Friday, November 15, 2013

Fiber Arts Friday: Fingerless Mitts

I'm having a bit of startitis these days, and with it getting cooler, I am reminded that I really want a pair of fingerless mitts.

Susie's Reading Mitts have been in my queue for a looong time.  So long in fact, there appears to be a new version of the pattern.


I had decided that I wanted to pair that pattern with this lovely, fine gauge suri alpaca that Hubba brought home from Japan a few years ago.

So while Susie's Reading Mitts calls for a thicker gauged yarn, I was feeling confident about my gauge-adjusting skills.  I just had to figure out the right sized needle for getting the fabric I was after.

I decided to check the label for recommended needle sizes and was quickly reminded that I do not read Japanese.  :-/


One of my Comadres found a US-to-Japanese Needle Size Translation Chart... and after a bit of swatching I settled on US0.

So now that I'm into the pattern, I'm having mixed feelings.  I love the fine, soft yarn.... with it being an alpaca blend, the mitts should be plenty warm, but the eyelet lace is nearly impossible to see and what will become a Picot edge is just not looking so hot.


This has me thinking that a different pattern might be a better choice for this yarn, but I have decided to finish at least one mitt before I make a final decision.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!
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10 comments:

  1. Voie de VieNovember 15, 2013 at 12:15 PM

    Oh the fun of trial and error. I am not a big fan of fingerless mitts for myself, but that yarn sure does look soft and warm.

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  2. Kathryn RayNovember 15, 2013 at 1:03 PM

    I agree, fingerless mitts seem a little silly. But the first few cold days of software testing have me thinking differently every winter. So hopefully, I'll be prepared this time. ;-)

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  3. UnknownNovember 15, 2013 at 1:38 PM

    They do seem silly, but are great for times you need fingertips for something and don't want to take mittens off and on. Gorgeous yarn.

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  4. Ginx CraftNovember 15, 2013 at 1:55 PM

    I love fingerless mitts, but I guess it depends where you live. For an hour every day I am out in a school playground, but still need to tie up laces, help with coat buttons, stick on plasters. Normal mittens would just not work. Your wool looks gorgeously soft.

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  5. Kathryn RayNovember 15, 2013 at 5:38 PM

    That's a very good point @GinxCraft... and now that I live in a colder climate, I have at least one situation where the fingerless mitts seem to provide a good solution. ;-)

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  6. WonderWhyGalNovember 15, 2013 at 5:49 PM

    These will feel delicious to wear. I still am shaking about gauge. I'm counting myself lucky that I even swatch ;-)

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  7. Carmen NNovember 15, 2013 at 9:25 PM

    I think it looks great so far - it might be best to make one to see how it works when it's finished

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  8. Cathy JohnsonNovember 16, 2013 at 3:54 AM

    That yarn is so yummy, you might like it once it's taken shape ;)

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  9. AlittlebitsheepishNovember 16, 2013 at 7:53 AM

    They look like they will be super cosy and warm

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  10. Gracey is not my name....November 23, 2013 at 4:31 AM

    The pattern is great and the yarn sounds yummy, but I understand the hesitation...

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