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      Baby it's cold outside, put on those mittens!

      January 22nd  




      My favourite mittens
      Brrr, winter has arrived and I'm glad for it.  The days are crisp and cold and mostly the sky is that clear blue colour, hurrah.  But it does mean all of a sudden the fires are on constant, the heating is cranked up and when we venture outside we need to wrap up warm.  For me that means mittens and not gloves.  I feel they are much warmer when all the fingers are encapsulated in one area and not separated as gloves are.  In our home we have several mittens, many plain but a few patterned and these are my favourites.  Mittens are obviously easier to knit than gloves too, huge bonus.

      I have never actually crocheted a full set of mittens but have made many a pair of fingerless mittens and wrist warmers, best give that a go...   The pattern that I have searched for and think looks simple enough to make is this one, as said I've not made it, but it's on my to do list... Crochet mitten pattern

      I have however made crocheted fingerless mittens as mentioned and in case you wanted to make some, here is the pattern I used.  In fact I loved it so much, I made 3 one after the other... Puff stitch fingerless mittens

      Unfortunately I cannot share with you the pattern for my absolute favourite knitted mitten pattern as it is a bought pattern from Rauma.no and it's in Norwegian, but thought I would show you my favourite pair... those in the close up with the Norwegian flag!
       
      Just some of the mittens in our home...
      To make the other traditional Norwegian knitted patterns this is a great pattern, free and in English... Norwegian knitted patterns Again this is not the pattern I followed but I've looked it over and it is very similar, hope you enjoy!

      BUT and hold on to your hats, the very talented Christine over at Winwick mum fame, has designed her own mittens with a twist.  In fact they are so genius that I am definitely going to be making a pair this year.  Her tutorials are brilliant, did you follow her sock making tutorial, so clear and easy to follow and understand and I have no doubt this will be just the same.  Why are her mittens so great?  She has split them in two so you can just whip the tops off to take photos, go foraging, answer the phone and a million other things without getting your hands too cold, just take a look...

      Christine's genius split mitten design!
      This is Christine's photo from her blog post

      Fancy giving them a try, here is her free pattern... Split mittens pattern


      If the four above patterns do not take your fancy or time is short, isn't it always?!?!  Then I did make an uber quick pair of wrist warmers last year for my sister, you could make these in a couple of hours... Quick make wrist warmers and if you scroll further down on the post you will find my daughter's wonderful flapjack recipe too, bonus!

      Sharing 5 patterns with you today to keep you warm if you are in the northern hemisphere,
      those in the south, this post was here to attempt to cool you off a tad
      from the heat you are experiencing you lucky lot!
       
      Joining in as always on a Friday with Amy  for my 5 on Friday,
      pop over and see what everyone else is sharing...



        Keep warm out there  
       
      I love reading your comments and having a 'conversation' with you. 
      I will always reply, even if it takes a day or two, come and have a chat with me...

      46 comments:

      1. Such lovely and warm mittens - they do look Norwegian! :) - and beautiful patterns.
        Here we have enjoyed the real winter for some time already and hope that the expected milder weather from the south-west arrives soon. (The temperature now is -34 Celsius, about -29 Fahrenheit.)
        Thank you for the beautiful post and enjoy your weekend!

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        1. -34 now that is cold. But I assume like Norway it is a dry cold so although cold it doesn't get into the bones like a British damp cold? Hope whatever the answer is it warms up for you x

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      2. These mittens are so pretty. It is very cold here today as well.
        Amalia
        xo

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        1. Need to our lots of thin layers on. It's warming up again here now but I actually feel colder. Could be because it's raining AGAIN!

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      3. Thank you for all those lovely patterns. I am trying to make some mittens at the moment but I think they may fit a Giants hands so I will be looking at your patterns soon. Keep warm. Barbara X

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        1. Giant mittens, now there's a thing! Shall look forward to you blogging about them!

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      4. They all look wonderful and it's just what we need at the moment. x

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        1. We really do don't we Karen. But I'm even colder now the frost has gone. This damp rain really gets into my bones. Yuck

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      5. I loved all the mittens that you shared with us today. Although I can knit I am a little slow so prefer to crochet. I will check out the patterns you suggest. Take care.

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        1. Let me know if you make any of the crochet mittens. The puff stitch ones although they don't cover the fingers are a lovely pattern

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      6. Those patterned mittens are amazing, I really should add those to my list for days when I know that I can keep my hands inside my mittens! Thank you for sharing, and thank you very much for including me in your post! xx

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        1. It's a pleasure Christine. Your pattern as I say is genius

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      7. I love those mitten with the Norwegian flag. I usually use gloves, but I think I shall dig out my mittens for a change. Christine's mittens look ingenious and versatile too.

