Problem thumbs. Help!

How-to Questions
1

Anybody done this fingerless glove pattern? Can’t seem to post the link correctly, not sure why. Do it all the time in my emails. It’s called Fetching and I have done most of it up to a little problem point.
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer06/PATTfetching.html

Pretty sure you’ll have to read the pattern but here’s my glitch:
After working 18 rnds of 4x1 rib with dpn’s it says, Next rnd. using waste yarn, K7sts, slip these back to left needle and K them again w/ working yarn. OK so far-then work 4 more rnds. of 4xl rib as set.(Not familiar with “as set”. Is that like established pattern?) Here’s where I don’t get it. They don’t say to take these sts. off the needle as I would with a st. holder so would I continue knitting around in the 4xl patt and skip those 7 sts or work them too? Cause that section ends over the knuckles and is B O. Then I’ll go back to the thumb sts., remove the waste yarn and put live stitches on 2 dpn’s. 7sts. below and 6sts. above the opening. Only knitted 7 sts. with the waste yarn so where will the other 6 sts. come from? If from the row below waste yarn wouldn’t it be 7 sts. also? These are very nice, simple, cabled hand warmers and these 2 little parts are all that is a puzzlement! Help! Please! Jean

2

As set means to work in the established ribbing pattern - 4x1. Yes you continue working those stitches along with the rest. Using the waste yarn is sort of like a stitch holder and provisional cast on all in one, so there won’t be a thumb hole until you take out the scrap yarn and work those sts. You put 7 on the yarn, but when you knit over it on the next round you’ll have 6 more sts. Just do it and you’ll see how it works out.

3

Many thanks Sue. After many years of knitting and figuring things out for myself it’s so nice to have helpful, knowledgeable people. I’m older than dirt, but decided to set up my first computer 2½ years ago and now with your expert help I can get more daring with my knitting projects I’ll follow your advice. Gotta say it seems counter-intuitive but I understand all the stitches and the 7 thumb ones must be involved in the hand section and going back and releasing the stitches from the holding yarn will open up a separate place for the thumb stitches to be finished and bound off. I think I’ve got it. Wow! I think the knitters of the world who figure these things out could put the architects and engineers of this same world to shame! Think I can do it now. Jean