Late last year I was asked to make a special pair of mittens. A mom had just purchased a headband for her daughter who has cerebral palsy. The young lady’s hands are clenched into fists due to the disease. This makes the thumbs on mittens stick out oddly and makes gloves out of the question. So we chatted for a short time and came up with a way to make mittens that would fit these special hands.
Once my old wash machine was installed just for the purpose of felting, I was ready to give our idea a try.
Felting in action
Using my sock yarn of 95% alpaca / 5% nylon and following my usual mitten pattern, I knit an extra long cuff. I skipped the shaping for a thumb, and knit fewer rows for the hand. Overall, the length of the mitten is about the same as my regular mittens. After sewing the seam, I gave the mittens a big swish in the wash machine to felt them slightly. Once dry, they’ll be ready for delivery!
Mittens complete
The felting will make them warmer. I think there is still enough of this winter left that these mittens will get plenty use. I sure hope so.
I enjoyed the challenge of adapting a familiar pattern for a special purpose.
The Hollyhock Blog 