Submitted by danfirst t3_z8cpve in BuyItForLife
Looking for some (near) BIFL quality convertible wool mittens where you can pull the flap back to fingerless gloves. Budget is pretty open, I don't expect they'd be insanely expensive though. I get super cold hands and feet and tend to pull my fingers together inside my gloves anyway so I thought these might be a good solution.
I got a great pair at a convenience store about 20 years ago... still going strong for less than $10. I have found similar wool gloves with fleece lined mittens toppers at Walmart in the hunting/camping/outdoor section. Always for men- so they may be a little big for women.
Of course, 20 years ago quality was just better, so not sure how long a modern pair would last. ☹
No joke. Yes it’s a deadhead hippie type store, but they’re hand knit and check ALL the boxes. I have some.
Me three haha, bookmarked to see what folks say ;)
I even bought a pair of pretty expensive alpaca convertible mittens, but the weave is too loose and you can feel the breeze right through 'em on a cold, balmy day.
Quite frankly I'd look for a maker on Etsy or your local knitting/quilting club. I just don't see you finding genuine wool mittens commercially.
Too funny I had mentioned it to a friend after posting this and she said "I just left a knitting class, I can probably make some for you" !
That's so frustrating when you think you stepped up to pay more for something nicer and it's even worse.
Oh it even says a fleecy inside, that's exciting! ha
We that's half solved. Now you'll need to find some really high quality yarn. You might have to take a trip to Ireland and procure some.;p
I mean, it seems like the most responsible thing to do. I can make sure it's sourced um, well, or however one picks proper yarn.
I’ve got a grayish set of these from a Nepali/Tibetan shop.
Aside from wanting to sew the top of the pinky finger shut, as that’s the only air leak I notice, they are excellent.
Also, they aren’t deep freeze warm, because of the mitten cap and air.
Just a note, they are fleece and not wool.
I bought a pair of Roots mittens at the beginning of last winter, they are still almost as good as new this year. I am super picky about gloves but I love these. They work great as a casual wear mitt.
Link: https://www.roots.com/ca/en/adult-cabin-waffle-flip-mitt-54093195.html
Not sure where you're located but I suggest you check and see if your town has a local yarn shop! You could go with your knitter friend and pick something out with them. I knit and anecdotally I can say the smaller local places I've visited (both in my hometown and out) seemed to more consistently have the really nice stuff, and are more likely to have knowledgeable employees happy to help match a yarn to a pattern.
(The big box stores in my area like joanns and michaels seem to carry mostly acrylic and acrylic wool blends, I've never seen 100% wool there.)
Yep. Definitely not trekking in subzero kind of mittens, but convenient, warm, commuting or dog-walking mittens for your average northeast winter? Absolutely.
Thanks, we definitely do have a local shop that people rave about, I know nothing of such things other than friends say it's awesome so that's good enough for me.
Hahaha I may have just realized that I've been using that word incorrectly my whole life...as a synonym for blustery
If you ever start to feel bad about it, just remember the girl who thought the common expression for a kid having a growth spurt was “grower not a shower” and used that to describe her brother, for years, anytime someone mentioned how tall he was getting.
It’ll be a balmy day in hell before she lives that down.
DogearWryde t1_iyb7fkd wrote
Me too! I’m looking for a pair for work. Many years ago I purchased a pair made from alpaca wool and deerskin leather (palms) that were wonderful quality, but I ended up losing one. I think they were made by Auclair. I haven’t seen them since.