Choosing your thumb and knitting a gusset (Week 3 of Knittin' Mittens)

By now, you have finished the cuffs of your mittens. Now you can either knit a gusseted thumb or an afterthought thumb. Both have advantages, it's really up to you. But if you knit a gusseted thumb, you start your increases shortly after you finish the cuff, so that's why you need to decide now.

If you decide to knit a gusseted thumb, these videos will help you to place your increases and make a gusset.

If you are knitting an afterthought thumb, you just knit a few stitches with a piece of scrap yarn where you want your thumb opening to be. We will discuss afterthought thumbs more next week. In the meantime, knit 2-3 inches plain (the measurement from your wrist to where your thumb starts).

Enjoy your knitting!

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by cherylbwaters on October 26, 2011 at 5:22pm

Kasey, are you planning to work them flat or working them in the round? Working a gusset is easier in the round. In fact, I've never seen a gusset worked flat. That doesn't mean it hasn't been done and can't be done, I've just never seen it done. You could easily make a space for an afterthought thumb if you knit flat and then seam the sides without leaving a hole for the thumb. And then work the afterthought thumb.

I would like to suggest you start this same discussion in the Ask the Fair Godknitters KAL. The reason being this is a group of knitters with all experience levels who aim to help those with all kinds of problems. I think more more active members would see your request there than here.

Leaving your discussion here is no problem, I just want more people to see it.

Permalink Reply by Kasey Frazier on October 26, 2011 at 6:56pm