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        1. Gloves are easier to do things in I agree but my hands are just never as warm. And right now I need warm Linda. X

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      8. Gorgeous mittens Selma. I'm feeling warmer just looking at them. Such beautiful patterns. I lost one of mine whilst sledging on Sunday so I may join in with Winwick mum and make some. X

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        1. Jules, thanks for sending me the photo of sledging the other day. Sorry to have not responds. It made me happy for you but mighty jealous on my behalf. Love love love sledging. Perfect timing to loose a kitten. Go make one of Christine's new mittens. If you make them before me let me know how it goes. Her tutorials are brilliant.

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      9. You surely need mittens right now! The look so pretty and warm.

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      10. I'd like to try to crochet some mittens sometime. I too have made wristwarmes and fingerless mitten but never the real thing.

        Thanks for stopping by :)

        Colletta

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        1. Give the crochet mittens a try. They look so warm Colletta x

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      11. It has been a long time since I knit a pair of mittens! I might just have a look at these patterns.
        Liz

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        1. I don't think you will be dissapointed Liz. It's such a great feeling of achievement making mittens

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      12. Love all the mittens. Haven't worn any for ages as I seem to use gloves at the moment but they do look lovely and warm. It was cold here earlier in the week so gloves or mittens were definitely needed:)

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        1. Until a few years ago Rosie I always felt mittens were items for children only but actually now I wouldn't be without a pair. They may not look as elegant but they sure do keep me warm x

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      13. I, too, think that mittens keep hands much warmer than gloves. These mitten patterns you've shown are great, especially the one with the Norwegian flag.

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      14. You mittens are fab, they look really warm too. Have a lovely weekend x

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      15. I love these mitten you knitted! My friends at my Norwegian lodge would go crazy for a pair of them. Thank you for sharing the pattern, too. Have a great weekend and keep warm and dry. Hugs, Pat

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      16. Yes mittens are a must when it gets cold I never think that fingerless mittens are warm enough I like my fingers warm, that's a great selection you have shown us, I saw the split mittens Christine made I think that they are a great idea and have them on my to do list. have a great warm weekend. :)

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        1. I agree totally Linda and think Christine's are genius. Let me know when you make them x

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      17. It sure is cold out there, I have just come back from my dog walk and forgot to take them with me! I have a pair of those split mittens bought from the fabulous 'Primani'!! I find them a bit fiddly when dealing with dog bags!! :) Thank you for your comment on my blog, sorry I couldn't reply direct as you are showing as being a no reply blogger. I just needed to let you know that Spalding have changed their tactics with the tulip parade and it is now just static in Springfields Outlet Shopping Centre. Hopefully a new committee will reinstate the way it used to be. Have a wonderful weekend, and keep warm xx

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        1. Thank you for letting me know about the no reply blogger. Every so often it seems to creep back. I've changed my settings again, so hopefully ok now. What a shame about the tulips...😩

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      18. What a wonderful selection of mittens!!! I love the ones you made with the Norwegian flags on! I saw Christines Split Mittens, they are a great idea aren't they. Thank you for joining Five On Friday, happy weekend! xx

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      19. Those Norwegian mittens look so cosy, I hope you enjoy wearing them. Hx

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      20. Those Norwegian mittens are beautiful. Maybe if I start now, I might have a pair of mittens made for our winter, it's only 5 months away. have a great weekend.

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        1. Tracy enjoy your warmth whilst you can. Don't worry about making mittens yet xxx

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      21. Those are great!!! I tried knitting a pair of baby mittens once. It took me several tries to get two of the same size and I haven't tried since! I am always envious of other people's knitting talents.

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        1. I think for me it takes practice but a lot of luck too Andrea. I also keep needing to remind myself that they are hand made and so cannot be perfect. Otherwise if I wanted exact replicas I could buy shop bought...

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      22. I don't know if I'm game enough to try knitting mittens, but yours certainly look good. I can knit but haven't done anything significant for about 40 years.

        Diana

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        1. Thank you for the comment Diana. Maybe start knitting Christine's socks first before mittens. Her instructions and tutorials are very clear and easy to follow.

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      23. Fab mittens, Selma! If all the kids in the reception class that I work in wore mittens instead if gloves it would take half the time to get ready at home time :-) xx

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        1. Gosh that's so very true isn't it Alison. Maybe a little note sent home suggesting mittens are warmer for little hands might do the trick?!?

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      I will always read all comments and will try to reply but it may take me a couple of days, do please pop back and lets get a conversation going...