There is no shortage of Anemoi Mittens in the knitblogging community. I have seen many pairs in various states of production. My Anemois are done, and I couldn’t be happier.
Like many who have knitted this pattern, I too love it. I love the pattern (and though I don’t actually know her personally, I think I might love Eunny for writing the pattern), I love the yarn I used, and I love the finished mittens. 
Lest you think that I should have titled this post “mitten love,” I will tell you one more thing I love about these mittens: I love that they are mine. I have been a knitter for a little over two years now and since I picked up the sticks I have never knit a thing for myself. No, nothing. Maybe you are sitting there thinking, “what a crock, what about your first project?!” No. My first project was a garter stitch scarf made on size 19 needles with LB Homespun, you know the one, the pattern is on the ball band; I was so impressed with how it came out, I obviously couldn’t keep it for myself, it had to be given away. At least the person I gave it to still wears it, all the time as a matter of fact—I need to knit her something else so she can graduate up to some wool or something, but that’s another post for another time.
As I was saying, no knitting goods for me…you see, the idea never occurred to me. Sure, I marked patterns and made mental notes of the things that I wouldn’t mind knitting for my own personal use or wear, but if it was an accessory or something-of-the-like it went to someone else if it came out half way decent (and trust me, when “half-way decent” is your benchmark, you can achieve success quite easily). In truth, to combat this giving away of the goods I started knitting a sweater for myself (Arwen, what?) thinking, “well, if it’s made with my measurements in mind, then obviously I will keep it…” and then I let knitting for others get in the way of my finishing it, because “it’s just for me, I can wait…” But then there were these mittens, these Anemois mittens with beautifully curved scrolls reminiscent of Kelmscottian design.
The special collections librarian in me that deals with rare books, of course, loves that detail. So I got the pattern thinking that this would be the knit, for me, that I would get around to some day. Perhaps it was Project Spectrum, or maybe it was my tiring of the cables in Arwen, but “some day” happened a lot sooner than I expected. And I must say, this knitting for one’s self, it’s the cat’s pajamas (yes, I really do say cat's pajamas--yes, I know).
There are a some who dub knitting for one’s self as “selfish knitting,” I never thought of it this way when I was doing all that knitting for others, or “gift knitting” if you wish, it just never really occurred to me to knit something for myself at the time. But now, I have all sorts of crazy plans…but there will still be the knitting for others, because I am a giver (it gives me some sort of weird high, I really like doing things for other people, it's a compulsion). But, really a knitter knitting for the sake of producing personal goods, that’s not selfish at all.
I think there is a certain art to knitting for one’s self. Pattern selection, is perhaps, the key to success, maybe this doesn’t apply to small things or accoutrement; but, with sweaters, it’s nice to know in advance that just because it looks good on that red head in Interweave Knits, there’s no guarantee it will look half as good on you. So maybe that’s what scared me off of Arwen, because honestly, I am having my doubts about how it’s going to fit me, but mittens, they are a safe bet. And well, these mittens? Well, of course they will look good, and of course they are totally worth the effort, and of course I should keep them.
Another part of the “art” involved in knitting goodness for me was not obsessing over small details. When I knit for others I usually obsess about the knitting (because to be truthful, I obsess over things in general), while knitting these mittens, I made it a point to enjoy the knitting, every moment of it. I enjoyed knitting the Anemois so much when I noticed mistakes two are three rows back (as I did many times) I had no problems ripping back and re-knitting. “Oh, rip back and have the opportunity to prolong the knitting of this Koigu fabulousness in this gorgeous pattern? Yes, please.” There are a few things that could have been improved, there is a “wobbly” stitch here and there; but, I can see the forest from the trees—I just don’t care. And if I don’t care, then no one else should.
The last “art” I am going to mention is that of use. Some of you may think that there is no art to using knit items, but I think there is art in all sorts of things, my friends. For me it would be very easy to not use these mittens because of the work I put into them and the possibility that I could lose one (because, as you may remember, I love them). And then there is the very likely possibility of getting them dirty…with things like baby drool …
But if they don’t get used, they wouldn't live up to their functional purpose, and what possible good would that serve? And though I don’t like to draw attention to myself, for the most part (I mean, I do have a blog after all), I want people to see my mittens and tell me how great they are, because I LOVE them, and the recognition of their greatness gives my mitten love all sorts of validity.
So if you aren’t already doing so, go knit something for yourself. You know you’re worth it.
Anemoi Mittens
Pattern: by Eunny Jang
Yarn:Koigu (love), 1 skein each of off-white (0000) and medium blue (sorry, I have no idea about the color code/dye lot)
Needles: Aluminum US 2s, Bates? Boyes? I have no idea, they were fast and smooth.
Modifications: Just one, I knit the cuffs on 2s instead of the prescribed 0s. With the 0s I kept getting a cuff that Special K “thought was the start of a baby sock…”
Wow, they are really beautiful!
Posted by: Laura | February 23, 2007 at 04:32 PM
Beautiful! And I think it's only considered selfish knitting when you don't make ANYTHING for others. I think you're safe :)
Posted by: Elli | February 23, 2007 at 04:34 PM
That's the prettiest color combination I've seen yet. Love.
