I’ve been knitting something. I can’t tell. I can’t show. But just so you know, I’ve been knitting it. Don’t worry, the wait won’t be long. But I SO can’t tell.
I need a new pair of gloves. Remember the pretty white ones I knit from this book? Well, I love them. I wear them ALL the time, and when they get dirty and I have to stop wearing them so they can be hand washed and air dried, I get grumpy. (They’re hanging by my heater right now). I bought some fabulous koigu awhile back, and I think it’d make lovely gloves. There is a great article in the Winter 2003 issue of Interweave Knits about making up a glove pattern. I don’t know why I can’t just follow someone else’s pattern, but I’m coming to terms with the fact that much of my knitting experience isn’t going to be that way. My point is that I need two pairs of gloves, at least, so that when one is wet and drying, I can wear another. I’m thinking about swatching the honeycomb cable pattern. I’ve always liked that one, and have yet to use it. We’ll see how it is in Koigu. And how it would look on gloves. I’ve seen gloves that make hands look super-fat. Well, there’s one pattern in a book I have that I’m thinking of specifically. I have enough body parts that are ample, I don’t need fat hands.
I have a question… Do fingerless gloves, and fingerless mittens keep hands and fingers warm enough? I don’t live in a harsh climate, like, at all, but I still like wearing my wool gloves. I’ve seen some very nice fingerless patterns that interest me, but I don’t want to knit them and then be annoyed with how they wear. Any experieced opinions out there? Other than, “knit it without the fingers, then if you hate it, add fingers”. That is sound advice. It’s not what I’m looking for. I want input from “the field”.
I bought Lion Brand Fun Fur today. I never thought I would. No disrespect to those of you who love it. I am finally able to be happy for another’s craft, regardless of my personal taste, and am actively seeking to drop the arrogance and idiocy I have been guilty of in the past in thinking that projects/yarns that interest me are the only “worthy” projects/yarns out there. I am embarrassed to admit that I have thought ill of projects I have seen that I would never, ever make or be seen wearing. I will still think something is ugly, particularly in some magazines, but I have no desire to belittle anyone, privately OR openly for their choice of yarncraft. I’m tired of hearing others do it, and I’ve decided to amend that attitude in myself. There. I’ve openly admitted a character flaw. I’ve had snobby thoughts. I’m changing it.
Right, so I bought some Fun Fur today. It was on sale at my grocery store. I bought three different colors to make three quick little scarves for my girls. I was in a yarn store recently, and saw the CUTEST little girl in a frilly, stringy, furry scarf thing, and it was adorable. I told her so, at least three times, and she beamed. I think that my girls would love them, and they’ve been grabbing the two kid scarves that we own almost every time we leave the house, because we are going through quite a cold spell right now. They will get used.
Enjoy the day, and don’t forget about my fingerless gloves question. :-).
January 11th, 2005 at 11:21 pm
My windy “two cents” on fingerless mittens (never worn fingerless gloves) – your fingers still get a bit chilly, but I seriously think they help keep the rest of me warm. I wear mine inside the house mainly, because I can’t write or type well with gloved fingers. I fulled a pair made with Rowan Felted Tweed, and the thicker fabric is much warmer and has a sturdier thumb-hole. For outdoor wear, most of the time I choose gloves (however the fingerless mitts are great for grocery shopping).
Looking forward to seeing that secret project 🙂
January 12th, 2005 at 12:13 am
I live in Minnesota, so for outdoor wear, I’ve gotta have the full glove/mitten. However, I have a nasty draft in my office and get cold every day in the winter. I knit some beaded wristwarmers and tried them just for fun and was astonished at how well they really work. I think it’s something about covering up that pulse point. So I’d say for general warmth, they’re good. If you specifically have cold fingers, probably better to stick with your gloves.
January 12th, 2005 at 12:47 am
hi-i made my mom a pair of fingerless gloves…the voodoo ones from knitty and i think they’re fine. they keep her forearms/wrists warm, and the palm of her hand, yet she still has finger mobility.
i’d love to write more, but i’m going on 5 hours in 48 hours…i’ll post later.
but yes, fingerless is warm enough for here. imo
January 12th, 2005 at 1:36 am
I live in Wisconsin, and fingerless gloves don’t cut it for me. I personally wear leather gloves, and am knitting gauntlets to go over them (so I can still grip the wheel while driving). I have seen these Pop-up Paws though, and I think I’d like to give them a try, they are a mitten and a fingerless glove in one. There are 2 links below. Scan the page for “pop-up mittens” or “pop-up paws”.
http://www.needletrax.com/knittingzone/mittens.htm
http://carodanfarm.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/hats_patterns.html
January 12th, 2005 at 2:50 am
I figured out the Poor Miss Finch thing too, from the film, “7 Year Itch.”
