Jessamyn West has been “putting the rarin’ back in librarian since 1999.” She’s a tech-savvy librarian living in rural Vermont who is working to overcome the “Digital Divide,” the gap between those who have access to technology and the internet and those who do not. She is also known for taking a well-publicized stand against the USA PATRIOT Act, in particular the provisions that allow warrantless searches of library records, and has weighed in passionately on
topics ranging from salary inequalities to library architecture.

Jessamyn provided the inspiration for Joy Gerhardt’s pretty, practical mitts. The arched stitch pattern is symbolic of “bridging” the Digital Divide; it also conceals thumb gussets and provides shaping at the wrist. The slightly challenging pattern combined with the soft yarn create a pair of mitts that are low-key yet high-impact—just like Jessamyn herself.

This pattern is in the book Stitching in the Stacks, which is available in both print and digital format via Cooperative Press (the digital edition is also available here on Ravelry).

SIZES
Women’s S, M, L (shown in size M)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Wear with 0.5-1” / 1.5-2.5cm of negative ease.
Wrist circumference: 4.5, 5, 5.5” / 11.5, 12.5, 14 cm
Hand circumference: 5.5, 6.5, 7.25” / 14, 16.5, 18.5
cm
Length: 10” / 25.5 cm