I ended up with the day off yesterday, and got some things caught up. I was out doing errands, and when stopped at 2 places, the ladies who helped me commented on my fingerless mittens! I used scrap yarn to make these up really quickly, just to have something to do and keep my hands warm while leaving me access to use all fingers and thumb, and both told me they thought they looked fantastic and functional. Both asked where I got them, too, so I got to brag that they were made by me just for me, totally custom. :-)
:o) That's always nice to hear nice things said about what you make.
So are they knit or crocheted? And did you make them up as you went along, or did you find a pattern for them online (she asked hopefully)? ;o)
I have seen some recently (but have looked as so many pages, that I can't remember which URL it is) that were SO easy to do... basically one flat piece that was sewn where needed to join, leaving the openings for fingers and thumb. Others are more complicated (to me) because they are done with double-pointed or circulars, which I can't use at all.
Leah - it is good to be able to brag a bit sometimes and I am sure your mittens deserved it - I am always amazed that there are not more mittens knitted as they are so functional God Bless Gwen
They are crocheted, and I made them up as I went along since I couldn't find a pattern I liked online or in my extensive box of pattern books and magazines. I jotted rough notes on what I did so I could fit the second mitten, but I don't know if they'd fit anyone else. Maybe I should make a pair for a friend and see if she likes them?
I considered knitting them, but I wanted these extra thick and warm, since I wasn't using wool, so I crocheted them rather than knitted. I've done them knitted in the past, and I also like the flat method, but I found I prefer not to have a seam in the ribbing, so I've also knitted them flat body, sewed the side seam, and then picked up and knit the ribbing in the round afterwards since I also picked up and knit the thumb in the round since I don't like just a hole for the thumb. They wear out faster on me if I don't do at least 3-4 rounds of thumb, but I don't totally enclose the thumb like a fully closed mitten and lose flexibility.
Cool, thank you for the run-down on what you did. I was thinking something along the same lines. Or if I did make flat ones and joined the seam, I could always crochet the cuff and around the thumb area too. ;o)
That's a good idea! Maybe I should make 1 smaller, a couple the same, and 1 larger size, too. I really should organize my notes and write up my pattern on these. I've been wearing them, and I like having full finger movement. I had planned on eventually putting partial fingers on them to make fingerless gloves, but after wearing them, decided I didn't need them. Working in worsted weight yarn, even partial fingers would be a little thick.
Leah i once saw a fingerless mitt with a folded little pocket held with buttons over it , lady usd it to cover finger when she didn`t use them ,, any way by all means try to sele part of your works ,,, mirjam
Leah i once saw a fingerless mitt with a folded little pocket held with buttons over it , lady usd it to cover finger when she didn`t use them ,, any way by all means try to sele part of your works ,,, mirjam
I bought a pair of those (actually I think they may have been fingerless gloves.. with velcro in place of the button) for Matthew a few years ago... they really work nicely. My brother (who is a cowboy/ferrier ... fancy name for blacksmith... he shoes horses) mentioned that he would love to have some of those... that way he could have his fingers free when he needs them, and warm inside the mitten flap when he doesn't need them. Guess I'll have to be nice and try to work on making a pair for him for next winter. ;o)
Convertible mittens are really easy to make, especially if you go completely fingerless. Say the pattern needs 20 rows to go to the edge of the hand where the fingers begin. You make that section and bind off. Then, you go back to the instructions to say row 17 or 18 and make a completely separate section of knitting, complete the end of the hand, and that's your convertible mitten flap. Sew it to row
17 or 18 on the back only of the first piece after you're done so it overlaps, add Velcro or a button to secure it back when you need your fingers free, and the convertible mittens are done.
I've also seen mitten patterns with just a slit in the palm. You skip however many stitches across the palm that you like, and cast on that many the next row, and when the rest of the mitten is done, you pick up stitches around the edge and do several rows so you don't have a big gap making your hands cold. I tried a test piece like this, and I didn't like it as well as a flap that attaches on the back only and folds all the way back.
My outdoor convertible winter mittens were made using Brown Sheep Naturespun 100% wool in worsted weight, which feels like a sport or DK compared to Red Heart worsted, making it up as described above. I also made a pair in Woolease for a bigger thicker set for my DH who's hands don't get as cold as mine. My new indoor fingerless mittens that got the comments are made of 100% acrylic Red Heart worsted.
For making them custom fit for someone I know, I ask them to trace around their hands and wrists with fingers slightly spread out if they want fingerless gloves inside the mitten flap, then with their fingers together for mitten flap, use 1 sheet paper for each hand and label them, and then I ask them how far up they want the mittens to go on their arms and fingers (complaint I hear often is that commercial made ones go too far up fingers and make it hard to use them) and mark that on the tracing, and then I ask them to measure around their wrists, thumbs, and palms and give me their chart, and I go from there after seeing how warm they want these. Freezing and below I use 100% wool, more mild wear Woolease which is only 10-20% wool blend depending on the color you choose, and indoor I usually use acrylic.
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