Jumperless Sleeves! Or… Socks for arms?
Sometimes, I just want to go simple. Knit something utterly basic and practical. And sometimes, the stars align with the perfect yarn for the job.
Since it’s no longer taboo to talk about (peri)menopause without some kind of sucking of teeth and euphemism – “She’s going through **THE CHANGE**” – allow me to explain.
Wool. I LOVE wool. I can’t wear synthetic fibres without becoming a swamp beast and, right now (SOB) midlife’s curveball means that even my beloved natural fibres are proving a little much. So, it’s t-shirts / cotton shirts / things that allow a LOT of air to circulate. And layers, of course. Layers. Cardigans are your friend! But it wouldn’t be life if there wasn’t a “But it’s now autumn and heading to winter, so your extremities are going to freeze whilst your torso could cook an egg from 100yds”, would it?
Here is my answer – ARM SOCKS! Or sleeves without their jumper. The simplest concept, with minimal shaping and a little thumb construction. As long as you like. Personally, I like them really long so I can extend them beyond my elbow, or ruffle them around my forearm. But this is an entirely adaptable pattern, so you can have them as long or a short as your heart desires.
These ones are in West Yorkshire Spinners Fleece in the most gorgeous deep pink. I have heard many rumours circulating about WYS and any floofy DK or worsted would do. It’d be a gorgeous job, for example, for Malabrigo worsted, too. Or a sock yarn held with some mohair – ooh! That would be divinely fluffy, actually.
A perfect project for a relative beginner wanting to practise knitting in the round using the magic loop method, and learn a little gusset shaping, or indeed for an experienced knitter who wants something they don’t have to concentrate on in front of a film of an evening. And pretty much anyone in between 🙂
Features:
– raw curled edges
– simple shaping using needle sizes and K2tog
– finger to elbow construction
– simple thumb gusset
– your choice of length, from shorties to sleevies!
– JSSBO (Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off): This pattern uses Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off for a highly elastic edge. Original technique created by Jeny Staiman.
And you can check out my designs on Ravelry if that’s more your bag!