I bought a skein of WYS Exquisite in Alterknit Universe to make myself half-finger gloves. I have a go-to patten for mitts but I think a glove is more refined (even if it has half-fingers).
I landed on the Very Simple Gloves (PurlSoho link) pattern, which I’ve made before but didn’t document. Can you imagine knitting without taking pictures?! It always throws me when I remember something I made but didn’t blog about. Anyway, I needed smaller needles than any in my stash, but I wasn’t sure which size would give the best gauge. I bought a very inexpensive pack of what I guess you’d call cabled DPNs? Each set has three needles, in size 2mm – 4mm.
After a few false starts, both to get the hang of the needles and to check gauge, I ended up using the 2mm set. Very small, very fiddly. Very easy to put the tip through a stitch, which the yarn is not forgiving of. But I got the correct fit for my hand and almost the right gauge (38 stitches instead of the pattern’s 36), plus the fabric was suitably dense.
It’s taken me a week to make one (as of Sunday 9th, when I’m writing this post). The kicker is that I want them to be ready to wear by 13 November when I’m going up north for an event. It may not be grim up north, but it sure is cold. The second one should go faster, no?
The process has been somewhat aggravating, as learning a new skill always is, but I’m pleased with how they’re shaping up. I’m following the small adult size, but adding an extra 2 stitches to the fingers. They were just a little bit neat when made exactly to pattern, which makes sense given the difference in gauge.
Will I get them done? We’ll find out!
