Sunday, 6 January 2013

Why, oh why, oh why...

... can't I get my head around my thumb??? No, not in a kinky way, but in a knitting way. 
The heat has affected my thinking of late, and has turned me towards a quick knit-up project. Susie's Fingerless Reading Mitts to be exact, a popular pattern online, free, and should be quick and easy. So why am I sitting here undoing rows of knitting - it's all in the thumb! Talk about a mental blank (or a Senior's moment) happening.


Now it's not that I can't knit. Over the past years I have made some beautiful knitted jumpers and cardigans for both myself, and Mr made by J...


So why, oh why, oh why is this little thumb (in 'fingerless' gloves no less) giving me such a hard time???


Maybe it's where I am knitting that is distracting me, after all, it is the middle of summer Down Under and the pool looks sooooo inviting...


Fingers(less) crossed I figure out this little mind-bending problem soon, or else its back to skirt sewing for me...

23 comments:

  1. I can't knit so I'm always impressed by anyone who can. How can you knit warm clothes when it's so hot outside?! Ha ha must be quite relaxing and I suppose easier to take knitting needles poolside than a sewing machine!

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    1. The cord just isn't long enough on the machine, otherwise I like your idea...

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  2. How idyllic knitting by a pool, one can only dream. If you need any help email me, and I will try and help you if I can.
    Louise

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    1. I think I am beyond help at the moment. Just need to take the sunglasses off and read the pattern over again, and again, and ....

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  3. I can't knit but I imagine it must be hard to knit in summer... much easier to lazily read sewing blogs on the smart phone in the sun!

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  4. I can understand why your brain is confused knitting gloves while looking at that beautiful pool

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    1. I do love my backyard pool on a hot day, or night...

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  5. Knitting in the summer -- you are brave. I put mine away during the hot months. They look good (as does the pool). Hope you have the thumb figured out by now.

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    1. I don't know what possessed me to knit at this time of the year - and the thumb is under control now...

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  6. I have pool envy!!! Especially today when it is supposed to reach 43C. Put away the knitting and have a dip.

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    1. Your temps are going to be shocking today - enjoy lots of icy drinks...

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  7. Oh knitting - waaay beyond me - all that counting! Just knit them without the thumb - kind of like a tube. Does that sort out the problem? Now go for a swim...

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    1. Great thinking - turn it into a scarf....splash!!!

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  8. Those are cute gloves. I downloaded the pattern, and maybe will give it a try. Don't give up because you know--how to get past that thumb issue will suddenly come to you.

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    1. Glad you are giving it a go, Gwen! Because it really is an easy-as pattern and looks great. And I am wayyyyyy past the thumb now....

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  9. I'm not sure what's tripping you up but once you finish the gusset you just put those stitches on a holder add one stitch and continue knitting in the round. The thumb stitches are picked up and worked last. I hope that helps, don't give up you will love them. I have made to many to count so I know you can do it. If you have any other questions I will try to help.

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    1. It did help, thanks Tanya! I am now giving it the 'thumbs up'...

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  10. My first pair of mitt-like things was the Nalu Fingerless mitts. I got so mixed up with the pattern on the back of the hand and the thumb increases that I eventually mapped out the entire thing on Excel so that I could keep track of where I was. But after pulling it back so many many times, I'm really good at that type of thumb! I'm itching to make the reading mitts since it can get cool in here and it'd be nice to have something to keep my fingers warm when playing on the computer, but we'll see. I'm looking forward to seeing yours (if you manage to resist the pool and finish them up - I wouldn't blame you if the pool won that battle)!

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    1. Ohhh, yes, the undoing part is tricky! Can't use the old sewing quick-unpick at all...

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  11. What beautiful work!!! I bought pretty yarn and knitting needles last winter. Can't push away from the sewing machine long enough to teach myself.

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    1. I know what you mean, Faye! Sewing is soooo much quicker than going it one stitch at a time...

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  12. Just dropped by to give you some top tips on these gloves - but it looks as though you have this sorted now. Once you have all your stitches increased for the thumb, you can knit backwards and forwards on them for the thumb. You would then just cast off the thumb and sew up the seam. You may need to pick up a stitch at the base of the thumb so you don't have any holes - and then just knit two stitches together in the next round to get rib of the extra stitch.

    Not sure if I mentioned this before, but I am twotoast on Ravelry!

    Any more problems - give us a shout!

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