Fingerless Mitts on my Knitting Machine

So I decided to make some fingerless mitts on my knitting machine for myself, daughter, and craft show fodder.

I found this pattern on ravelry:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/machine-knit-wristwarmers

I liked the pattern, it was very easy to follow and worked up quickly.  The only thing that gives me difficulty (no fault of the pattern) is the sew-as-you-go method when making the thumb.  For some reason I just cannot seem to do that very well.  I think I just can't see well enough and I am missing stitches.  

On my 3rd pair I decided to try the thumb a different way and I REALLY like it!  Here is what I did.

1. Take your finished (main part) of the mitt and fold right sides together.  Pin starting from 1 1/2" above the cuff ribbing and continue to pin together all the way down the cuff.

2.  Now here is the part that will make a lot of machine knitters cringe......sew from your first pin all the way down the cuff with your sewing machine.  Yep, that's right, your sewing machine.  Take as small of a seam as you can.  I can usually get about an 1/8" seam.  Make sure that you back stitch a couple of times at the beginning and the end of the seam.  Your mitt will now look like this:

3.  Now go back to your knitting machine, pull 17 sts on both sides of zero (total of 34).  Set machine to tension 5.
Take your now-seamed mitt, with wrong side of seam facing you, start hanging the mitt on the needles.  Hang sts evenly from the center outward, 17 on each side.
This picture shows the first stitch on either side of zero hung.

This shows all the stitches, 17 on each side of zero, hung on the machine, then push the mitt back past the latches against the bed.

4.  COR Using your main color, knit across.
5.  COL Set your machine to "Hold" and pull the Right needles 3-17 out in non-working position, knit across.
6.  COR Wrap R3, pull the Left needles 3-17 out into non-working position, knit across.
7.  COL Wrap L3, put R3 back into working position, knit across.
8.  COR Wrap R4, put L3 back into working position, knit across.
9.  COL Wrap L4, put R4 back into working position, knit across.
10.COR Wrap R5, put L4 back into working position, knit across.

Keep progressing in this manner until you have 4 sts left on either side and COL.

Wrap 2 sts this time, and put 2 sts on the other side back in work, knit across.
Repeat above until all sts are in work.  Knit one row.

Rib for 5 rows at tension 3. 
Bind off.

I then pin the remaining seam for top of mitt and thumb and again I sew this on my sewing machine.  For me this worked out great and thumb is a very nice fit!