The Neverending Mittens of Doom (FO)

Had these gone on much longer, they would have become The WIP that Shall Not be Named. 

I think my case of Second Mitten Syndrome was exaserbated by the knowledge that the thumb was not right and I would need to do something about that with the second mitten. 

Not too big an issue, if I'd know what the “something” was. I finally stopped feeling sorry for myself and checked out the book of finishing tips. Great idea, except gussets and thumbs and all of that were not covered in it's precious pages. I hopefully looked through a magazine dedicated to small accessories, including numerous gloves and mittens, with no success.

I went back to the first book. I guess, hoping that a chapter had been magically inserted since the last time I looked. And then I read something on finishing sweaters (which is really the focus of the book). It essentially said this:

for the love of God, when you're finishing, have the right side facing out so you can see what is happening on the side people will actually see.”

I have never had the right side of a garment facing me while I was finishing. I always thought it was better to know where the stitches were going so I could make sure I was splitting stitches. 
Armed with this novel approach, and a finishing technique of tracing stitches, I went to work. I left a super extra long end when I added the thumb. And then, after looking on the back to get the yarn started, I turned the mitten right side out and traced the knitted stitches, intentionally having my end showing on the right side. I tried the mitten on and found different gapping stitches, and then traced more stitches. I tried, pretty unsuccessfully to capture this, as I showed in my other post.

These are the thumb gussets of The Neverending Mittens of Doom. The top one is the second with the reinforcing as described above. After taking these pictures, I went back and redid the thumb gusset on the first one to close that hole (and clipped the random ends that show up in a picture or two). 
I know I still need another technique when I have contrasting yarn but I think this is a workable technique most of the time. I also think it serves a double purpose of reinforcing the stitches in a high stressed are of the fabric. 

Now that I have all of that talk of finishing out of the way, I'll very briefly talk about the rest of the mittens. I love them. I did all of the cable work without a needle and there were some rounds – 8 cables over 50-odd stitches that were tedious. But I love the seamless fliptop and the snapdragon pattern makes a nice bit of splash. I did read the pattern wrong and didn't make the flip top long enough... about 9 rows short, if I recall correctly. They are a bit tight on me, but my aunt has smaller hands. I left the little speck of red yarn there on the right mitten - I thought it was funny; I don't know if my Aunt will pick it off or not. 

These are a gift for my aunt that did so much for our wedding, so I wanted to make something extra nice for Christmas (or Valentines, as it ended up). She has a dog that she walks in the snow a couple times of day. I hope that these keep her hands warm, but available for working with leash, locks and keys. And a little button with a flower to remind her that spring will come. :)
Pattern: Snapdragon Fliptop Mittens
Yarn: Cascade 220, 176 yards
Modifications: Accidentally made the flip top too short by misreading the pattern
Knitting yardage total 2012: 396

Comments

[kate]

So cute, and I love the little loop to attach to the button, that's a clever little addition!

[Rachel]

Geez, I'm missed a lot in this space over the past month! I can't take time to comment on them all, but I did enjoy scrolling through all your photographs...often chuckling at your commentary! (and personally I think that the cowl works as a hat...what exactly is wrong with using a cowl as a hat?) ;)

These mittens are really nice...love the little cabling detail, the loop to attach the button, and the button. I think you did a good job dealing with the thumb gussetts too!

[melissa]

even though i know these mittens gave you fits i can't help but love them - they are just too pretty not to!
(and i hope your aunt leaves the bit of red fluff.)

[Kat1e]

love the pic of them with the red flower! :)