The First Finished Project in 2015

I was peacefully knitting and planning the order of my WIPs for maximum effectiveness for completion when my husband rushed in and excitedly announced that he had a project for me. It is rare as hen’s teeth for him to ask me to make him anything wool related so there was no way I could say no. And what was the rush job request? A pair of pogies. Yes, I had no idea what they were either. And why a pair would be required. So a bit of Googling ensued and measuring and general angsting around pattern, colour etc. Here they are.

Pogies are mittens for rowers. It keeps their hand and the oar (!) warm whilst they’re out on the river doing whatever is required for their training. Some rowers (the younger variety) laugh at pogies. However my husband who no longer falls into the young category, prefers warm hands over being “cool”. And he decided that if he was going to be laughed at, he might as well be wearing Club colours. That’s why they are a rather loud hue of red and have a white star on them.

I made the ribbing double sided with a smooth stocking stitch to hug his wrists. So you cast on, rib 2×2 then knit a row of garter stitch. Carry on with stocking stitch for the same length as your ribbing. Fold the stocking stitch inside the ribbing and join.

See the smooth stocking stitch on the inside?

And for extra warmth, I made the pogies double skinned too – so in fact they’re two pairs in one. Once you’ve joined the cuffs, knit the inside layer.

Then go back to the cuff, from the outside, and pick up and knit the same thing all over again.

At the top knit together the inside and outside layer and then graft the two together for a smooth finish.

Since they’re only a small item, it didn’t take long at all. Three afternoons or so. If you’re interested in the pattern, please ask. I’m thinking of selling it to the local rowing clubs – of which there are quite a few round here, so don’t want to just post on the blog.

I wasn’t expecting to have finished my first item in the first week of January! Husband is happy with warm hands and I can now get back to those WIPs that are bothering me.