A workers mitten, free pattern.

These mittens have an open top to fold down when you need your fingers and fold up when you need the warmth.  I am providing the pattern here for free and I hope you will make one pair for yourself and one pair to share.  There is plenty of winter left here and we all need to stay warm and be functional too.

I used Red Heart worsted weight and double points size 7.  I tend to knit with some tension so you may want to use a 6 depending on how loosely you knit.  These are what I would consider a ladies xl or a mans small size.

Cast on 32 stitches and join to make a circle, knit 12 rows of 2 by 2 ribbing (knit 2 pearl 2).
In the next row, increase into the first knit stitch of each set of 4 stitches that make up the ribbing while changing to all knit stitches.
This will create 40 stitches on your needles.
Knit 15 more rows.
In the 16th knit row increase as follows, k, k+, k, k+,k, k+ thereby increasing by 3 stitches (k+ means to increase by one.  I knit in the front and the back of the stitch).  This is where the thumb is.
Knit 3 more rows.
Knit 9 stitches onto a holder and continue to the end of the row, turn.
Pearl to the holder and cast on 6 stitches at the end of the row, turn.
Knit until you get back to the beginning  and join once again into a circle and knit 8 more rows.
Start the 2 by 2 rib once again for 20 rows (or longer if you wish) and cast off loosely.
Go back to the thumb area and attach your yarn at the end of the holder and pick up 9 more stitches evenly around the thumb hole.  divide them so you have 6 on each dp needle.
Knit 2 rows, in third and fifth rows decrease one stitch on each needle so you now have 12 stitches.  Knit 8 more rows and cast off loosely.  Weave in loose ends and you are done. There is no left or right hand as I knit them both identical, they conform to your hand when you put them on.

Why am I not....

surprised.  Once again my "family" has screwed me over and twice on Sunday.  Never trust anyone after a cult gets a hold of their brain.  Shit IS fucked up and bullshit!  There is a atmosphere in this country that has infected the majority of people/sheeple to believe that it is more important to take care of "number 1" before you do anything else.  What happened to "love thy neighbor"?  What happened to "family first"? You wonder why I am depressed?  Watch this video or this one, or this one, or even this one.  There are a lot more out there too.  The story of Monsanto will make you lose your lunch.  Just when we should be holding on to each other and helping our fellow human beings and this planet, that is precisely when we lose our shit and fuck it up even more. I HAVE HAD IT up to HERE!!

Does this look like Disneyland to you??  Well this is what we are facing in this country.  Would you please just WAKE THE FUCK UP!!  WAKE UP!

It just might be time to occupy the farm.

My Robin Hood...

...will not "rob" from the rich.  My Robin Hood would make sure we are not robbed either.  I don't require a huge redistribution of wealth.  I know that a lot of Occupy Wall Street folk are focused on the extensive gap between the wealthiest and poorest in this nation.  I am constantly seeing statistics about "they" have this and "we" have not.  I'm not against statistics but when all you do is publish them, without a corresponding solution, then they fall flat.

  All I want is, what would be considered by (IMO) the majority of people, what is fair.  Right now the minimum wage is not fair.  The average income for the "middle class" is lower now than in 1968.  Too many people can't "get by"* without a second job.  After working for over 40 years and paying into the SSI system, I should not have to worry about it not being there.

My Robin Hood would make infrastructure and the ensuing jobs a top priority.  My Robin Hood would mandate a "living wage" for our essential people like teachers, nurses and other service people that take care of us and our children.  My Robin Hood would focus on sustainable industries like wind and solar power.  My Robin Hood would have a heart and end the wars and safe guard our food.

I don't think I am asking for anything out of this world or unreasonable.  I don't think most of the people I know are either.  "We" don't want handouts, we want a helping hand to get back up on our feet.

I want a Robin Hood to vote for.    Could that be the Green Party?  I can only hope that my Robin Hood  is out there somewhere.

*get by is being able to pay for an affordable home, car and food without a struggle, being able to put a little away for a rainy day and not living from paycheck to paycheck.  This does not include luxury items, just being comfortable and having "enough".

How much is too much?

Or maybe I should say how much is enough?

I have done research. I have been on the front lines. I have talked to people. I do not go blindly into anything (except maybe love).

How can you doubt my good intentions especially when I have our children and grandchildren as a motivation for changing what is wrong with this country.

So I guess what I am asking is if I should just give up and save myself the aggravation of hitting my head against the brick wall that is your blindness. There are facts that are indisputable. Just because it hasn't happened to you yet doesn't mean it can't.

People are being kicked out of their homes. People have lost their jobs and pensions and life savings. People who have worked hard all their lives now work hard just to stay alive.

Maybe you could put some effort into basic fact checking before you go on the attack next time.

That is my perspective