I decided first of all that I was more concerned with functionality and an easy knit than I was with "pretty". Also, I needed it to be a stash-busting project and had some C220 readily at hand to that end. One of the main deficiencies of my last pair of mittens is that there's not enough wrist coverage, although I've dealt with that by wearing wristwarmers under them. The new ones, though, should have a longer and more substantive cuff.
The other problem, though, is that I can't really drive or do anything requiring dexterity while wearing mittens, so they have to come off, leaving my fingertips exposed. Since I've developed a mild case of Raynaud's syndrome in my old age, this can actually be a painful proposition, so I decided that mittens with an individuated index finger would be useful to address this issue.
And since I wanted them to be warm plus I also had plenty of roving at hand, I decided they should be both stranded and thrummed. However, since the appearance of thrummed knitting has always struck me as rather poofy and, well, girly, I figured I could anchor the thrums completely on the inside using the floats of the stranded knitting.
Sounds (and looks) like quite the Frankenmitten, no? Unfortunately, that title has already been appropriated by Steph, so I'm not quite sure what to call mine. The Perfect New England Mittens, perhaps? Stone Soup Mittens? Kitchen Sink (as in everything but) Mittens? Sleestak Mittens? Regardless, I've only got the one done so far, so I need to get cracking on mitten #2.
12 comments:
It certainly looks warm with the fluff! How about "Mitten plus 1"?
I like Kitchen Sink as well as Stone Soup, but the Sleestak reference just made my morning!
*sigh* I hate mittens, but with Raynaud's, I really don't have a choice if the temp's below 25F. Maybe it's time to knit the thrummed mitten kit I have...
I like Sleestak mittens myself, but do you have enough grip on the wheel with mittens to be safe?
I understand you knit these for yourself; however, considering this is the season for gifting, wouldn't you like my mailing address?
PS: Lovely mittens!
Compost mittens come to mind but it's an excellent idea for Reynauds. Also, wearing a wristwarmer under them and making the mitten big enough to do that is great. That way if you have to whip off the mitten to do something with finer motor skills your hands are still mostly covered. Actually, with the thumb and forefinger separate you have what used to be called shooters gloves for hunters and the military. For road rage, perhaps just pointing the finger and crooking the thumb at people will serve well enough! My woman friend who has a big hutch of angoras, wears the wristwarmers I made her under her rubber gloves when cleaning out cages in cold weather and says it makes a big difference. Since you have a touch of the big "R," maybe you could make a fitted glove to wear under rubber gloves when you have to do outside work or anything involving muck + cold, which I'm guessing comes up in your job!
Wow, I love the idea of thrummed mittens without it showing through on the right side! I'll definitely have to try that.
I have no idea what stranded or thrummed or any of that means. But those mittens look cool - and totally remind me of Sleestak paws (claws?).
Yeah, Frankenmitten was the name that came to my mind, too. But there is nothing like warm paws to keep a person smiling in the cold weather.
I was just telling David yesterday how I need to get my azz some mittenz! You should open a store with VUBOQ and y'all can make a modest living off of your craftiness. I'll be your store manager of course and will take 50% of all of your earnings for doing drinking coffee and keeping you both entertained wiff mah witty anecdotes and fresh perspectivez!
And how do they work to drive? I prefer mittens over gloves, but find that most of them are slippery on the wheel, and they wear out at the thumb mostly, from grabbing the wheel. Or maybe it's from holding that damned snow shovel full of snow.
Well Deah! I'd call 'em Wicked Wahm mittens if itwere (1 word on purpose) me!
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