Making Gloves: Won't Be Doing That Again...

Remember how, when I made my first pair of socks, I seriously didn't like the process, but I kept on? Somehow I knew that it was a worthy undertaking, that I had benefited from the process, and would continue to do so.

Not so with gloves, my friends. Gloves, they're a huge pain in the ass - one instance, in which I suggest, machines can do it better.

Actually, I think gloves should be kid skin lined with cashmere shells (machine knit cashmere shells as light as gossamer). Or at very least Gore-Tex.

What's the use of wool gloves? They're not as warm as the other options. They're not as cute. The finger crotches (whatever we call these things) are hideously deformed - not my fault people. I tried everything. Hand needles don't get into that spot elegantly.

Somehow, though I did the exact same thing on the second glove as on the first, they look totally different. (To me, probably not to the average viewer...) And - regrettably - the second glove looks worse than the first. Which I didn't think was possible.

But I will say (and I hope Andrea or Sara might weigh in on this because they're the only ones who saw the horror that was the pre-blocked first glove), blocking was a lifesaver in this instance. And I don't think steam blocking would have done it. This blocking was freakin' surgery.

The finished product is entirely adequate, if not worth the effort:

I used Koigu Premium Merino, colour 144

You know how impossible it is to show texture and colour on blue-black fabric. And this yarn is actually blue/black variegated with little plumes of white. It's quite pretty, and textured like the actual glove pattern, but it really doesn't photograph well.

About the yarn: I used half of what the pattern suggested I would need, and I made a highly modified (aka bespoke to the hand) version of the medium. I've got just enough left over to make a pair of socks. I like this yarn, it feels nice, it's very sturdy. It's an interesting colourway - in a manly sense (and lots of colours are not so manly). I might use it again but I do think it's on the pricey side. And, while I go pricey when I love a yarn. If I'm merely satisfied by the hand, I tend to search out other options. Mind you, we'll see how it wears. Note: It stained my hands blue as I worked. And then a ton of indigo came out in the blocking. I would definitely suggest that you need to wash these by hand once to remove excess dye. And def. machine wash with like colours.

I'm glad I gave this a go. I learned things - though not how to use DPNs nor how to make finger crotches look good. I have a finished product that will act as a perfectly adequate Xmas present. But I didn't enjoy the process (this could have as much to do with where I'm at right now, aka flat out, as with the pattern). Most likely, I'd improve with practice - as I have done with socks. But I don't really care.

So you see, some mountains I have no need to climb.

Today's questions: What's the garment you've made once but never feel the need to reproduce again? Do you like glove-making? If so, why?!?! And, while we're at it, do you like this outcome - the colour, the pattern, the fit? Let's talk!