winter hands

I have the yuckiest 'winter hands.' They're puny and white, with chewed fingernails and dry skin cracked in two places. And I was horrified to discover chillblains on them the other day, ever since I misplaced my rainbow fingerless gloves my Mum made me (you can see them in this post.)

So I started knitting some very plain and basic fingerless gloves with a ball of aran-weight variegated wool I had lying around. I had almost finished them when Amelia gave me her beautiful pink ones I showed yesterday, so i've decided that hers will be for wearing when I go out and these basic ones, not at all as stylish or pretty, can be for doing jobs around the house- cooking, cleaning, etc. Here they are (photo by Arlo):

My sister and I have been making these gloves for a few years now- ever since discovering them in a children's knitting book- around the time we first started experimenting with our own handspun wool. These made the perfect project because they used such a small amount of yarn, and are at their warmest and best when pure wool is used. They are really quite plain and simple, I used an aran-weight yarn and 5.5mm needles.

Cast on 34 stitches, work K2, P2 rib for 10 rows. Change to stocking stitch, and work 18 rows. Then work another 10 rows in rib. Cast off. Make two the same, then sew up the side, leaving a small hole underneath the top band of ribbing for your thumb. Voila!

Comments

[katie]

sorry you have such cold hands but what a wonderful way to keep them warm - lovely simple pattern for a quick gift - thanks for sharing!

[Coco]

melisa,

I ve been visinting your site only last few days, but I am loving it so much, I added your blog to "my favourites" on my blog. I hope you are OK about it.

C x

[rachael]

thanks Melissa. This is what I have been doing already but I must be using a wrong combination of needle size and wool thickness. I have just made one using your guidelines and that seems to have done the trick but I'm not sure about the wool because I'm just using what I found at the art recycling centre and I have no idea really what it is. Yours look lovely and fluffy and cosy though. I hope your nice rainbow pair come back to you though.

xx

[Lissy]

I have chillblains too, They make me feel most indignant xxxx

[Steph]

I'm grining right now! I went to bed last night thinking 'hmmmm, i wish I could find a pattern for fingerless gloves, then I could sew and type in my cold craft room'... and today I find this! I hope your hands feel better - only a few more months! (*is hopeful*). HUGE thanks.

[mimulus]

I think your hands are beautiful! so capable...I could not knit to save my life!

[Péitseoga]

Cool gloves
you could also knit them in the round, changing to going backwards and forwards where the thumb hole is to be, then finishing off in the round! saves the sewing up and as you cast off you have your finished product (i like that)

[Lisa]

Hi,
Thanks for this great idea! I live in Canada where we have cold winters and my daughter suffers from the cold - she gets dry cracked skin which sometimes bleeds. (I don't know what chillblains are, but maybe that is what she has!) I am going to make these for her. Lisa

[mel]

Thanks so much for this pattern, Melissa! I'm trying to self-teach knitting and have been wanting to do something like this for my upcoming winter holiday.. I think I can do this. :)

[Philippa]

Hi Melissa, Thanks for this pattern. I've just whipped some up today for my daughter - her brand new school jumper is too short in the arms and these will be the perfect solution with autumn now here.

[Justine]

Thanks for the great glove pattern. Knitted some great pink fluffy ones. I feel my knitting is a little tight, or I have monster hands as they are a touch on the small side. Brill though!