Parent Playtime Post: Knit Your Own Swift & Simple Wrist Warmers for the Whole Family

 Oh the woes of gloves and mittens and keeping the family's hands warm all winter while also keeping your fingers functional. First there are the morning mitten wars. Both boys want the orange mittens. There's only one pair. Ok, so each one gets one orange mitten and one blue one with an orange stripe. One kid can put his gloves on independently, the other needs help. Now that his fingers are all snug as a bug in a rug, S can't buckle his seatbelt independently anymore! Has Y lost yet another glove or is he just striving to look a bit more like Michael Jackson? And my hands are freezing on the steering wheel--I really need something I can drive to preschool drop-off in...

Enter my DIY Swift & Simple Wrist Warmers for the Whole Family! I knit up my first pair for S (see children's version*) last winter. He insisted on wearing only one because he wanted a wrist brace like one of his favorite teachers who had injured herself in a skating accident. She, a fellow knitter, also appreciated a gifted set of knitting needles, skein of self-striping yarn and a copy of my adult sized pattern for her birthday gift from S a few months later!

I wanted a pair, too, so I whipped up my own--perfect for driving to preschool on those cold winter mornings! And this year, we have lots of hands and lots of opinions on fashion. It was easy enough to knit up a few extra pairs of wrist warmers for the boys using partial skeins of yarn I had leftover from other projects. Another benefit to these is that they are great for very little ones first learning to put on mittens and gloves. Since either end will fit their hand and wrist, they can't really go wrong. A thumb hole in the side seam allows them to poke through their thumb, an important skill preceding being able to put on mittens and eventually gloves, but without the challenge of also fitting it in a tiny, enclosed compartment. Lastly is the benefit of having warmer hands but access to your fingers for buckling carseats, picking up sticks and stones, for driving, jotting down notes on the go or texting and typing. You'll still need another warmer and more waterproof option for extended outdoor winter play, but these are just right for a trip to the car or a playtime on the playground at school. If you'd like to knit up a pair (or two or half a dozen...) for yourself and/or the kids, here's what you'll need to know:

Swift & Simple Wrist Warmers for the Grownups

You will need:

• 1 skein soft, worsted weight medium (4) yarn
• US 8/5mm size straight needles
• yarn needle

Gauge: 18 stitches = 4” in St st

Directions:

Leaving a 12” beginning tail for sewing seam, cast on 31 sts.

Lower Ribbing Row 1 (Right Side): P1, *k1, p1; repeat from * to end of row.

Row 2: K1, *p1, k1; repeat from * to end of row.

Row 3: Repeat Row 1. 

Body: Work in St st (knit on Right Side, purl on Wrong Side) until piece measure 7½” from beginning.

Bind off loosely. Cut yarn, leaving a 12” tail for sewing seam.

FINISHING: With beginning tail, sew side edges together for 3”, beginning at lower edge. With ending tail, sew side edges together for 2”, beginning at top edge. Leave 2” between the two seams open for thumb. Weave in ends. Repeat for second wrist warmer. Note: Top edge will roll to outside.

ABBREVIATIONS: k = knit; p = purl; st(s) = stitch(es); St st = Stockinette stitch

Swift and Simple Wrist Warmers for the Littles
This pattern is provided in two size options. The smaller size is suitable for toddlers/preschoolers and early school aged children. The larger option in parenthesis is geared toward older, school aged children.
You will need:

• 1 skein soft, worsted weight medium (4) yarn
• US 8/5mm size straight needles
• yarn needle

Gauge: 18 stitches = 4” in St st

Leaving a 12" beginning tail for sewing up the seam, cast on 16 stitches (20 stitches).

Bottom of Wrist Warmer: Rows 1-4: Knit 2, Purl 2, repeat across row. Work first 4 rows in this ribbing pattern. 

Row 5: Knit across

Row 6: Purl across

Body: You will continue to repeat rows 5 and 6 to work in stockinette stitch for a total of 10 rows (12 rows for the larger size).

Top of Wrist Warmer: 

Knit 2, Purl 2, repeat across row for 2 more rows. Bind off, leaving a 12" tail for sewing up the seam.

Finishing: With beginning tail, sew side edges together for about 1/3 of the way up, beginning at lower edge. With ending tail, sew side edges together about 1/3 of the way down, beginning at top edge. Leave the remaining third in the center between the two seams open for thumb. Weave in and trim ends.

NOTE on yarn and washing: These can be handwashed or machine washed on a gentle cycle. Make sure, however, if you happen to use 100% wool that you do not machine wash on hot, as this will felt and shrink your wrist warmers! I recommend a washable acrylic/natural blend that will be soft against the skin and withstand your laundry machine, especially for the littles!

Happy Playing!