ThreadingWater

There may not be frost on that pumpkin yet, but this morning’s first sighting of a junco at the birdfeeder is all the reinforcement I need to start hunkering-down for winter.

Last evening, Greatest Husband laid our first fire of the season with the remains of our old plum tree, while I worked on the mate for the mitten pictured above.  This is my first pair of thrummed mitts – so incredibly easy and warm.

All you need is a favorite basic mitten pattern knit in a worsted or bulky weight yarn, and some unspun or very loosely spun fleece or roving in a contrasting color.  Tear the fleece into three inch lengths and incorporate these tufts into the body and thumb of your mitten every fourth stitch and every fifth row, alternating the tufting as you see in the photo.  [Here's how:  For each addition of fleece, insert needle into stitch and wrap your working yarn around needle as usual.  Before completing stitch, slip a tuft of fleece over and on top of your working yarn and complete the stitch by pulling both through to the right side of your work.]

Most of the thrumming instructions I’ve come across call for employing this technique on two-needle mitten patterns, that is, knitting the mittens flat then sewing up a side seam.  However, I had no problem adapting the technique to knitting in the round using circular or double-pointed needles.

The incredible warmth happens as the fleece inside the mitten fluffs and felts, providing a wind-proof and water-resistant lining.  Perfect for lobbing snowballs at miscreant squirrels.