Usual dramas ensue in my home which has kept me away from my blog for longer than I would have wanted BUT a few tales to tell of my continuing creative journey to becoming either a domestic goddess OR next Richard Branson of the sewing world!
At this point may I suggest you don’t hold your breath on either π
As an enduring agoraphobic my rare jaunts out into the real world are carefully crafted and dictated by lists so I don’t forget anything in my haste to get home. It really does help if one remembers to take said list with one! Hence, I have gaffed and faffed about for about 2 weeks now but finally got sewing machine to the shop for servicing and a dark red acrylic yarn I have been hankering for so that I could practice some crochet stitches. I consider myself a novice in this area albeit a keen one!
In my head it was set, fingerless mitts. New, bamboo crochet hooks at the ready …. Dear reader you know all too well how frequently I don’t have the right size needle or hook. Rectified, a whole selection are now in my possession. Lack of vital list led to a GAWJUS coloured yarn being purchased, only on return home did it dawn I needed DK or simply soft not chunky. Well hey ho! How much can that matter ….. Becoming a bit of a theme that there saying.
DD2 had been my companion on shopping trip and although 19 I clearly am still the bank of mum ….. Bright yellow yarn also purchased, one of her fav colours, but more of the yellow yarn road another time.
I found amongst the MANY free online crochet patterns, one for mitts that came real close to what I had in my head so I extend thanks to Julee A Reeves for the inspiration the pattern gave and although a novice I have had a punt at jigging it about for my short, shall we say robust (chunky) hands PLUS of course the faux pas with yarn. All in all I am pretty happy with the outcome. You will see from the pictures that one is slightly more ‘baggy’ at the fingers where I added in some newly learnt shells. I rectified (almost) on the second hand but this pattern goes together so fantastically quickly in a chunky I will make more but on a smaller hook. This time I used a 6mm but I will drop a whole size to a 5mm for the next ones as I now know what EVERYONE is getting for Christmas π and my friends all have more slender hands that I !
With my chunky yarn and size 6mm hook I cast a chain of 29, it seemed from original pattern an odd number was required. Then jumped straight in on the pattern with my own amendments as
Hope my pictures help make some sense of my first pattern attempt. Initial problems with the first mitt I tried to iron out with some slight amendments. Nearly there!



Base of V visible enough to easily count how many rows you have done

Slightly different as my work in progress … My right hand is the second to be made and a MUCH better fit

Not doing the colour justice but am thinking of trimming with a couple of pretty buttons
Either way, a great pattern. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!
Cast 29 chain (V stitch dc, ch1, dc)
dc into 6th ch from hook.
ch1, dc into the same space as previous dc. *skip 2ch, V stitch into next ch. repeat from * to end. ch3 and turn work.
Row 2 to end
V into each ch1 space across (i identified this as being the top centre of each V stitch on previous row thus keeping all V’s in a neat line).
Please note, at the end of every even row I finish on a V, at the end of every odd row I end with a dc only.
For me I needed to work 14 rows and found it easy to count the rows as the base of each V is so visible.
Having looked at the web last night I now consider myself a shell stitch expert (sort of) so was keen to trim with shell.
ch1, sc into 2nd ch then create shell in a multiple of 6 dc into the space presenting at the top of a V stitch, skip 1ch, sc into next …….. Repeat to end.
My initial math did not work out so on the second mitt I worked by eye and it came out so much better, I finished up with 4 complete shells this time.
Finishing was super easy as I sew …. Yee ha! There is something I do with some competence π
Right side together, whip stitch with yarn and darning needle remembering to leave an opening for your thumb. This opening will vary depending on the size of your hands of course. Tie off, darn loose end into work and voila! Time to turn through to reveal the finished item!
Not a perfect pattern yet but as I am a real novice I feel sure any beginner could make a darn good go of it!
A quick Christmas shout out before the closet that must not be opened is opened by muggin’s here tomorrow for the sort out of the century.
Rachel you’ve been a doll, with all my craziness this year you have stood firmly by my side, thank you. Dellis…. Well who would have thought a cyber space friendship could be a real thing!!?? IT IS and I am so blessed to have ‘met’ you this year, thank you too for your kindness, guidance and support.
Merry Christmas to all and for your delight and delectation here is my christmas tree offering for 2013 ……. It near on resulted in the men with the special white jacket coming to collect me but victory was mine in the end ….. Only with the intervention of HH and DD2, nevertheless its up with strict instructions to all who enter. DO NOT TOUCH THE TREE!

The tree that nearly finished me!
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