Fingerless mitt pattern (that has been a long time coming)...

These mitts are great on their own for chilly autumn/springtime weather or over a pair of cheap, stretchy gloves for chillier winter temperatures.

O modeling his fancy mitts

(back in October)

You will need:
1 set size 6(7, 8, 9) double-pointed needles
size 9(10, 11, 12) circular needles OR size 9 double-pointed needles
crochet hook (size 6/G;4mm)
worsted/aran (medium weight) yarn (work from the opposite end of the skein for the thumb)

Knitting terms:
k- knit
p- purl
rs; ws- right side; wrong side
sts- stitches
kf&b- knit front and back

Pattern:
Cast on 26 sts.

Divide stitches evenly on needles
work in k1, p1 ribbing for 8 rows.

row 9: (rs) kf&b in first 2 sts. k until 2 sts remain. kf&b in last 2 sts. (30 sts)

row 10 (and all even-numbered rows of body): knit

row 11: k 14 sts, kf&b in next 2 sts, k 14 sts.

row 13: k 14 sts, kf&b in next st, k 2 sts, kf&b in next st, k 14 sts.

row 15: k 14 sts, kf&b in next st, k 4 sts, kf&b in next st, k 14 sts.

row 17: k 14 sts, kf&b in next st, k 6 sts, kf&b in next st, k 14 sts.

row 19: k 14 sts, kf&b in next st, k 8 sts, kf&b in next st, k 14 sts.

Continue increasing in this manner if you want to make the thumb wider- just increase the number of sts between the kf&b sts.

Thumb:
row 21: slip 15 sts onto one needle or crochet hook.
attach the opposite end of your skein of yarn and knit the next 10 sts with another needle.

Knit around the thumb three times (continue knitting to make it longer if you like).  Bind off thumb.

row 21(cont'd): knit off of holding needle to thumb, pick up 1 st before thumb, center st at thumb and 1 st after thumb- knit those 3 sts together.  Knit to end of round.

knit 5 more rows (rows 22-26)

Bind off.  Weave in ends.  If necessary, use loose strings to close small hole at thumb.
Using matching yarn or embroidery floss, stitch buttons onto the outside of the ribbed cuff (opposite the thumb).

Coat strings
Using your crochet hook, chain 9 sts. Hold the ends together to form a loop and check to see if the loop fits snugly over the buttons you stitched on the mitts.  Adjust accordingly- add/remove stitches until the loop fits- and be sure to count your sts so you know how big to make the loop at the other end.  Slst into 1st st.  Continue to crochet until the chain is long enough to stretch from one wrist across the shoulders to the other wrist.  Chain enough sts to make your second loop and slst into the last st of the chain (the st *before* the ones you added for the loop).
Weave in ends.

Button the string onto the mitts and put the mitts on.  Now put on your coat over your mitts and the next tome you take your coat off, take the mitts pdf first so they'll stay in place.  No more lost gloves!
I like to make these strings for all of my kids' gloves, homemade or store bought...  It makes life with kids a lot easier.

This pattern and items made using it are not intended for sale, but please feel free to make as many as you'd like for yourself, your friends, family or for donation to charity...  but please give credit to the author and mention my blog when you give gifts made from my patterns.  Thank you!

*****PLEASE NOTE:  This pattern has NOT been tested (aside from by myself), please let me know if you try it out, I would love and appreciate any feedback you have to share!  Thank you!!!*****

I've been a slacker, I know....

Well, happy (belated) holidays and happy new year and all that jazz....  I'll just put it out there and not make excuses:  around the holidays (and, coincidentally, my girls' birthdays), my family and crafting for said holidays/birthdays take precedence over blogging.  I'm sorry.

(from left to right, top to bottom)  A fabric covered, appliqued notebook

that Moo made for me; a Hello Kitty painting that Moo made for Rye;

A Snoopy painting that Moo made for O; Christmas cookie baking!;

an ornament the Rye made for me; bird ornaments that O made for the girls-

he also made one for me and his dad... check him out with his new ukelele!;

a painting the Rye made for Moo; a painting the Rye made for O; and, last but not least,

CHRISTMAS MUMMIES!  ....I know, my kids are strange ones.

I have big plans for 2013!  I don't normally "do" the whole New Year's resolution thing because, let's face it, most of us suck at it...  This year I have decided to simply be a better me.  While there are a few specific goals that fit within my overall big change, I figure that focusing on changing everything that I'm not happy with about myself/my life will be easier in the end than making one minor change that I may or may not stick with.

This might not make sense to anyone but me, and you know what?  That doesn't matter.  Doing it this way, I have to focus on every aspect of my life.  Its not just about eating healthier or exercising, its about improving myself- inside and out.  My physical health, my mental health, my relationships with my kids and my husband, the cleanliness of my house, getting my creative energies flowing again (which has a lot to do with my mental health), etc.

I feel that I've been making excellent progress overall...  I'm using myfitnesspal.com to count my calories as well as making a point of getting off my butt and cleaning things up around here (which helps to burn calories - bonus!).  I'm currently down 5 lbs since Jan. 1st!  I've been trying to crack down on the kiddos about getting their clothes and back packs ready for school the night before, which has significantly lightened the overall moods in or house in the mornings.  I've also started journaling again which, for me, usually -well, used to- include lots of sketching and doodling....  I plan to get back to that soon, too.

What about you?  Do you have any permanent changes that you're working on at the moment?