Monday, March 18, 2019

An Old Knit Friend

I haven't posted the last couple Mondays. I didn't forget. I just didn't have anything to write about.

I'm working in scarf land, on scarves that I've written about before. We're at what is known in writing as the muddle in the middle, and there's really no story there.

Well, there's story, but it's of the things-are-going-along-nicely variety. There'll be nothing much to report until I have finished objects to show off. (Although, I could tell you all about how my yarn somehow got stuck in a zipper and I couldn't get it unstuck so I had to cut it. There. Just did.)

And so, I had nothing to write about for today until I was perusing other blogs. Lily Element showed off her latest pair of fingerless gloves. And they made me think of my gauntlets...


Yes, there's a story...

Several years ago, I saw these knit on a knitting TV show. (Well, not these, exactly. I hated the cable pattern used, so I substituted my own.) And I had to have a pair.

They're perfect for those mornings when it's cold enough that I sort of need a jacket, but the cold will burn off by mid morning. So, I'd put on the jacket to get into work, take off the jacket as soon as I get in the classroom, and have to carry the jacket back out to my car. It's silly to wear a jacket for maybe 15 minutes and then have to lug it around the rest of the day.

These gauntlets fit perfectly in my bag.


I liked them so much that I made a pair for every female on my Christmas list that year after I finished my own.

I've had mine ever since. They mostly live in my car. I've worn them a few times this winter. So, they're never far from my mind, mostly like ambient lighting or that side table that is just always there.

So, when I saw Lily Element's gloves, I had to share the pattern for these.

I did a cursory search right then, but to no avail. Then I searched the blog. Surely I had posted about these. (Nope. Turns out these predate the blog.)

Ah well. I knew I had a copy of the pattern somewhere. I'd be able to find the correct pattern name so I could search it that way. (I was pretty sure it was no longer on the website for the TV show it was on as that TV show has been off the air for a while.)

I pulled out my knitting notebooks. In the third one I located the pattern. And the date on the printout is 10/18/2005. So, um, yeah, it's been a while.

At least little ol' organized me had kept the pattern with my modifications and the cable pattern I'd substituted in. So I could totally make another pair today if I was so inclined. (There are a couple modifications I'd make today as there are some techniques I've learned since I made these that would make them all that much better.)


First I tried the URL on the printout. I was not at all surprised when it took me to a 404 error page.

The pattern name wasn't all that notable. I'd already used it when I did that cursory search for the pattern before. But my printout had the pattern designer's name. I typed that into Ravelry, and the pattern's page popped up.

Alas, it looks like the pattern is unavailable unless one wants to buy the book of all the patterns from the TV show. Sigh.

Ah well. At least it gave me something to post about today. This post prompted me to get pictures, and now I can add these to Ravelry. Perhaps it's time to go through the wayback files and find other knits that predate the blog.

Nah. I'm sure I can come up with something new. Although, maybe not next week.

And, in a momentary weakness, I went and signed up for the A to Z Challenge again. Not that you'll notice, likely. I'll do as I do every April since 2013 and keep on keeping on, just fitting my normal post to the letter of the day. Some letters are trickier than others. (But X falls on a Saturday, so that's just a picture of something X-related this year. What will I come up with? I have no idea.)

27 comments:

  1. Warm little armbands.
    Good luck with the Challenge. What's your theme this year?

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  2. I debated about A/Z this year but then decided not to enter it myself. I'll be looking forward to reading yours.

    Do you make gauntlets for your eTSY shop? Those would be perfect for cool days here when I'm typing and my hands are cold but I need my fingers not covered.

    X is always a challenge. One years I took a picture of a street that started with an X in our area that we were living in at the time.

    betty

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  3. I always think about signing up for that challenge...it’s one of the more difficult ones, isn’t it?

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    Replies
    1. You post every day anyway, so it wouldn't be. I find the hardest part is keeping up with the visiting other blogs.

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  4. Those are cute. I don't blame you for not wanting to purchase all the patterns for just that one.

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  5. Those are neat looking! My only thing is that I'd prefer a dark color to a bright one :P. And I really like the pattern that you used.

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  6. I love these. It is like the 80s leggings from Fame, only timeless.

    For X one year I used "Xlerator" hand dryer in public bathrooms.

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  7. They remind me of orange sherbert. :D

    I can imagine that they are much easier to schlepp than a jacket.

    I have never done the A/Z challenge. I suppose that I don't really want to challenge myself that much!

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    Replies
    1. They are much easier. That was why I fell in love with them in the first place.

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  8. So, what is your theme going to be? Seriously, with these going over your elbows - I've never seen anything like these. I have Raynauld's syndrome, and in a thinner material, they might not be bad to wear in my office (which runs cold).

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    1. No theme. Just the usual. Monday-knitting. Tuesday-what if. Wednesday-Friday: subbing stories.

      That is pretty thin, actually. Well, they could be made in sock weight yarn, I suppose, but at that length they'd take considerably more time. But that's a thought.

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  9. I've never saw a pair of fingerless glove that long.
    Coffee is on

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  10. In Vietnam, a lot of women wear sleeves like that while riding around town on their motorbikes. Well, not exactly like that. Not heavy, warm ones, lightweight, but opaque to block the sun. They cover themselves completely to protect from the sun.

    As an American, I wear as little as possible in the heat, but not them!

    See you in A to Z!

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    Replies
    1. That's probably wise. Fewer skin cancer instances.

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  11. Those are neat. 2005 has been a long time ago! Time flies by and is long gone before we realize it. Great post.

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  12. I've knitted something similar, just not as long. It's nice to have something warm but keeps your fingers free.

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    Replies
    1. Especially with cell phones. Although, there's a way to make gloves with fingers that you can still text with.

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  13. These gloves are practical especially when one has to dust off snow or scrape a window and you want your fingers free. I think these would work well for people who have Reynaud's Disease (I hope I spelled that right). It would keep them warm and their circulation would be better than just regular gloves

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    1. Oh and I am not doing the A to Z because I just felt overwhelmed to be honest but looking forward to your posts. Xanthine is a yellowy orange which you can showcase something you made:)

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    2. Oooh, that's an excellent idea for X. I will miss your movie posts this year. Sigh.

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  14. Those are cool gloves, Liz. Bold and unique.
    I'm still up in the air about whether to do the A to Z challenge.

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  15. Oh, clever design! I like that idea. Needing a blood test today, I took off my winter coat and then froze waiting to be called back, which resulted in recalcitrant veins. Removable sleeves would have been ideal since I so often overheat in anything but T-shirts. And sometimes one arm/hand gets colder than the other depending upon my typing tasks (editing versus writing). I still need fingerless gloves, as well. :) Happy Crafting!

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  16. They look so comfy. I'm not surprised they are practical too. I'm doing a-Z as well and agree with you - it isn't the posts that are the hardest thing, it's reading everyone elses!

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