No Chill Two

Cold temperatures and whistling winds
call for warm accessories.
Muffs are my personal favorite! The word comes from muffula (fur mitten). This muff is made in brioche stitch with three different handspun yarns, knit in the round. I handstitched some tulle into the muff for an additional accent of fluffiness. The separate neckband cord is luceted, run through the muff as needed and tied behind the neck. I did not attach it so the muff can be used without it as well.

These little muffs are lovingly called "Staucherle" (meaning to push up without rolling in the material first, a wave-like effect) or Vorderärmel (front sleeves) in the German Swabian dialect. Pulswärmer (pulse warmer) was another word for a short wristlet. My great-grandmother also used to cut off the top part of worn-out woolen stockings (at the end of the 18th century), which usually was in much better condition as the rest of the handknit woolen stocking. She then crocheted or embroidered a nice edge around at both ends, completing the rounds with a yarn-over knit-together pattern and a kitchner-type bind-off, wove an

I-cord or even a ribbon through the holes and wore these instant Staucherle as elongated muffs or wrist-to-elbow warmers. They were worn either over the sleeves of a dress or under them, often also under a socalled "Kittelschürze", an apron-type cotton dress worn for work. Today's versions have almost always short sleeves or are sleeveless. In French, a muff is called un manchon.
No Chill Series:
One, Two, Three