Backyard Fingerless Mitts

I discovered Gulf Coast Native sheep as part of the Livestock Conservancy’s Shave ’Em to Save ’Em program, which encourages makers to use fiber from rare-breed sheep. Yarn made from Gulf Coast Native is soft and fluffy and offers an experience you can’t find with yarn from a big- box store. For this project, I chose to work with handspun Gulf Coast Native yarn from Lura Trossello of New Era Cabin Creations. She, in turn, had purchased the roving from Dove’s Roost Farm in north Florida and spun it using her Lendrum spinning wheel.

Materials
Fiber 100% Gulf Coast Native (New Era Cabin Creations), natural cream, 3 oz (85 g).
Yarn 2-ply bulky weight (550 ypp; 9 wpi), 100 yd total. Brown (MC): 2 oz (57 g), 67 yd. Cream (CC): 1 oz (28 g), 33 yd.
Needles Size 6 (4 mm). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.
Other Supplies Tapestry needle.
Gauge 15 sts and 24 rows = 4" (10 cm) in St st.
Finished Size 71/2 (81/2)" (19 [21.6] cm) palm circumference and 61/2 (73/4)" (16.5 [19.7] cm) tall.

About: Erika Zambello is a writer, artist, and communications specialist living in north Florida. She loves writing about all things fiber for PieceWork, Spin Off, Farm & Fiber Knits, Cast On, and more. She publishes nature books with AdventureKEEN and is excited about her children’s book, ABCs of Maine, coming soon from Islandport Press.

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