Wrist Warmers

I'm not what you would call a Clothes Person, and very very rarely consider buying new clothes. Most of what I plod about in these days is second hand/thrifted/old. I get soo narked at how much Nice Clothes cost and generally feel that my modest disposable income can be put to better use. And I am just not particularly bothered by what I look like I guess, never have been.

However, that's not to say I don't like to look at other pretty people wearing Nice Clothes, because I do really enjoy browsing Nice Clothing catalogues. In particular, I'm talking about the beautifully styled and photographed booklets provided by the likes of Boden, Toast and Joules. The latest Autumn/Winter clothing catalogues that've been plopping through my letter box this past month have provided me with a great deal of inspiration, and (I confess) something of The Wanties.

One of the things which immediately caught my eye and made me drool with desire are these Wrist Warmers.....these images are all from the Joules catalogue and OH I do love-love-love-LoVE these little knitted-stripy-wristy-mitteny garments!!!

Yes!!!

Me WANtiE!!!

Yes!!! 

Oh!!!!

Yes-YES!!!!

Me WANtiE some of those!!!!!

These Joules Wrist Warmers are charmingly called "Chocatoodles" and when I found that out it made me want them even more than before.

I think they are maaaarvelous.

But they cost £15.

And besides, I had this idea that I could perhaps have a weeny little go at making my own.

Crocheted of course.

So with my stash of beautifully soft Baby Cashmerino in-the-bag, last weekend I gave the idea a whirl.

And do you know what??

They turned out just great!

Yes!!! 

Oh!!!!

Me LIKE-iE!!!!!

They were very, very simple to make. I chose to crochet in htr (half treble) stitch, working two rows of each colour. SImple rectangles, thats all, folded in half and stitched down the length.

Easy-peasy.

The hole for the thumb is created when you stitch up the side seam, as all you do is leave  a gap. Couldn't be easier. I then chose to edge the thumb-hole with a row of single crochet.

Oh, and I added a very neat little scallopy border to the top and bottom edges too, just to give them a certain Finish.

 

I'm now about to begin production in smaller sizes to warm the wrists of the Little People who astonishingly adored these particular creations and are begging for me to make them some of their own (eh-hem, I do have to contemplate buying black yarn to make red-and-black striped ones for Little man, Dennis-The-Menace style. But I think I can cope with that just this once).

So I feel extra proud of these wrist warmers as they have the LP Seal Of Approval.

And thats worth a lot.

xxxxxxx

Edited to add :: awwwww thanks SO MUCH for all your lovely comments :o)!!!!

A couple things if you are planning on giving this a go for yourself....

As a rough guide...I used a 3.5mm hook (the Baby Cashmerino is somewhere between DK weight and 4ply), and made a foundation chain of 35 stitches to start. Don't make your own starting chain too loose for your own arm/wrist (I thought mine was a bit on the tight side at first, but as I worked the rows, it loosened up nicely :: nothing worse than baggy-saggy mitts!!)

I've also written out my edging pattern for you...I've called it Bobble-shell edging, and you can find it in my sidebar listed as a page, or click here. Hope this is helpful.

xxxxxxxxxx

Comments

[Ruth]

OMG! I just love these. Think I'll be making myself some too! x

[Nina - Tabiboo]

'Oooohhhhh' they do look good! And the name is fab,

Have a lovely weekend,

Nina xxxx

[PinkCat]

Wow - they're great. I so wish I could crochet! :0(

[Haley J.]

Argh! Me wantie, TOO! But I haven't any nice soft wool, so I guess that's an excuse to go buy some. And then I will have to use it for another project, too. hee!

[Potiron]

Oh and they're great!!!! they do seem easy peasy!!!

And that coat of yours... I still dream of it!!!!!!!!

Take care of yourself and the little one!!!

biz

Potiron
www.potiron.us
and http://potironblogs.over-blog.com

[Ruth]

You have such talent! I'd seen them in the Joules magazine as well and had an attack of the Wanties, as you so charmingly put it. At this rate, I may even have to learn to crochet myself!

[Edwina]

They are so so pretty - love the colours! Well done :)

[Martha]

Oh my gosh! Those are gorgeous!! You continue to amaze me!
Darn, I wish I could crochet!!
Thanks so much for sharing...I LOVE them!
♥

[Karin]

Things can be that simple!
And brilliant!

[staci]

Oh, I wantie now too :) Love how yours turned out. Must dig through my yarn now...

[Jacqueline]

I had been thinking about knitting myself some fingerless gloves, but these are so nice, I might have to give it a go. Thanks for the inspiration.

