10 Minute Fingerless Mitts

Despite these beauties, my smugness is gone.

I used to get all superior when either my dad, brother or husband said, “This is an easy (computer) problem to fix.  It’ll take just a few minutes”.  I’d roll my eyes and continue about my business, knowing in my heart they’d still be scratching their heads for at least another couple of hours.

I found an easy tutorial for these super cute mitts online, bought my fleece and jumped right in thinking it would be a quick, instant gratification project.

What would likely take the average beginner just a bit of time took me a smidge longer, and here’s why:

• Make pattern, no problem.
• Cut fabric, no problem.
• Get excited because everything is on a roll.
• I may have (cough) even taken a few moments to show off here.
• Start stitching, realize zigzag is not quite right.
• After about 3rd time of stitching, finally realize the basic zigzag was just fine and I really shouldn’t have been scrolling through the fancy schmancy options on my machine.
• Check the finished mitt and realize it won’t fit anyone in my family.
• Say a few curse words.
• Get up and walk away.
• Double check the directions and realize should have used 1/4 inch seams instead of 1/2 inch.
• “Think” on it for a couple of days.
• Rip it all out in the presence of others so I stay civilized about it.
• Finish it up, again.
• Check the newly finished mitt and realize it fits the one person in the family who has the most narrow hands.
• Sew up second narrow mitt so said family member can at least have a pair.  (Bless his heart, he’s worn them nearly every day for about a week now.  Love that boy!!!)
• Screw up courage a few days later and make 3rd mitt (with some minor adjustments for size).
• Realize I needed to only increase the fabric in most but not all areas.  Whaaaat?!  I have a custom hand?!  Sheesh!
• Stew for another couple of days.
• Rip back the area that now needs decreasing.  (This step is becoming disturbingly easy now.)
• Re-stitch.
• Check sizing.
• Score!!!
• Make second mitt.
• Admire its super cuteness… 7 days later.

So, these same mitts my daughter wants me to make for her in sunny yellow really should take about 10 minutes now, right?  Right?!  (Give or take a couple of days?)