The fact that I'm just finishing off my second pair of mittens this month must be a measure of what a rubbish summer we're having so far. My hands really feel the cold, so popping on a pair of mittens for pottering around the garden in the late evening has been necessary of late and somehow the butterfly mittens that I finished last week are a little too pretty to wear for picking snails off of my cabbages, so I thought I'd make a more utilitarian pair.
Luckily these mittens are really snuggly and they knitted up really quickly. I only started them on friday evening and this morning I'm just sewing on the finishing touch buttons.
The pattern is Welted Fingerless Gloves from Churchmouse Yarns and Teas and I've knitted it with 3.75mm needles and Cascade 220 wool in 'pear' (full details on ravelry). I originally choose this yarn as one of the colours for the misty afghan but it somehow didn't fit and I'm glad now because I think this is my new favourite colour and I'm pondering what else to make in it.
Despite the fact that I'm very pleased with my new mittens, I really hope that I'll not need them this week – it would be really nice to actually have a summer before the autumn comes around!
little cotton rabbits 
They are simply beautiful!!!
xxxx Alessandra
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They’re beautiful Julie, that is such a pretty colour.
I love all your gorgeous buttons too! 🙂
Lovely as they are I too hope you don’t need them for a few months yet!!
Vivienne x
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Oh, those look so comfy. I know what you mean about the summer. We are having Jun-uary. Rain storms on Saturday, bits & pieces of sun yesterday and today, who knows? But the sun is hitting my honey locust tree right know and it is just brillant! I have dozens of foxgloves that are 3 feet tall and although they are a nuisance plant here, they are still pretty. How’s your garden?
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Summer is coming in August LOL! Your mittens are gorgeous — what a pretty color!
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Lovely mittens! Have you ever come across a nice pattern for the type that have an optional section to pull over your fingers, making them full gloves or fingerless as required?? Enjoy your evening pottering round the garden.
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Those are gorgeous Julie! The color looks like you too. Warm and sunny.
I have the same question as Fran. I’ve been looking and haven’t found one I like yet. I’d wanted to make a pair for my dad.
Our weather here has been scorching and in the high 90’s low 100’s. There are fires all over the valley. We are a tinderbox. We’ve not had any moisture hardly all winter, spring, and now summer. It’s bad. The air is thick with smoke and yesterday what I thought was storm clouds was just…….. more smoke…….. bleck.
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Lovely mittens,I agree its cold, we had the fire on the other night!!
louise
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I think I ‘need’ those mittens…
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They are sweet – like little old-style bee-hives! I had to wear my dog-walking mitts last week, too cold at the crack of dawn!
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Gorgeous Julie 😀 They really are such a pretty colour. I think I may have some 220 in Pear put away, no idea how much, but you’ve got me thinking now 😀
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Thanks Annie. I used just under 70gms of my skein so around 160 – 170m of yarn but if you made the pattern without the extra welts on the cuff it would use less
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So simple but still stylish. It’s a nice colour, practical but more colourful and more yellow than a drab neutral beige. Hope the weather treats you and your paws more kindly. 🙂
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These are just lovely and you are so brave going anywhere near slugs. Yuk – slugs, snails and earth worms really repulse me – they make me go into a real panic. I am not bothered by spiders, bumble bees, hornets or wasps!
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We’d make a good team Zoe – spiders really freak me out but I’m quite happy picking up the slimy garden creatures (and flinging them over next-doors fence (Shhh, don’t tell them!)
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Love them!
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Dear Julie, I am quite smitten with your mittens; there is something almost edible about them; the colour perhaps? Oh, oh, oh, I feel tempted to make a pair too.
I am chuckling over your confession re: generously “gifting” your snails to your neighbours. I too, incidentally, loathe (big) spiders. Come early Autumn here in France we have the most monstrous spiders creeping into our house at night. I was diagnosed with asthma last Autumn as I am allergic to dust mites. My specialist told me that there is a peak in dust mite production in october as bedroom windows are generally closed to keep out the chill. I piped up then that the only reason I had kept my windows firmly shut was to ward off huge spiders!
