@fenton: "Hi everyone,  
I ended up with the day off yesterday, and got some things caught up.
I was out doing errands, and when stopped at 2 places, the ladies who
helped me commented on my fingerless mittens!  I used scrap yarn to
make these up really quickly, just to have something to do and keep my
hands warm while leaving me access to use all fingers and thumb, and
both told me they thought they looked fantastic and functional.  Both
asked where I got them, too, so I got to brag that they were made by
me just for me, totally custom.  :-)  
Leah  "
    @mthecarpenter: ""Leah" <email_address> wrote in message 
news:<email_address>
<quote>
:o)  That's always nice to hear nice things said about what you make.
So are they knit or crocheted?  And did you make them up as you went along, 
or did you find a pattern for them online (she asked hopefully)?   ;o)
I have seen some recently (but have looked as so many pages, that I can't 
remember which URL it is) that were SO easy to do... basically one flat 
piece that was sewn where needed to join, leaving the openings for fingers 
and thumb.    Others are more complicated (to me) because they are done with 
double-pointed or circulars, which I can't andersonlisa@example.org.
Gemini "
    @gwenkellySPAMMENOT: "Leah - it is good to be able to brag a bit sometimes and I am sure your 
mittens deserved it - I am always amazed that there are not more mittens 
knitted as they are so functional  God  Bless Gwen
"Leah" <email_address> wrote in message 
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<quote>"
    @fenton: "On Wed, 22 Feb 2006 10:02:07 -0500, "MRH"
<quote>
They are crocheted, and I made them up as I went along since I
couldn't find a pattern I liked online or in my extensive box of
pattern books and magazines.  I jotted rough notes on what I did so I
could fit the second mitten, but I don't know if they'd fit anyone
else.  Maybe I should make a pair for a friend and see if she likes
them?  
I considered knitting them, but I wanted these extra thick and warm,
since I wasn't using wool, so I crocheted them rather than knitted.
I've done them knitted in the past, and I also like the flat method,
but I found I prefer not to have a seam in the ribbing, so I've also
knitted them flat body, sewed the side seam, and then picked up and
knit the ribbing in the round afterwards since I also picked up and
knit the thumb in the round since I don't like just a hole for the
thumb.  They wear out faster on me if I don't do at least 3-4 rounds
of thumb, but I don't totally enclose the thumb like a fully closed
mitten and lose flexibility.  
Leah  "
    @mthecarpenter: "Cool, thank you for the run-down on what you did.  I was thinking something 
along the same lines.   Or if I did make flat ones and joined the seam, I 
could always crochet the cuff and around the thumb area too.  ;o)
Gemini
"Leah" <email_address> wrote in message 
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    @fenton: "On Thu, 23 Feb 2006 04:37:40 GMT, <email_address> (Mirjam
<quote>
Mirjam 
That's a good idea!  Maybe I should make 1 smaller, a couple the same,
and 1 larger size, too.  I really should organize my notes and write
up my pattern on these.  I've been wearing them, and I like having
full finger movement.  I had planned on eventually putting partial
fingers on them to make fingerless gloves, but after wearing them,
decided I didn't need them.  Working in worsted weight yarn, even
partial fingers would be a little thick.  
Leah  "
    @mthecarpenter: ""Mirjam Bruck-Cohen" <email_address> wrote in message 
news:<email_address>
<quote>
That is a very good idea, Mirjam!  :o)
Gemini "
    @mthecarpenter: "I bought a pair of those (actually I think they may have been fingerless 
gloves.. with velcro in place of the button) for Matthew a few years ago... 
they really work nicely.   My brother (who is a cowboy/ferrier ... fancy 
name for blacksmith... he shoes horses) mentioned that he would love to have 
some of those... that way he could have his fingers free when he needs them, 
and warm inside the mitten flap when he doesn't need them.  Guess I'll have 
to be nice and try to work on making a pair for him for next winter.  ;o)
Gemini
"Mirjam Bruck-Cohen" <email_address> wrote in message 
news:<email_address>
<quote>"
    @fenton: "On Sat, 25 Feb 2006 11:15:15 -0500, "MRH"
<quote>
Gemini
Convertible mittens are really easy to make, especially if you go
completely fingerless.  Say the pattern needs 20 rows to go to the
edge of the hand where the fingers begin.  You make that section and
bind off.  Then, you go back to the instructions to say row 17 or 18
and make a completely separate section of knitting, complete the end
of the hand, and that's your convertible mitten flap.  Sew it to row
17 or 18 on the back only of the first piece after you're done so it
overlaps, add Velcro or a button to secure it back when you need your
fingers free, and the convertible mittens are done.  
I've also seen mitten patterns with just a slit in the palm.  You skip
however many stitches across the palm that you like, and cast on that
many the next row, and when the rest of the mitten is done, you pick
up stitches around the edge and do several rows so you don't have a
big gap making your hands cold.  I tried a test piece like this, and I
didn't like it as well as a flap that attaches on the back only and
folds all the way back.  
My outdoor convertible winter mittens were made using Brown Sheep
Naturespun 100% wool in worsted weight, which feels like a sport or DK
compared to Red Heart worsted, making it up as described above.  I
also made a pair in Woolease for a bigger thicker set for my DH who's
hands don't get as cold as mine.  My new indoor fingerless mittens
that got the comments are made of 100% acrylic Red Heart worsted.  
For making them custom fit for someone I know, I ask them to trace
around their hands and wrists with fingers slightly spread out if they
want fingerless gloves inside the mitten flap, then with their fingers
together for mitten flap, use 1 sheet paper for each hand and label
them, and then I ask them how far up they want the mittens to go on
their arms and fingers (complaint I hear often is that commercial made
ones go too far up fingers and make it hard to use them) and mark that
on the tracing, and then I ask them to measure around their wrists,
thumbs, and palms and give me their chart, and I go from there after
seeing how warm they want these.  Freezing and below I use 100% wool,
more mild wear Woolease which is only 10-20% wool blend depending on
the color you choose, and indoor I usually use acrylic.  
Leah  "
    @mthecarpenter: "Thank you for the detailed description, Leah!  I have saved it to a folder! 
:o)
Gemini
- considering that we just got dumped on ROYALLY again last night (and it's 
STILL snowing), perhaps winter isn't nearly over afterall.   LOL
"Leah" <email_address> wrote in message 
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