These entered my head as a good next project after my cowl because my hands were freezing. I needed mitts. I needed easy ones. And of course up in Pheriche, high in the Khumbu, I had some limitations on my yarn and needles.
The yarn is outlaw vanitas DK.
I accidentally didn't bring size 3.5 - 4 DPNs with me. This yarn worked on smaller needles, and I thought it was the best choice for cozy handwarmers - everything else I had was too fine or too big.
The pattern is a free download from Ravelry, called the Sarah - basic fingerless mitts. The yarn in the picture is so beautiful! (It's Manos del Uruguay silk blend.)
I got ready to start and realised that it required bigger needles. I was nervous to do any changes to the pattern, but I went ahead with 3.5 dpns and this yarn, and did the size Large instead of small.
The knitting went very well. I was nervous about the thumb gusset and really everything to do with the thumb, and so I was really impressed when it all went well! I made these in just about 2 days each. The only trouble was with the hole where the thumb meets the fingers - I did a good job on the first mitt and a bad job on the second one. The instructions have you mirror them, but I think this is not necessary as they are truly identical. Considering the location of my dpns, it would have been easier to make two right mitts. That's what I would do in the future.
The yarn is outlaw vanitas DK.
I accidentally didn't bring size 3.5 - 4 DPNs with me. This yarn worked on smaller needles, and I thought it was the best choice for cozy handwarmers - everything else I had was too fine or too big.
The pattern is a free download from Ravelry, called the Sarah - basic fingerless mitts. The yarn in the picture is so beautiful! (It's Manos del Uruguay silk blend.)
I got ready to start and realised that it required bigger needles. I was nervous to do any changes to the pattern, but I went ahead with 3.5 dpns and this yarn, and did the size Large instead of small.
The knitting went very well. I was nervous about the thumb gusset and really everything to do with the thumb, and so I was really impressed when it all went well! I made these in just about 2 days each. The only trouble was with the hole where the thumb meets the fingers - I did a good job on the first mitt and a bad job on the second one. The instructions have you mirror them, but I think this is not necessary as they are truly identical. Considering the location of my dpns, it would have been easier to make two right mitts. That's what I would do in the future.
These got put to use right away. The yarn has fluffed up and pilled a bit from use, but it has been literally daily use in the clinic for about a month, so I think they are holding up well. They are warm and really help! I was struggling not to have my fingers freeze every day, as our clinic in Pheriche is not heated and was averaging 3 degrees in the mornings - inside!
When we closed our clinic I gave them to the guy running one of the lodges nearby as he is keeping it open for another month. He was really happy to get them and I was particularly glad to have made the size large as it stretched to fit without problems. I think that I could have made a medium for myself, considering that there was stretch over time.
I might buy the beautiful silk blend yarn and make more of these. They were so fast and mitts are so handy that these might become a gift staple in the future. Because it was a straightforward project I also really felt my confidence increase.
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