My Ravens in Snow fingerless mitts are now up on Ravelry.
These mitts are, really, a total redesign. I’ve used a different cuff, I’ve switched to my favored thumb gusset, and I modified the motif to work with the smaller ‘canvas’ of the back of the hand.
Although the full mitts — a design I still really like — were published in September 2011, the actual design was proposed and completed around a year earlier, in late 2010, making them really one of my earlier designs. I was trying to work within the confines of traditional Nordic mitten construction, which, I learned, is not my favorite. I like a round top to mitts, rather than the pointy top, for example. And I like the type of thumb gusset (a little offset for comfort, forming a triangular wedge) I normally do, rather than the waste yarn thumb gusset.
I think (hope!) the fingerless version is a bit more refined, more elegant. Comments? Which do you prefer?
Oh, heck, I’ll bribe people to comment. Comment which mitt you prefer & why, in this post, by midnight PST June 19th (that gives me time to pick a winner before heading off to TNNA), for a chance to win a copy of either the fingerless version or the full version of Ravens in Snow.
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
I think they’re both wonderful, but I’m so glad for the redesign because these will actually be useful to me here in SoCal!
I think I prefer the fingerless version as it would be more useful in our Scottish climate, plus who wouldn’t want to have such delicious looking mitts.
Wow, so beautiful! I love Ravens. My name is Robin, so feel like a Raven is my edgy alter ego.
I like fingerless mitts because doing all those fingers on a circular would be a pain in the butt.
They look great. I do not know how to do stranded knitting yet, but I want to learn because of all the nice patterns.
I would guess the fingerless version is easier to make, and could probably be worn both inside as well as outside.
But I must say that I think gloves with stranded knitting are very nice. They look so complicated, and classic (my grandmother had several pairs of gloves with nordic pattern).
And I also prefer thumb gussets instead of “waste yarn thumbs”.
I love these — I have a thing for ravens and crows (hence the name), so these are particularly appealing to me! I also love the fact that you’ve done a regular thumb gusset rather than the afterthought thumb. I have never found those to be a good fit for my hands. I look forward to making a pair of these sometime soon!
The lines on the fingerless mitts are definitely cleaner than mitts and I like them as you don’t have to remove them to do complex stuff!
If you have big hands (as I do) ‘proper’ thumbs look much nicer
I like them both! I love that you used a regular thumb as I have rather big hands for a girl
I prefer the fingerless mitts; possibly it’s just the colour but they’re really cute.
I prefer the fingerless mitts because I like the cuff detail.
While I like the new version as a possible option for me, I’d been thinking about knitting the full sized ones for my husband. So, not sure I really have a preference!
(InJuneau on Rav)
I LOVE the fingerless mitts – it’s the cuff that got me.
My vote is for the fingerless mitts. They are so gorgeous!
I vote for the fingerless mitts. They are gorgeous!
Those are so very beautiful! So delicate looking!
I am partial to fingerless mitts in general and this is no exception.
Oh my these are just perfect! I love the color and the pattern. Great job!
Oh and I prefer fingerless as I love a good pair of fingerless gloves.
My favorite? That depends. This design is beautiful and would be fabulous in any of the patterns. I favor fingerless mitts for fall and spring, but definitely need a full mitten for winter. Anything to keep my fingers warm! I do agree with you about the traditional Scandinavian shaping; I’m just not fond of the pointy mittens. I’d love to try out your revised pattern!
I love the fingerless mitts. Beautiful! I also love the cuff and the gusset. Would make lovely Christmas gifts, of which I have many to make. Thanks for the chance to win a pattern
)
These are beautiful. Very delicate. I definitely do not favor pointy mittens (but I also have no reason to wear them in SoCal), so the mitts are much lovelier to me.
I love the design of the fingerless mitts best! esp the cuff
That said, the yarn you used on the mitts is pretty awesome looking.