Indiana we won't need mittens until Thanksgiving, that should be enough time to finish a pair.

Wow, everything you got is so pretty. Did the blackout happen before I got to see what you got? (pout pout) What is the colorway for that spirit trail sock yarn? I just started a sock with ST yarn from Knitting on the Road (inspired by you) and am loving it. Now I NEED more sock yarn.

Alpaca felts up beautifully--it leaves a little boucle-ey texture to the fabric.

I love how your yarns are all in the same "color family". Beautiful!

To claudia's comment. Artful yarns Jazz 50% alpaca felts great, so I bet it would felt up nice.
Alpaca is very slippy I can never keep my ends in

Sandy, I'm drooling....seriously. SUCH gorgeous stuff you picked up! And I feel your New England pain...I need to make myself some mittens, and soon. My fingers were COLD this morning!

You know, I've never considered this question before. But now I'm wondering how well alpaca felts. Because the point of the thrums is to felt together on the inside of the mitten, and I'm thinking that is also why the little thrums don't slip out of the mitten stitches. Do you feel that the alpaca is slipping out of the mitten?

Love those Blackberry mittens, they are wonderful. My thoughts on the thrums.... I hold the thrum securely till I finish the stitch. This seems to make them lay nicely. I have never needed to tighten them after.The Rhinebeck pics are great.

I'm with Vicki. You have to give them a little tug, especially on the second round. You can pull them tighter any time, really. I love the colors!

I used the Harlot's thrummed mitt pattern, also. Here are my thoughts: I think my loosest thrums are also the ones that are probably a tad bigger than they need to be. After knitting the thrum round, I pulled each thrum tight (and made sure the ends were somewhat even). Then, after knitting each thrum and accompanying stitch through the back in the next round, I also went back to pull them tight and make whatever adjustments seemed necessary (sometimes employing a crochet hook on wayward thrums). I believe that the thrums will cuddle close on the inside as the mitts are worn, felting together to a certain degree, and keeping each other in check.

Ach! The early bird gets the word. Karen beat me to it -- cold hands/warm heart. I'm dreaming of mittens galore, too. I didn't make the thrums a la Harlot, so I can't give advice about that, I'm afraid. But alpaca roving....mmmmmmmm, luscious.

You know the saying: cold hands warm heart
I guess it's true.

CUTE color combo on the thrummed mittens. The thrums *do* look loose to me, but what do I know? I'm a thrum virgin.

The blackberry mittens are too fun. You're doing great work. Speaking of work...when on earth do you have the time?

Enjoy! xxoo

This is what went through my head as I looked through your post.

Yum, Yum, Yum.

I dug out our "box of winter items" this morning. I'm ready for the winter. It looks like you are too!

-Wendy
www.thebookishgirl.blogspot.com