Friday, 4 November 2011

Toasty toasty: the making of a granny fashionista

The most wonderful thing about all this Making Winter is that has made my mind run along all the things that I do actually like about the chilly season, and I have come to the conclusion that really winter is a granny fashionista's dream time.


In fact, winter is the home season for granny fashion style. Just think of it, the opportunity to don a lovely warm vest every day (and I do like a nice cosy vest as I mentioned before), every day is a cardi day (and of course I have the granny cardi at the ready) and Slack Alice that I am, I welcome the relief of wearing thick woolly tights and boots  - no need to worry about painted toenails or furry legs (in fact, furry legs might be warmer).

Toasty, toasty

And then comes my absolute favourite - woolly granny mitts to keep those fingers toasty, and I have just rustled up some from the delectably named and most comfortingly soft Skein Queen yarn - Duchess in Devonshire, with a couple of chichi stripes in Dove.


Perhaps the effect is more Dowager Duchess than Duchess of Cambridge, but I seem to have reached that stage in my life where I am moving more towards being an Alice in Wonderland duchess than a glamorously well-groomed, high-heeled one (I would only fall off the heels, I suspect, no, I know I would).


Filling the credibility gap
My first pair of Toasty granny mitts are still going strong - their short length makes them well suited for office wear (so you can see what a stylish office I work in), but to combat the howling gales and snowstorms that I anticipate this year, I have fashioned a rather longer pair to fill in the credibility gap that appears around the wrist area in those of us with gorilla arms, and also long enough for my fingers to retreat right inside if the air is really nippy.

Proof against nippiness

I did once knit some granny mitts with separate fingers, but I found that the effect was rather like those toe separators for painting your toenails (actually I am just imagining this, for I am not well-groomed enough to have such things), so I have gone back to my favourite Toasty pattern from Leslie at A Friend to Knit With.

A very simple knitting pattern

So if you would like to knit yourself some toasty granny mitts, you will find my handy hint tutorial here, and the details of my modifications to the original pattern on Ravelry here.

Are you planning on a granny winter? And what is your favourite granny wear? Do show and tell!


And I wish you a good weekend full of cosy granny happiness.

24 comments:

VintageVicki said...

Very snuggly looking :)

I think my winter is always a Granny one - lots of layers (including a vest), cardigans and a woolly beret too :)

BTW Physio was english - just tall, dark and quite handsome ;)

A bird in the hand said...

All this granny cosiness (and steaming hot chocolate) are about the only things I enjoy about winter.

Floss said...

Son 1 and I have the disappointing anti-granny affliction of not being able to stand wool next to the skin. Son 1 won't even tolerate acrylic yarn. A bit annoying that... he's Mr T-shirt and Fleece.

Amanda said...

Yes, wonderful to wrap up and love the fingerless mitts. I wonder where mine are from last year?....

Lovely blog btw.

Annie said...

Nothing beats a bit of knitted Granny chic ;D

Actually you've reminded me I was going to give these a go, but I shall pull out my trusty 30cm circulars I think, I find them easier on the fingers than double pointeds.

greenrabbitdesigns said...

I love fingerless mittens, great for getting the change out of your purse without having to take them off and loose them in the process!
Favourite winter clothing though has to be boots, I LOVE boots. :)
Happy weekend,
Vivienne x

Carol said...

Lovely, nothing like granny cosiness. Today I've swapped round my summer and winter clothes, realising how few of the summer ones actually got worn.
I like winter but not ones as bad as the last one.
Carol xx

**Anne** said...

I'm loving those gorgeous hand warmers, extra long and with that lovely stripe added. Bit hot for winter woolies here today. Expected temperature, 30C. Bliss.
Anne xx

Gina said...

I'm laughing so much at the woolly tights and boots... and if you could see the state of my toenails and legs you would know why. I definitely prefer winter dressing.

Indigo Blue said...

