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Since the last entry, I set up a new web site, raised and released three monarch butterflies, and in general tried to get the most enjoyment possible out of the last days of summer.
Some people at the September Milwaukee Knitting Meetup asked about my use of a strand of yarn instead of commercial stitch holders for the thumb stitches. The key is to make sure the strand of yarn or string is long enough. Try doubling it if it doesn't seem sturdy enough. The other precaution is to keep your work away from people who pick at threads by habit.
I have resumed working on the red mittens by taking a tapestry needle and weaving (grafting) the 8 stitches on the two needles at the fingers end using Kitchener stitch. This is done exactly like closing the toe of a sock except that it is actually easier as some extra fullness in the hand is not usually a problem. In fact, if you are making mittens for a growing child, you probably want at least a half inch of space free at the tips of the fingers. You want to make the thumb fit fairly closely though.
On the left mitten, I pick up the 17 stitches onto two sock needles, 9 stitches on the side toward the back of the hand and 8 on the palm side.
Then pull out the yarn that was holding the stitches.
I then join on another ball of yarn (leave on a good length to make it easy to sew in the end) and pick up and knit the 7 cast on stitches with two more needles. To avoid having holes at the gusset, I also pick up and knit one stitch from the body of the mitten at each side. (Alternatively, pick up and knit two stitches together - see sock discussion) This results in 8 stitches on one needle and 9 stitches on the other two for a total of 26. If you are working on another number of stitches, put the stitches picked up from the cast on stitches onto one needle and distribute the remaining stitches between two needles. Next I knit around one round. Now I do the same on the right mitten.
Next round I decrease twice, above where the stitches were picked up from the edge. For a nice touch, make one decrease knit two together and one SSK.
This leaves 24 stitches. Next I knit three rounds plain and leave them for tomorrow.