holes in thumb gussets

[to_love_a_rose]

It seems like every time I knit a pair of mittens or gloves, I end up with a gaping hole in the thumb gusset. Picking up more stitches in surrounding stitches helps, but doesn't solve the problem (maybe I'm not picking up enough?) and sewing it shut looks ugly. Help?

Comments

[james]

This happens to everyone and what most folks do is when you start the thumb by joining your yarn, leave a nice, long tail. Then afterwards you use that tail to weave in around the gaps and close up the holes. There is no secret to avoiding making those gaps in the first place. ;-)

[neotoma]

Where I'm picking up between stitches on a thumb gusset, I've found it useful to twist the pick-up stitch, just like when I pick up between the heel flap and instep while knitting socks.

[ginny_t]

Do you know the increase where you knit into the back of the stitch below the live stitch? I tried that at the corner when picking up thumb stitches on a pair recently. It worked like a dream! I want to knit fingerless mitts forever and ever and ever just to use the awesome pickup that leaves no holes!

(Of course, everyone's different, and results may not be typical. ^_~) Good luck!