2022 Field-to-Fingers Challenge Submissions
Heartland Threads challenged members to create mittens, gloves, fingerless mitts, oven mitts, or other hand items from materials sourced within our local fibershed.
Fingerless Mitts




Submitted by: Alissa Kuehl
Project Description: I used the Mrs. Weasley mitts pattern by Natalie Miller. It includes cabling, slipping stitches, making a gusset, twisted rib, knitting in the round, and you end up with a sweet pair of cozy mitts.
Project Materials: I purchased a fleece from Patti at Rainbow Fleece Farm in New Glarus, Wisconsin. I had been on the hunt for a CVM fleece in June and she had one I fell hard for which is from Queenie; a gorgeous CVM/Finn cross.
Personal Statement: I’m Alissa (aka Foxy) and spinning is my passion. Being able to accept fiber from an animal and clean, prep and spin it into a gorgeous yarn is such a fantastic feeling, and gives me the most connection to my projects. I enjoy reaching out and connecting with local shepherds/fiber producers when I am able, meet them, meet their animals and learn from them. Fantastic experiences everywhere, and I’m over the moon that I can do this. I can make this. And that’s pretty neat!
Oven Mitt


Submitted by: Lena Woodis
Project Description: I used the Purl Soho Felted Thanksgiving Oven Mitt pattern. I knitted the oven mitt from yarn I spun from Tunis fiber produced by Bluffwood Landing farm. The yarn was ice-dyed using Greener Shades metal-free acid dyes with help from my 7 year old daughter. She then helped me turn the dyed hanks into cakes ready for knitting. After I finished knitting the mitt, she did a lot of the hand-agitation in a sink full of hot soapy water to felt the piece.
Project Materials:
- Fiber: Tunis raised by Lindadee Derrickson at Bluffwood Landing
- Yarn: I handspun from the Tunis roving.
- Dye: Greener Shades metal-free acid dyes
Personal Statement: I am a wife, mother, maker, scientist, and aspiring hobby farmer/homesteader. By day, I am a full-time product manager for the spectroscopy business at Thermo Fisher Scientific and in my free-time, our family works together on our budding homestead. I am either in the kitchen baking/cooking, out in the garden, tending to our new flock of chickens, or in the craft room with my daughter working on our latest project.
Mittens


Submitted by: Emily Bollhoefer
Project Description: Using roving I spun and then knitted a simple pair of naturally brown/grey mittens. I made up the pattern as I went and spun it as a 2ply short draw yarn on my Schacht cherry ladybug. I knitted them a bit long so they can be unfolded to cover the fingers or folded back when working.
Project Materials: I used Rambouillet Comb Top from Leaf Livestock Wool Company out of Geneseo, Illinois. I spun it with a Schacht ladybug and knitted it using the magic loop method on size 3 needles bought at my LYS.
Personal Statement: I’ve been spinning approximately 10 years and started knitting only 3 years ago during the beginning of the pandemic to get rid of some of the yarn I was making. I enjoy visiting small farms in my area and seeing the lovely sheep, as well as learning about different farming practices.
Fingerless Mitts

Submitted by: LindaDee Derrickson
Project Description: I’m a skilled spinner, NOT a skilled knitter. I mostly knit homespun from my sheep’s wool. But for this Challenge, I used a variety natural fiber yarns purchased at thrift stores—a marvelous way to scoop up bargain yarn. The first mitt was knitted long ago and the 2nd is progressing. Pattern is made up as I go, including a gusseted thumb and purposely different color pattern. I’ve vowed to finish it by end of 2022.
Leafy Fingerless Gloves


Submitted by: Mavin Giss
Project Description: I knitted these fingerless gloves using the free Leafy Fingerless Gloves pattern on Ravelry.
Project Materials: I picked up this 70% Alpaca, 30% Merino worsted blended yarn from GalPaca Farm in Mount Horeb, WI from Orange Kitten Yarn in Monroe, WI.