Worn by both men and women, muffatees (also called mitts, wristies or hand warmers) are a fingerless glove that will keep the hands warm while allowing your fingers the freedom to sew, knit or stir the pot over the fire. Modern folks will appreciate muffatees while working on the computer or sending text messages, as they keep the hand warm while leaving the fingers free to type. Outdoor photographers and musicians also appreciate keeping their hands warm while their fingers are free.

This pattern is from The Workwoman’s Guide, by A Lady, originally printed in 1838. I have rewritten the vintage pattern into terms that a modern knitter will understand.

This kit contains two patterns, and the end result will look the same regardless of which pattern you choose. Pattern A is knit with two needles as a simple rectangle, then sewn up the side. It is an easy pattern for a beginning knitter, or anyone who prefers flat knitting (the original pattern is knit flat and sewn up). Pattern B is knit in the round with four double pointed needles, resulting in a seamless tube.

The pattern is written for medium weight OR fingering weight yarn. Choose one, you do not need both. Medium weight yarn is preferred by beginner knitters, knitters who are knitting muffatees for modern use, and knitters who want a fast project that knits up quickly. Fingering weight yarn is preferred by experienced knitters and historical reenactors with high standards of authenticity (while both weights were used in the 19th century, fingering weight yarn was much more common for smaller projects such as muffatees, especially for ladies wear).

The kit also contains one skein of 50 grams of Suzy the Shepherdess 100% wool yarn, in either fingering or medium weight. The yarn is from historic breeds of sheep raised on my small farm in Northwest Illinois using 19th century farming methods whenever possible. The wool is processed on a mill made early in the 20th century that uses the same milling methods that have been in use since the 1760s. Then the wool is wound by hand into traditional skeins and labeled with a unique label with a picture of the sheep that helped to create the yarn.

I recommend this muffatee as an authentic, well-documented choice for living history interpreters, reenactors and museum staff and volunteers demonstrating at a museum or historic site portraying the 19th or early 20th century - or anyone with cold hands!