I love weaving in the ends … said no knitter EVER.

These are perfect for the photographer when working out in the field. When in the cold mountains, sometimes the fingertips absolutely must be covered, yet when taking photos, sometimes, the fingertips must be exposed. This pattern is the perfect fit.

Am using up the leftover bits of red Quabbin from my Roses Rouge hat with the leftover skein and a half of the charcoal gray Quabbin from the Eastward Westward hat made for The Man. Love using up the leftovers!

The daughter requested a pair of mitts with short fingers for her over-air conditioned office. She has lots of fingerless mitts, but still gets cold hands, so thought that short fingers might be a bit warmer. I agree. I’ve several pairs of fingerless mitts myself and find that wind and cold get in too easily …

Normally I make gifts first, and am ready to move on to another pattern by the time they are finished … so I often don’t get around to making mine for a year or so. So this time, I decided to try a different strategy … and make mine first. Tehehehehe. Selfish!

The daughter doesn’t want the flap on her pair … and I do want the flap on mine. These are mine. Hers are up next … will use very similar colors for hers, but most likely out of Valley Yarn Stockbridge as I’m sure I do not have enough of the Quabbin for a second pair. Wishing that I would have stocked up a bit more on the Quabbin for my stash because it works up so beautifully in this particular pattern …

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Both the daughter and I have small hands, and like our gloves to “fit like a glove” … so since the Quabbin has a slight tendency to stretch out a bit when worn, I went down on the needle size to a US #2-1/2. I have 9” circs in this size, and they worked perfectly for the cuff and mitten body. Used size US #3 needle (4” dpns) for the fingers and thumbs. Then switched back to the circs for the mitten flap.

Modified the mitten flap ever so slightly. Rather than leave the tip at 6 stitches and close by running the thread through and securing, did a couple of extra k2tog rows until three stitches remained … then worked a 3-stitch icord and made a loop for the button (rather than crocheting a chain as the button loop). Much prefer the finished appearance of the icord.

Made the thumb short to match the fingers, and knit a flap for the thumb in the same manner as the flap for the mitten - folds back, has ribbing on the one side, and secures to the thumb gusset with a matching (but smaller) button. The thumb flap is absolutely the sweetest! Did a 2-stitch icord as a loop for the tiny button. So cute!

Love these … thick, fuzzy yarn knit on small needles makes for a wonderfully warm, dense fabric. These are knit so dense, that they’ll likely be nearly waterproof when out in nature …

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Very happy with this pattern. Picked it up on a 40% off sale through Interweave. Even at full price, it’s such a great pattern, well written and easy to follow, that it would have been well worth the money.

The pattern instructions include small (ladies), medium, and Large (men). I made an extra small by adjusting the needle size. May be adding this pattern to my holiday gift giving and make a pair for The Man, The Son, one of the Nephews, the grandson-in-law, and maybe even the grandson - I like this pattern that much … and it really is difficult to find patterns that work well as gifts for the men in my family. :-D

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Did I mention how FAST this pattern knits up? Big yarn, even though small needles, still knits up super fast. If you really worked at it, you could easily make a pair in ONE day. Gotta love it!