I hope all is well with you… despite the weather.
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They look lovely and snuggly – and right on cue, the sun arrived here today!
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You just do the most lovely work! Your yarn choice looks pleasingly buttery, and I love how you’ve styled the photograph with the scissors and dish of buttons. Beautiful to behold!
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Julie,
Your mittens are lovely – whenever I stop by your website I am in awe of all of your lovely creations.
Have a lovely day and thank you for sharing xx
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The mittens are wonderful! I love the color!
And I like your blog, I think I will come here often!
Greetings from Germany,
Lena
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Julie they are just gorgeous!!! I don’t think I’ve ever visited your blog and been disappointed – it always makes me smile :O) I’ve got ravelry open on another tab right now checking out the mittens !! x
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Ahhhhh Julie…they are gorgeous and such a pretty colour too. You have inspired me :o)
I have been over to ravelry and purchased the pattern and i have a skein of 220 that i haven’t used in my ‘Rhubarb crumble’ blanket…so i am all ready!
I have never managed to knit in the round successfully before but this time i SHALL succeed…thank you x
I am battling with the slug army here too!
love jooles x
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I know what you mean, i need sun now 😦 Mind you those are very gorgeous mittens to compensate for it 🙂
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They are beautiful, the butterfly mittens are great but I think these would be too lovely to garden with as well!
I absolutely love your photography, what do you use to take your photos? Do you edit them?
i also love the buttons, they are absolutely gorgeous!
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Another GORGEOUS pair of mittens! Love the button idea. Are you sure you want to work out in the garden in them?! 😉
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I so enjoy passing by your blog. You’ve given me so much inspiration to continue knitting and crocheting. Thank you. 🙂
I think I might put these little beauties on my project list.
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Thanks Rachel. In answer to yours and Fran’s question – I’ve never made any flip top gloves so can’t recommend a particular pattern but there are a few over on ravelry that might be worth a look:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/popular/convertible
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Hello Julie, I logged onto your blog for inspiration to complete three replica bridesmaid teddy bears I am knitting for my daughter’s little flower girls. I have till the end of August to complete my project and have one and a half fat little legs to finish. I think I shall sew the dresses so I get plenty of sparkle. Your work is so gorgeous that I am inspired to get on. I wish I had thought to incorporate their slippers. I think it’s the completion of so many bits of pieces that has been my downfall. How do you do it – and so beautifully!
I love your blog and find I have stared to worry when we don’t hear from you for a while.
Dottie x
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I have to giggle. Easy to knit up. For SOME people, maybe. The buttons are such a sophisticated touch – like something – oh what was her name? That yank movie star who married the prince of Monaco – Grace Kelly – she’d have worn them and people would have gone mad to have them.
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Love your blog! I am looking for your email address but can’t seem to find it on your blog. Do you have one to contact you at? Thanks 🙂
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amazing beautiful yellow colour, so soft and kind.
nice to meet this blog.
mieke
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I have just found your website after looking at my new crafts beautiful mag and reading all about you.
It’s lovely……
I wondered if you have apattern for a monkey? My 2 year old grandson has set me a challenge.
Your photos ands children look delightful.
Every blessing
Mary Harris- Derbyshire
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Hi there, I love those welted f/gloves, so beautifully crafted and the colours are really scrummy. This summer has been an odd one – I too like to grow things to eat, though this time I didn’t grow anything as I just moved to a new house and really didn’t have the time. However, I love to grow beans and last year grew potatoes for the first time and they were absolutely delicious. It’s so satisfying when you grow things to eat, by your own hand.
I often read your blog and really love how it’s set out. I started a blog a couple of months ago and now realise how much time and effort it requires. I am not very technically minded so it is taking a while but hopefully I will it up and running again. Anyway, I have gabbled on long enough – happy knitting and growing until the next time.
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