There mus be something wrong with me! I have been wearing a vest (albeit a thin one) nearly all year round! I would like to make a black granny square jumper. Not started it yet as I have not been able to get the wool, but I have been planning it since Easter.

driftwood said...

mmmm warm and toasty, how I lvoe cosy x I am seriously thinking petticoats.

Katy Cameron said...

ROFL, love your granny chic :oD

Mrs. Micawber said...

I am currently designing my first pair of wrist-warmers - they rather resemble a set of ruffly cuffs. Is that granny-ish?

I am ashamed to say that my favourite at-home winter garb is built around fleece pajama pants and involves many layers of clothing both above and below the waist, so that I look like nothing so much as a fleece-wrapped Michelin Tire Man. But our heating bill remains very low (as does the temperature inside the house)and that is my justification for such frumpiness.

Tights and knee socks are also a great boon for the chilly-ankled (of whom I am one).

Unknown said...

OOOh I love your gloves, I will definately be having a granny winter, yesterday I bought a most fitting granny cardigan from the charity shop I've changed the buttons , which straight away has made it Granny chic instead of Granny frump!! not sure my children will agree.....have a lovely weekend xx

Jenny said...

I am a very young granny in the making... especially with all the crochet going on in my house!! Being cosy is my favourite thing about the winter, so loving your fingerless mitts! I can't knit but do have something similar which will be making an appearance shortly once the weather gets a little colder! In fact I do sometimes wear them when doing my computer work too if I'm really chilly - for some reason the hand on the mouse always gets really cold! Happy weekend to you xxx

ted and bunny said...

I have a delightfully soft pair of granny mitts, made for me by a friend to wear TO BED! (she only stayed with us for one night, and I fear that having been used to a centrally heated home she was a tad shocked that the inside of the window had frozen-up overnight!)

Yes, winter in a GREAT granny time, although with a new balaclava to road test I wonder if I'm aiming for more of a Refugee-Chic look this year!

alemão said...

a acho o frio bonito mas é muita roupa pra esquentar.... aqui no brasil o na minha ciadade o frio e so uns 8 graus Cº mas ja da pra beber chocolate quente....

Frances said...

I also like layering up as chilly air does its own layering into our lives.

Leslie's Toasty pattern is fun to knit, isn't it? (I admit to having made a pair of the mitts with half fingers from a Susan Duckworth pattern...great way to use up little bits of leftover yarns.

It's so beautiful today in NYC, it's difficult to believe that we had that freak snow storm last week.

xo

Crafty Green Poet said...

those granny mitts look wonderfully warm and cosy...

harmony and rosie said...

Oh these are lovely, I would love to have the courage to attempt. I started a jumper back in April and put it down for a short time .. ahem, but have yet to pick it up again. I can't really start another project until that's done .. can I?

x

Jak said...

Love the granny mits, with long arms and fingers, I'm definitely giving these a go.

My essential winter wear is those cheap Ugg lookalike boots (£10 from Shoefayre) which I wear as slippers with long hand-knitted socks (yes, I finally learnt how to knit socks) which keep me nice and toasty. Also I don't look quite so eccentric in ASDA when I forget to change them, haha!
Jak x

Helen Philipps said...

These are such cosy, soft and pretty granny gloves! I am a bit behind on commenting here, but I have so enjoyed reading about your 'painting over the orange' plans too...how gorgeous it will all look when changed to Pointing or any of those subtle shades of white! I also love your amusing little captions to your photos, they really make me smile!
Helen x

Lola Nova said...

Just this Halloween I broke out the very lovely and also much loved fingerless toasties you made for me. Everytime I wear them I feel warm and fashionable. I also get loads of compliments on them!
My favorite winter wear is a cardi, striped long socks, and my purple and black striped warmers that you made!

cathleen said...

Those are gorgeous, Pomoma, I especially love the color. Everything I do, say, wear, or make is considered 'granny' in my neck of the woods. :)

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