You actually gave it away when you wrote how you hadn’t seen it in 7 years.
🙂
Also, I only stumbled upon your blog a few weeks ago and love reading it daily. I started a Hayden this weekend and am just starting decreases tonight. I got off in the color-pattern, but like it still, even though it isn’t PERFECT. I wondered if you have adapted it to children and if not, do you know someone who has? I’m willing to give it a try, but I don’t necessarily have to re-invent the wheel if someone has been there already!
Thanks,
Jenifer
January 12th, 2005 at 4:06 am
Your comments about fiber craft snobbery are refreshing – hear hear!
I work in a yarn store stocked with marvellous natural fibers and designer novelty yarns. But in spite of a generous discount on all that lovely yarn, I still hoard those 40% off coupons to Michael’s and JoAnn’s. I’ve got small kids to knit for, and as a beginner, it just seems wrong to practice on silk and baby llama.
That said, when it comes to having an open mind regarding knitting projects, this is where I draw the line: http://www.cult45.fsbusiness.co.uk/featuresjackie.html
Tasty, maybe, but not tasteful.
January 12th, 2005 at 5:51 am
You know that knitting is popular when grocery stores are carrying yarn.
Amazing.
January 12th, 2005 at 7:17 am
ooh, thanks for the interweave tip!! I’m using stash to design short fingerless gloves as a trial run, then I’m going to use a christmas gift certificate’s yarn to make a longer version.
My hands get SO cold when I’m on the computer, and fingerless gloves are going to be my solution. 🙂
January 12th, 2005 at 1:28 pm
Sorry, everyone, I am going to be a downer on this topic…
There are many pairs of fingerless gloves in this house – specifically in the fishing tackle boxes and in our other sporting tackle boxes. In my quest, I have tried them all and in my honest, tried and true opinion they ain’t worth DIDDLY-SQUAT!!!
As I am always cold in our office, I thought I could use them on the computer – doesn’t work!!! The thickness of the gloves spaces your fingers apart and it screws up your abilities to do things like type and handle stuff. Plus the fingertips that are exposed FEEL TEN TIMES colder because your whole hand is not as cold.
As for the purpose of gloves – what part of your hands get cold first? Your fingers! Fingerless gloves don’t ever warm them up and in my opinion would be best tossed into a fire where you can at least warm your hands over their flames. The only fingerless gloves that sort-of work have the fold-back mitten that velcros or buttons to the back of your hand when you want your fingers exposed but those are drafty and you have to keep covering and uncovering the fingers. One of those “good in concept, bad in practicality” things, I guess. I just use regular gloves and take them off when I need to unhook a fish now. As for typing, Isotoners don’t do too bad, really, they are thin and you don’t slip. La, as for your usage, I don’t see fingerless doing what you want. Your fingertips become icicles!!!!!
(Susan, I hope you really do come up with one that works for you, I really do. I would love hear if you do! I don’t mean to discourage your creative talents! Good luck!)
January 12th, 2005 at 4:43 pm
FYRKRKR: oh, no problem.
my rebuttal: on the flip side, wearing a hat or warm socks makes you *much* warmer (raises your core temp), and after having an ergonomically-correct computer setup, fingerless gloves seem to be the thing. I’m not making individual finger holes other than the thumb, but in theory it should still help a lot and is recommended for people experiencing early signs of carpal tunnel. (Along with attention to posture, which I seem to have trouble with)
January 13th, 2005 at 12:23 pm
A wristwarmer is all I really need. If I can keep that area warm, then my fingers don’t get stiff when I am typing.
Laura, thank you for admitting your previous snobbery. I didn’t think I was a craft snob, but my true colors came out over the holidays. We can beat this :-).
BTW, my Hayden is finished but I need to get new batteries for my digital camera to take a picture. I was so surprised that you put my name on the list. This is my first knit-along, and I joined it by accident!