Knitting Fingerless Mitts

My beginning knitting students will be working on Fingerless Mitts in my Knitting II class tonight. I love knitting fingerless mitts—they're fun, customize-able, and don't require a lot of yarn or time.

I wrote this pattern called "Sweet Louise Fingerless Mitts" (named for my MIL). They feature a cable that twists in the opposite direction for each mitt. There are a few other techniques that these mitts employ, so my students will have several new skills they can add to their knitting repertoire.

It will be a fun evening!

A white Christmas and a knitty New Year

We awoke to a snowy white Christmas here. A big, quilt-like blanket of fluff covered everything. The temperature hovered just above 32-degrees, so we were lucky that there was minimal ice—a good thing for the inexperienced, (non-Yankee) drivers around here.

I enjoyed making several hand-knit Christmas gifts this year. To match last year's scarf, the DH got a hand knit hat to fit his 25" head (yep, it's that big). And other family members received cowl-and-mitt sets (picture taken pre-snow).

The mitts are my own pattern in which I modify the top center to coordinate with the cowl's stitch pattern. The raspberry set (left) is 100% wool and inspired by the "True Brit" Ponchette from Cathy Caron's book, Cowl Girls. The turquoise cowl is a variation of the "Nitid Cowl" by Sarah Fama in Interweave Knits "Holiday Gifts" 2010 issue made with a wool and bamboo blend yarn. For this cowl, I used the tubular ribbed cast-on method that I teach in my Knitting II classes. A fun technique!

This lace wrap is a Stephen West pattern called "Collonade." Be sure you check out the picture of it laying flat on Knitty.com as the photo of it on the model might be confusing when you start to knit.

So, I hope all you yarny, fiber arts fanatics had a great Christmas and either gave or received some wonderful hand-made items. These are the best kinds of gifts to give or receive. (Yarn, knitting and quilting tools, or books about yarn, knitting, quilting and fiber arts are great, too!)

<-- The neighbor kids made this snow person and put a Tennessee orange baseball cap on its head. If it had more of a neck, it could wear a knit gaiter... otherwise, a scarf.

Here's a great book for knitted gaiter inspiration:

Fingerless Mitts all around; new classes starting

Fingerless Mitts was the class project for my Beginning Knitting II class. Here are some of the finished (or soon-to-be finished) pieces made by the talented knitting students in my classes. If you are the special recipient of one of these lovely hand knit items, appreciate the time, expertise and love that was put into every stitch by its creator.

If you want to learn how to knit and would like to make a project like this yourself, you can sign up for an upcoming continuing education class at Chattanooga State, or call (423) 697-3100.

Upcoming classes in 2011:

Beginning Knitting: January 31, February 7 and 14
Beginning Knitting II: February 28, March 7
Lace Knitting: March 28, April 4

Classes meet 5:30 pm. - 8:30 pm.

Fingerless Mitts knitting class, starts Nov. 1

Hey Knitters and yarn lovers! Need some great holiday gifts? Here is a perfect, fast-to-knit, portable knitting project for the occasion. I'll be teaching this two-session Fingerless Mitts class at Chattanooga State, November 1 and 8. Call (423) 697-3100 to register.

Fingerless Mitts knitting class

In class, we'll be learning how to make cables, thumb gussets and using the mattress stitch to seam. My "Sweet Louise" fingerless mitts pattern is free to class participants. These mitts were knit with Classic Shades by Universal Yarn—a worsted weight, wool blend that comes in many gorgeous colorways... soft and snuggly.

Twisty Cable Fingerless Gloves

Another variation is my Twisty Cable fingerless gloves. These were knit using Fibra Natura Sensational, a 100 superwash merino wool. Sensational comes in 45+ colors, including variegated, and has great stitch definition. Scrumptious!

Call today to register for class! (423) 697-3100. 

Now is the time to get your needles clicking and whip out several pairs of these fun fingerless mitts. You'll want to make a set for all your friends... and a pair or two... or three... for yourself.

New knitters and upcoming classes

Please welcome these new knitters to the wonderful world of yarn and fiber arts! These talented women were in my 3-week Beginning Knitting class at Chattanooga State which concluded last night. They were excellent students and successfully passed the course with flying colors!

New "Knitting Graduates" from the Beginning Knitting class.

From the first class, these knitting students had plans for projects and were full of questions and ideas—an ascot with a button hole detail, a doggie sweater, afghans, scarves and home dec items. The conversation was lively and stimulating. 

Beginning Knitting II class—Fingerless Mitts

The next class in the knitting series is Beginning Knitting II (see page 4 of the Chattanooga State course catalog). The techniques covered include making cables, ribbing, a gusset and seaming. We'll be making a pair of fingerless mitts—a perfect take-along project and a great holiday gift! The class meets November 1 and 8 from 5:30 to 8:30 pm.

Call 697-3100 to register now, before the class fills.

At the request of the current graduating class, a Lace Knitting class has been proposed to the Chattanooga State Continuing Education program. Proposed class dates for this 6-hour class are November 29 and December 6.
Stay tuned...