Quick and Easy Wrist Warmers / Fingerless Mitts in 60 Seconds Flat!

Take a gander at my brand new fingerless mitts / wrist warmers.

 

 

They were upcycled from a really nice pair of wool socks that had gone through the wash a few too many times, and were now too small for my feet.   Too nice to give them away or toss them, I devised a brilliant plan. 

See-- They really did start out as socks that morning.  Just a few simple modifications:

1) Cut off the toes.

2) Cut a little slit in the heels for a thumb.

3) Roll the cuffs for wrists.

4) Roll the toes back over your fingers.

I'm not worried about finishing the edges to prevent them from unraveling.  These socks are sufficiently felted to stabilize any raw edges.

The heel works out remarkably well for the thumb slits.   Strategically placed.

In fact, I am amazed at how well this little experiment worked!

It took all of a minute to transform them from socks to mitts.

We are expecting below-zero temps this weekend with frigid wind chills.  If you find yourself wishing for your own woolen hand warmers, give this little experiment a try.

Stay warm!

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I remembered a friend doing something similar a few years ago ...  So Thank you, Samara!  It worked beautifully!

Purple Alpaca Wristers and progress on the KB Sock Loom

Made this morning on the Addi Express Knitting Machine.  This is 3 strands of a fine alpaca yarn someone gave me a while back.   Basic instructions in this video.    These are toasty and warm.  I'm hoping this yarn won't pill up like the black acrylic did.

Here's the yarn I used.  Someone gave me a nice big bag of it a few years ago.  It looks nicer worked up with multiple strands than it does with the single strands.  Funny how that works!

I also worked up a sample swatch of this multi-blue wool yarn that I dyed with my friend Lynda a few years ago.  I was wondering how that might look in a pair of socks.  Not bad!  Just means I need to dye up enough to make a pair.

Just bought a stock of 10 skeins of Merino Wool during the 30% off yarn sale at Joann's.   Looks like I was just in time yesterday for the sale, as now they are back up to full price.   Lynda and I have another Colors / Dying date next week.  I'll have to think about what color combinations I want in the meantime.  And how big to wind the hanks for socks.  

I got the KB His and Hers Sock Loom set.  It's plastic, so the pegs have a little give to them.  I was having a tough time with the original KB adjustable sock loom with metal pegs for a number of reasons.  This one works a lot easier for me.  I am practicing with some wool yarn -- just cheap nothing-special Fisherman's Wool.  I've been ooh-ing and ahh-ing over the great variety of sock yarns out there.  Most of which I can't get locally, but would have to order online.  I really want to FEEL it before I buy it, and I'd also like to know how it will knit up before putting a lot of time and effort into it.  Of course that sends me down yet another rabbit hole of DIY dying ... and makes me want to play with colors again.

The photo above shows the emerging toe box, with the requisite decreased and increased stitches. It's kind of amazing to be creating things in 3D like this, to see it emerging from below.  

This is the back side of the photo above.  This shows the Kitchener Cast-on (not unlike weaving).  This will get cinched up later on, closing the seam at the ball of the foot.

Here's the view from the inside.  Nice and orderly.  

This is what I've gotten done since Friday evening.  Not bad for a knitting meditation.