for cool Fall evenings.

I stumbled across these in the Fall 2010 issue of Vogue Knitting in an advertisement.  I had seen them before but it was actually my mom who mentioned how much she liked them. The Long Striped Hand Warmers by Whitney Van Nes is a simple, easy-to-follow, instant-gratification-type pattern. I loved it.

That said, I almost didn’t share these because they have ended up having a little bit of a fumble. But a good friend said, “Carry on, carry on – they are for warmth – who cares?” She’s right and I can always make a new pair since these took no time at all.

Let me talk a little about these before I share the fumble with you. I chose Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift since I have been trying to stash bust and I had some gorgeous “Granny Smith” colourway waiting quietly to be knit into something. I also had some Rowan rowanspun 4ply needing to be knit. There is lots of the rowanspun left over and I fully intend on making another pair. There was not, however, enough to finish the mitts with the Jamieson’s. Bummer. Enter the Fumble.

Do you see it?  Yup. I had to sub in some of another colourway of Jamieson’s I had in my stash. The colour isn’t perfect – the Pistachio is quite yellow compared to the rich colour of the Granny Smith but it’s actually not that bad. They’ll mostly be under my jacket sleeves anyhow!

I used 2.75mm DPNs for the ribbing and 3.00mm DPNs for the body of the mitts.

I think what I love most about these is that there is no shaping. No fancy work. They are just simple simple simple. And so effective. Unbelievably effective. I am tempted to cast on for another pair now …

I hope you are knitting something warm this Fall!