Quill #99 - Gift Ideas for Lean Years - Fingerless Gloves (Steampunk style)

Steampunk is all the rage. My daughter keeps asking me for fingerless gloves. I can, and probably will, crochet some for her, but I found a trash-to-treasures quick fix for her until I get around to crocheting a pair.

In our house, we have an abundance of unpaired and holey socks, many of them in black, brown, navy and tan colors. For fingerless mitts - sans thumbhole - just cut off the entire foot from the cuffs from a matching pair of socks. Voila! Wrist warmers.

If you want a thumb slot, cut the foot to just above the heel, where you can cut straight across and have the fabric even. Cut a side slit into the fabric below the cuff for the thumb to go through.

Embellish the cuff with buttons, if you please. Sew lace onto the snipped end for a longer glove and for beauty. Edge the thumb slot with blanket or ornamental stitching. And, if these wear out, it's an item you likely would have thrown out, anyway, and is easy to replace.

I might even make a pair for myself.

(image borrowed, as an example of a good Steampunk fingerless glove, from Kaboodle)

Quill #81 - Halloween Memories #4

My middle brother was visiting me at college. We were walking together through the alleys and city streets near my off-campus apartment. It was dark and cold, but not particularly late. We were bundled up in jackets and gloves and just being companionable, for once.

We passed the exit of a bar just as three soused college students came out. For some reason, they encircled me and started teasing, not letting me pass. I grew angry, mostly upset that they were spoiling a rare fun time with my brother. I pulled off one of my soft fuzzy mittens and began flapping it across the face of the ringleader, several times. It probably tickled him, but did no harm. I think I was also furiously repeating, "Let me go, right now!"

He laughed, threw up his hands and backed away, nodding to his friends to release me. I hooked arms with my brother and we continued onward, leaving the amused threesome behind. I don't know if Bro was looking at me with respect or borderline horror, but he seemed impressed that I had stood my ground (as if I had a choice) armed with only my gumption and a white cloth glove.