Swatched this with Harry’s Attic Alpaca, too fuzzy.

10/27 Cast on 56 stitches in 2/2 rib with tubular cast on (waste yarn method) using Magic Loop and size 2 (3 mm) needles). Switched to size 2.75 mm needles for corrugated ribbing after six rows.

The Bugga! is slightly heavier weight than the Quaere, on purpose. I wanted the “glass” to recede a bit from the “fretwork” black.

10/28 After 10 rows of stained glass mullions I increased five stitches on the front in the first of two rows of plain black on the front to make up the 31 pattern repeat stitches, and moved two stitches to the back side, so there are 31 stitches on the front and 30 on the back. This makes the wrist snugger than the hand. I will start the thumb gussets after about 2.5 inches or so. Haven’t quite worked that out yet. Can’t wait to wear these!

10/29 Started the thumb gussets at 3” and increased in rib pattern one stitch on each side of the first “mullion” every other row.

10/31 I am loving knitting these -- quite a challenge though! I increased the thumb gussets to 20 stitches and then knit one more round before putting those stitches on waste yarn. After finishing the chart, I decreased the 31 stitches on the front back down to 26 stitches, same as the wrist section. Speeding toward the finish line! I can’t wait! Debating whether to knit my initials somewhere subtle like interior of thumbs? Maybe just embroider them….

11/1 -- After knitting fourteen rows of ribbing above the end of the pattern repeat (two rows of black) I did six rows of ribbing and then attempted a 2x2 tubular cast off in the round. I didn’t like it (or, more likely, didn’t do it right) so I will try again tonight, then cast off the other, and then finish the thumbs.

11/1 -- M’kay … trying this thing again using this cast off technique to convert the 2x2 to 1x1 before casting off with kitchener….

11/2 -- completed! 55 grams total, with 83 grams of the Bugga left that means I used 30 grams of Bugga and 25 grams of the Quaere yarn) (78 grams left). Wow, I could make at least two more pairs of these! I do plan to make a second pair, with the thumb opening starting one rib repeat further away from the front, and possibly another row of black on either side of the pattern repeat, and maybe less ribbing on top (I put the same six rows top and bottom, but due to the extra double knitting on top to do tubular cast off it looks longer.

I completed the thumbs as follows after rejoining the yarn -- starting with 20 stitches in rib. I picked up and knit one pattern repeat of ribbing, or four stitches, in the gap where the thumb joins the body, ie two colored purl stitches and two black knit stitches. Total 24 thumb stitches. I knit around for eight rows, then cut the color, then one row of black knitting (rather than in pattern because when you purl the new color over the old color the join is ugly) and then three more rows of ribbing after the joining row, all in black, and then did a sewn cast off.

The next time I do these I would dispense with the tubular cast off. PITA and not worth it for a small item like this. Sewn cast off a la EZ is stretchy enough. In these mitts I reduced back down to the original size of 56 stitches after the pattern chart was completed; I might leave it at 60 stitches instead (i.e., reduce from 61 to 60, not to 56; must be multiples of 4 due to the ribbing pattern). I would do the thumb the same but start it further from the chart part because it would help keep the motif centered to be a little further away from the thumb. And I might use size 2.5 mm needles. Even 2.75 produced a very firm fabric but with the floats and the fact that it is a glove fit and I didn’t want it sloppy, I wanted negative ease and with stranding you don’t want the background color to show too much.

I am very happy with these. If I have the wind to make a second pair, then these may be gifted to a lucky friend/relative. But for now they are mine, all mine!