Posted by: Karma | February 23, 2007 at 05:00 PM
what a great project to finally keep for yourself! they are beautiful! and in Koigu - all the better! looks like you have quite a bit leftover. they came out wonderful!
Posted by: stacey | February 23, 2007 at 05:04 PM
As you know, I love your version of Anemoi mittens!
I often start knitting a scarf or pair of socks with myself in mind, but part way through the knitting realize it would be a far better scarf for Mom or Grandma than myself, and so I end up knitting it for them. I often have an easier time figuring out what someone else would like than what I would like.
I also use the term "cat's pajamas"! I think I have a reputation for using "odd" turns of phrase, but I'm OK with that.
Posted by: Brenda | February 23, 2007 at 05:46 PM
Spectacular! That is SOME first for-yourself project. Well done.
Posted by: melanie | February 23, 2007 at 05:49 PM
GORGEOUS!!! They came out beautifully. I can't beleive that they are your first thing for yourself! That is some selfless knitting--I think you can safely designate the next, say, six projects as just for you.
And re: the baby drool, I wash my koigu socks in the machine all the time, and they are 100% as good as new. I even dried a paid accidentally one time, and it didn't seem to have any negative ipmact at all. So use & love those mittens as hard as you want!
Posted by: Ashley | February 23, 2007 at 07:11 PM
This pair reminds me that knitting is art-those scrolls are beautiful!
Posted by: brooke | February 23, 2007 at 07:39 PM
Simply gorgeous! Your stranding is so beautiful.
Posted by: tiennie | February 23, 2007 at 08:01 PM
I found your blog lurking on the Fair-Isle February KAL - Gorgeous, gorgeous mittens! You did a beautiful job, and being a "selfish" knitter, I really enjoyed your post ;)
Posted by: mel | February 23, 2007 at 09:46 PM
The mitts are gorgeous, the colours absolutely lovely, and the post was heartwarming -- nothing finer than baby drool on your own hand-made mitts!
Posted by: Dave | February 23, 2007 at 11:04 PM
Oh, they're perfectly wonderful! I'm so glad to hear that you're keeping them for yourself. You deserve them.
It's important to make beautiful things for yourself.
Posted by: Beth | February 23, 2007 at 11:12 PM
Simply gorgeous. You chose the perfect thing to knit for yourself.
Posted by: knittingphilistine | February 23, 2007 at 11:41 PM
Fabulous. They turned out great, and shouldn't baby drool just make them bloom more and be softer anywyay? They are totally worth wearing out for the compliments and the questions of "Where did you get those?" "I made them!"
Posted by: Christy / Not Hip | February 24, 2007 at 02:09 AM
Lovely! And what a fabulous first project to complete for yourself!
Posted by: amanda | February 24, 2007 at 03:08 AM
Lovely mittens - and lovely post!
Posted by: Theresa | February 24, 2007 at 04:49 AM
Beautiful! I continue to love this pattern. I am glad you're not holding back from wearing them all the time -- the world needs to see the wonder of handknits!
I tend to go through major self-knitting and gift-knitting phases. It's almost like I get tired of one (I either miss being able to enjoy the fun of giving people my handknits or I miss the fun of looking forward to keeping them for myself). I'm ready to get back into knitting for myself now, but first I have a last few things that have been promised to others...it feels like I'll never get through them!
Enjoy your newfound appreciation for knitting for yourself!
Posted by: Rachel | February 24, 2007 at 12:29 PM
The mittens are beautiful. Koigu, too! That makes them all the more fabulous. I can see where you might want to keep them pure, and perhaps have them enshrined somewhere, but yup, ya gotta wear them and show them off!
Posted by: Barb | February 24, 2007 at 05:20 PM
Lovely mittens, lovely post, lovely words, lovely pictures, lovely boy...
Did I mention I like you blog?
Koigu... Impossible to find in Switzerland, but I would love to try, and apparently they are the perect match to eunny's anemoi.
Posted by: filambulle | February 24, 2007 at 07:00 PM
ps.: could you please tell me wich kind of koigu yarn are you using? everybdy says always "koigu", but I see that they have at least three different kind.. (yes, I am lurking koigu online right now! ;-) )
Posted by: filambulle | February 24, 2007 at 07:03 PM
These are the most beautiful of all the Anemois I have seen on the internet!!
I have 1 fancy pair of mittens (Lapland) that I knit for myself and I feel so special every time I put them on!
Posted by: Pat | February 25, 2007 at 05:02 PM
They are absolutely gorgeous!!! I am so glad that you knit them for yourself. I know you deserve them! They are to be worn, and drooled on and enjoyed!
It looks like Little Sir likes them as much as you do!
Posted by: Kirsten | February 25, 2007 at 07:30 PM
Beautiful mittens! I love your choice of colors -- so simple and elegant. Hurray for knitting for yourself!
(By the way, we chatted while in the Socks that Rock line at Rhinebeck. It's great to find your blog. :) )
Posted by: Marie | February 26, 2007 at 03:23 AM
Well, I think they're the bee's knees.
Posted by: JulieFrick | February 26, 2007 at 01:07 PM
Bee's knees indeed! So gorgeous and thankfully (??) there's still plenty of cold weather ahead of us (I can't believe I just wrote that).
Posted by: diana | February 26, 2007 at 03:21 PM