FAQ
$450? >
Yes! These are handknit and take 20-25 hours for the pair. Handknits, outside of small items with fat yarn (i.e. they take less time), are rarely sold publicly, because the realistic and fair cost of them is so much higher than people are used to paying for commercial knits. Handknits are luxury items. The way around the cost is to learn to knit yourself, at which point, you will understand and appreciate everything that goes into making something like these, and therefore the high price.
For a better understanding, minimum wage in my area is $15.45 and I value my time and effort more than minimum wage. That said, note too that this cost is barely higher than that. If I continue to offer these, the cost will likely increase, as I mean this to be something I feel good about spending my time with vs. a fairly poorly paying part time job.
Can I knit these myself? >
Absolutely! You can find the pattern by searching Ravelry for Outfoxed Mitts by Erica Heusser.
What kind of yarn is it? >
This yarn is superwash merino and silk.
Superwash merino is controversial. It’s more readily washable than regular wool, but it’s also chemically treated and/or coated, depending on the company making it, in order for that to be the case.
I agree that regular wool would be preferred and that that’s more in line with my ideals, but due to the challenges of sourcing just the right color, size, etc. of yarn, this is what I’m using for these mitts for now.
Also note re: superwash—if you, like me, have any merino garments or accessories that you can throw in the washing machine, you are already wearing superwash merino. And again, while ideally I’d rather use all natural fibers, I’ve never noticed a negative impact from the merino I have and that I have used for years, so while unideal, it might be a reasonable compromise in this imperfect world.
How accurate is the photo for color? >
Pretty accurate on my screen, but since screen settings can vary, yours might be different. The white is a slightly off-white and the orange is a brickish/foxy red-orange. They’re probably in an Autumn color season, but they’re away from the face and they’re so cute, I think they’d look good on anyone.
Shipping? >
Domestic US shipping is free, with tracking and insurance.
I’m happy to ship internationally, but reach out with your address to inquire about it first. I’ll check feasibility and shipping cost and if you are happy to pay it, we can proceed. When shipping internationally, you are responsible for customs or other costs that may be incurred. It’s also your responsibility to investigate/inform yourself about those.
I will ship within a week of receiving the order. I’m not sure yet how quickly things will arrive after I ship. I will update this when I have a clearer grasp of that. Please inquire first if you’re concerned about that.
Expedited shipping may be possible, but it will no longer be free. Please inquire about that too, if interested.
Refunds/exchanges? >
Unfortunately, no—this is too small of an endeavor to offer either. I want everyone receiving mitts to receive something entirely new and not tried on by others or kept in others’ living spaces outside of my supervision. Too many people I know are sensitive to cats, smoke, mold, etc. Of course, this is not a judgment on anyone, I just can’t realistically be in a position to manage that like a large company with lots of stock can.
I’m intentionally giving a lot of information in this FAQ and encouraging people to ask questions before ordering so that no one has reason to be surprised or disappointed.
In the off chance that you just don’t like them or they don’t fit, then you have a wonderful gift for someone you love.
That said, if you have any problems with them at any point after purchase, you’re welcome to reach out to me. They are a knit accessory and can’t be expected to last forever or longer than other similar items, so this is not any kind of warranty or guarantee, but some things are fixable and I will try to help you, if I can. There will likely be a cost for repairs—it will depend on the situation.
Will these fit me, my child, etc.? >
This pattern is designed as “one size fits all” for women. Of course, women are of different sizes. For assessing that, I recommend considering whether or not O/S women’s gloves or mittens typically fit you easily. If they don’t, these might not work for you.
Also note: this type of knitting is less stretchy than some other types. They’re a little stretchy, but not loose and floppy. If your hands are on the larger size, as described above re: how women’s gloves fit you, and/or if you don’t like a snug fit, these might not work for you.
Can you make these in a different size? >
MAYBE. Reach out and we can discuss. They would probably be a significantly higher cost as I’ll have to do some experimenting and/or redesigning and final results could be risky not having the recipient around in person to try them on during that process.
How do I wash these? >
Carefully! Even though they’re superwash, handknits can still snag on things and otherwise get roughed up in a washer. You can try it (and remember there are no refunds), but these are best washed by hand in cool water, with the wool detergent of your choice (I use Outback Gold Wool Wash). Do not soak them, as the colors may bleed. Lay flat to dry.
Sometimes superwash wool expands hugely when wet. I’ve both seen it happen and not happen with these mitts and I’m not sure why one happens over the other. If that happens to yours: no worries! Put them in a garment bag and put them in the dryer on low to medium heat. It’s a little annoying to have to do, but check on them every 5-10 minutes or so, taking them out of the bag and tugging a little bit as needed to reshape them, before putting them back in. The more the shape is off when you look at and reshape them, the less heat you should use and the more frequently you need to check them. As they dry, they will shrink back to size. If you feel like you messed it up, it will most likely work to get them wet again and start over, proceeding more carefully. You can reach out if you need support with this.
Are these sturdy? >
Pretty sturdy, yes, as in they are/feel substantial and they’re warm. Note that they’re partly white and don’t have any kind of stain proof coating. I wouldn’t wear these camping or to do yard work or whatever wearing them, unless you don’t mind snags and stains, which may be a challenge to get out.
I haven’t seen it happen yet, but they might stretch out some with use, especially if they get wet while being worn. It’s best to avoid getting them soaked when wearing them, but if they do and they stretch out, as described in the washing section above: you can do a little process of carefully drying them in a garment bag in a clothing dryer at low-medium heat for 5-10 minutes at a time, taking them out and pulling on bits as needed to help reshape them until back to normal size and dry. You can reach out to me if you need to do this and I will try to help you. This is a touchy process and I can’t do a refund based on messing up the mitts in this process or otherwise. It’s better to just take care of your mitts and be a little careful with them, as the luxury item that they are.
It says sold out? How does the waitlist work? >
My intent is to make a pair of these periodically and post them for sale when they’re done. If that pair has sold, then the ordering page will say sold out. The waitlist is non-binding, either for you or for me. The price may change with future items. By signing up to the wait list, you’re just expressing your interest in being notified when another pair is available and you can decide at that time if you want to purchase.
I haven’t yet decided if I’m going to offer new pairs to folks in order on the list (could end up being unwieldy) or if I’m just going to notify everyone on the list at once and whoever orders first gets them, so that could go either way. Let me know if you have a strong opinion on that.
Also note that a waitlist may place some increased pressure (in a good way) on me to make another pair, so there may be some additional advantage to putting your name on it.