[wendy]

oh they are lovely. I have I knitted but they are just one colour. I must make some stripey ones.

[Giselle]

I'm been whipping up wrist warmers for my co-workers' for Christmas! Poor dears work in an ice box. But yours I like even more. In fact, I LOVE! I've gotta get me some too. Thank again, Lucy, for the great inspiration.

[Jackie]

Lucy ~ they are fantastic!Well Done! I somehow had a feeling that the little stripy sneaky peak that you showed us yesterday was finger mittens after you had mentioned them a couple of weeks ago. They are lovely and go very nicely with your Boden coat too. I made a start on a little ripple scarf yesterday so can see myself making mittens next. I hope you have a very lovely weekend :O)

[Hen]

That's so funny, I have been hankering after exactly the same things, not just because I think they look cool but I thought they'd be great for my arthritic wrists. I too decided they might be fun to make and just within my skill capacity! I'm just packing my knitting (crochet) bag for our holiday this week and I think it might just have to be my project. Love yours, they look brill.
Hen xxx
P.S. We're staying in Pickering, my geography is horrendous but I do know it's Yorkshire so I shall look out for a stripey wristy warmer wearing lady, it might be you!

[Jessica]

Lovely!! I was so inspired by your October-calendar-turning photo that I crochet myself some wrist warmers. I loved them so much I put them up in my Etsy shop (I'm even putting my shoe on in the picture). Yours are wonderful- I love the stripes!!

[Siobhan]

I do love wrist-warmers. I think they look really good (they don't keep your hands so warm but you can keep them on while doing stuff which is great); am loving the srippyness and colours of yours. I knitted some to match a scarf I made early spring-time. They were both cotton and where the scarf is fine the wrist-warmers went baggy and bobbley. I did love them though, it was my patten (v simple but who cares?) and I was so proud. Then I set them on fire and singed them along with a chunk of my hair because I wore them indoors admiring them and forgot the cooker was on. Never-mind. I still wore them after that though, but I think now they are squashed in a bag somewhere. I need me some Autumn ones now. Fingery ones for winter are I think beyond me to make.

I honestly prefer yours to the Joules ones - the length is better and I like the crochet patten better than the knitted rib. Prefer the chunkier texture too from your wool. Not to mention the colour blends and the edging around the thumbs and tops. Just everything really! Little people versions of yours or similar will be so cute.

I've got no money either and I buy from charity shops too. I find so much lovely stuff and although I don't think it's always very cheap I like giving things a home and I really really like what I get. There never used to be so much nice stuff! I've always bought books but now I find it really exciting looking at everything - in fact I got a new jumper today and want to make a very thin crochet scarf to wear with it. I have my favourite shops and they are like little treasure troves.

[Caroline]

Oh my god Lucy these are gorgeous!!!!! And now I know how to finish off my not nearly so impressive knitted wrist warmers. You are pure genius! You might even see Mr T sporting a pair on Monday! Cx

[Denise]

I never thought there was anybody out there like me who thought clothes were too expensive and everything else too (being a Scot and watching my money). I now buy everything I possibly can on Ebay.I read your blog every day as I did when I was recently in Florida on holiday- (and yes I bought clothes there and Debbie Bliss yarn at 1/2 the UK price)- Denise

[Kimbles]

OOh Lucy the wristwarmers are brilliant - wear some shop bought ones when I am at the computer - but I am going to make some like yours this weekend - great idea and they look FAB. You must write a book one day! PS I like to call my second-hand stuff "pre-loved" sound cute dont you think x

[Casey]

they look so great!I've wanted wrist warmers for so long! you just made is sound unbelievably simple, I'm going to attempt a pair later tonight. Thanks for the inspiration :)

[treaclezoo]

So colourful & cheerful, and superbly executed too. I likie very muchie - good work Lucy! And well done you for not giving into the WANTies ;o)

[Helen]

Hi Lucy,
I am so excited because I have been looking for a pattern for wrist warmers for quite a while. I love yours!! Thank you so much!!
Have a great weekend,
Helen

[Wendy Wager]

Oh wow, Lucy - I've been churning out knitted wrist-warmers for my Oxfam shop and when I just saw how much you wanted some, I was going to offer to make some for you in any colours you liked, but those crocheted ones are fantastic. Clever, creative you! Actually, the imminent postal strike might have made my plan impossible, but seeing your catalogue pictures made me realise how popular mine might be. I made most of them in Sirdar Crofter; not up to Rowan standard, but I'm funding them myself and it is wonderfully soft and produces an impressive Fairisle effect with no effort! have a good weekend x

[Cayt]

Ooh, lovely! I'm planning on making some as c-word presents this year.