I find myself in this situation regularly, and expect more of it now that it’s time to row outside again (See BACKSPLASH).  I expect swimmers have this issue with dampness, too.  I decided a better gym bag might be part of the solution.  I want one with good air circulation.   The two or three grommet holes in my existing duffel are not even close to effective.  I decided to steal a bag idea, and make a bag out of laminated cotton (waterproof) and pet-proof screen (airflow).  I bought my laminated cotton at Fabric.com and Olive Juice Quilts, and my pet-proof screen at my local Menards.

My first design was based on this tutorial, which I found on the Obsessive Crafting Disorder blog, by way of Pinterest.  While this tutorial is excellent, I wanted a slightly different design, without the flaps on the ends, and with finished seams, so my lycra gym clothes (or swim suits) wouldn’t get caught on the raw edges of the cut screen.  I also thought that pockets inside the bag would be a good way to hold sneakers, etc. up from the bottom, so they would get the airflow.

I spent a good part of our WAQG mini-retreat trying to make internal pockets for a bag made out of this pet-proof screening, and found it frustrating to work with, since the internal pocket layer kept getting caught on the seam allowance of the bag body, and  the screening is pretty heavy and not as flexible as I’d like.  I ended up scrapping my first attempt, and going back to the drawing board.

click picture for larger view

My solution to finishing the seams was to leave the seam allowances on the OUTSIDE of the bag, and to cover the seams with strips of laminated cotton, and to put a second layer of laminated cotton over the bottom on the outside.   I ended up ditching the pocket idea, since the extra layers of screen would probably reduce the airflow anyway.  What this leaves me with is the classic tried and true Boat and Tote bag shape, with a couple small modifications.

The straps are sewed to the bag at the base, and at the top edge of the bag, but they are not sewed to the sides all the way up the mesh, so hopefully this will allow more air to circulate.

I’ve also added some small nylon-covered wire clips on the inside, so I can clip wet clothing up, so it won’t be stuck in a heap on the nonporous part of the bag, and hopefully this will allow the clothes to dry out better.

Now, with luck, I’ll have less damp gym clothes.  Assuming I don’t leave the bag in the trunk of the car.   Baby steps, right?

Here’s what a pair of pogies looks like.

“It looks like a mitten with two wrists,” you say. You’re exactly right.  It’s just that one set is for a pair of hands, and one set is for the oar handles.

“But why can’t you just wear a pair of gloves when you row in the cold? Why would you need special rowing mittens?”

Have any of you tried to adjust the volume on your stereo/iPod while wearing oven mitts?

It’s all about the fine motor control and grip needed to feather and square the oar in your fingers.  Pogies allow you the same grip control  as you have with bare hands, yet keep your fingers from freezing in cold temps, by going over the oar handles.

I knit these from a pattern that Kathy McCormack has posted on the Northwest Rowing Council’s website, which I got to via Ravelry.  Kathy has generously allowed people to use the pattern for free, and to make and sell pogies made from this pattern as a rowing club fundraiser.

I knitted these two pretty quickly, using Cascade 220 Paints worsted weight wool yarn (it’s warm when wet!) with size 6 needles for the ribbing, and size 8 needles for the bodies of the pogies.  It took less than one skein for the two.  I bet you could get one done during an NCAA basketball game, for example, if your knitting skills include using double pointed needles.  And thanks to YouTube, you can find out how to do any of the knitting skills you didn’t know.

And if they fail to keep your fingers warm in the cold rowing seasons, you’ve always got new covers for your five and seven woods.

Air Temperature, 1:15 PM CDT

And then I stuck the probe in the water.  It was only about 2 inches deep, so not a reliable reading really, but at least I didn’t have to wade in.

Water Temp in East Lake, Winona, MN

The water temperature was much warmer than I was expecting, but I’m sure it’s colder where it is deeper.  Perhaps I’ll take the Thermapen with me in the boat?  At least it has a strap I can tie to the hull.

Current view- no rowing yet!

Just in case any of you rowers out there were wondering when I’ll be getting on the water, it won’t be soon.  Here is where I normally row.  Notice the NO WAKE ZONE sign, which is for the whole lake.   Now notice the tire tracks and the ice fishing shacks on the ice.  I took this photo at about 9 AM.

Yes, it’s enough like spring that I have stopped wearing a coat when I run errands, but the ice is still pretty thick if it can still hold a Ford Ranger, which I saw near one of the ice shacks.  It looks like I’ll still be on the ergometer for a few more weeks.