Whit's Knits: Variations on a Theme - Hand Warmers + Flip Top Mittens
Since making the Cashmere Fingerless Gloves, we've had lots of requests for slight pattern alternatives. I agree that no one pattern can answer all of our hand-warming needs, so I came up with a couple of variations on the original theme: Hand Warmers and Flip Top Mittens.
The Hand Warmers eliminate the challenge of knitting the fingers without sacrificing the elegance of the original pattern. And the Flip Top Mittens do the double duty of warming cold fingers on some days and liberating busy fingers on others. Both patterns still use only one skein of Jade Sapphire's amazing 6 ply cashmere and one skein of Blue Sky Alpaca's Sportweight Alpaca.
Now we can all be equipped for whatever circumstances come our way: unseasonably warm weather in New York or snowstorms in Seattle!
To make the original version please revisit our Cashmere Fingerless Gloves Project Journal. Or to explore new options check out our Hand Warmers + Flip-top Mittens Project Journal. Thanks!-Whitney
January 3, 2009 | purl bee | Print | Share | in Blue Sky Alpaca, Fingerless Gloves, Jade Sapphire, Knitting, Whit's Knits | 26 Comments
Reader Comments (26)
Blessings,
Sher
Thanks!
Susan
The Blue Sky Silk Alpaca would be lovely for this pattern. Its a little thinner than the 6 ply cashmere but they're knit fairly tight so you might be alright with it. Definitely do a gauge swatch at the recommended gauge before you commit to it though just in case.
A few other options you might want to consider:
Rowan Cashsoft DK: a merino, microfibre, cashmere blend, very soft and very well priced
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/yarndetail/800
koigu's kersti, super spongy beautiful hand dyed merino:
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/yarndetail/870
Manos del Uruguay silk and wool blend, a little thinner than their 100% wool, rustic but elegant.
http://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/yarndetail/3625
good luck!
Carla
I am hosting a children's Valentine sawp if anybodies interested :O)
smiles
"LiBBy"
Altering the pattern will require some technical knowledge, but it is doable. First you will need to measure your daughters hands. Find the circumference of the widest part of her hand (probably just below her fingers). The gauge for this pattern is 6 stitches per inch, multiply the number of inches around her hand by 6, and add an extra 3 or so to make sure they're not too tight, then add 12 stitches for the button flap. Make sure your cast on is an odd number and then follow the directions of the pattern for the button hole. You will have a different amount of stitches than the pattern directs you to have, but you will still bind off the 12 stitches for the button flap. Follow the rest of the pattern as directed for the gusset, but instead of increasing 15 stitches, you'll probably want to increase somewhere in the neighborhood of 7 or 9 stitches so that the thumb isn't too big around. For the top cuff, base the vertical measurement on the length of your daughter's hand above her thumb, to the base of her fingers. The pattern calls for knitting 1 1/2 inches in stockinette, but yours will be shorter. Follow the rest of the pattern as directed, but keep in mind that you will have a different amount of stitches on the needles. When picking up stitches for the flip top, you will pick up half of the stitches on the needles and then your cable cast on will be for the same amount of stitches that you picked up. Place markers accordingly and follow the same pattern for decreasing the top of the flip top that is called for in Whitney's pattern. Your thumb will be shorter than the adult thumb, but it will be worked the same way.
Hope this gets you on the right track, you may want to plan on knitting a "practice" mitten to really get your version working.
Good luck and let us know if we can help you further!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/craftymummy/
So glad they worked out! thank you for sharing.
Best,
Joelle