Tradition with a twist! I love reading about the different traditions
in knitting and the history of our beloved craft. Where better
to find inspiration for a design?
Shetlander is a pair of fingerless
mitts inspired by, you guessed it, traditional Shetland knitting.
The mitts showcase two vertical Shetland color motifs, and feature
two-colored ribbing on the cuff and edges.
In Shetland knitting,
when a motif is knit across the entire
design, as opposed to only parts of the
design such as the hem or cuffs of a
piece, only two colors are used to create the motif.
In
this case there’s a little twist to these mitts: one vertical
motif is worked on one side of the mitt and
another on the other side. As such, the mitts can be worn with
either motif on top, creating a new look depending on which way
you flip them. Knit in a 100% wool, worsted-weight yarn, Shetlander
will keep your hands feeling warm and looking stylish in the
heart of winter.
MATERIALS
Yarn
Cascade
220 [100% Peruvian Highland Wool; 220yd/200m
per 100g skein]; 1 skein each color [MC]
#8401 Silver Grey [CC]
#8904 Prune
Recommended needle size [always use a needle
size that gives you the gauge
listed below -- every knitter's
gauge is unique] 1#
set US #5/3.75mm double-point needles
Notions Split
ring marker or safety pin Stitch markers Waste
yarn Yarn needle
GAUGE
24 sts/27 rows = 4" in chart
pattern
PATTERN NOTES [Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]
When working a m1 increase, be sure
that the strand of yarn that is lifted to make the increase is
the same color as the working yarn.
Charts The charts for this pattern are very large
and fit on a letter-sized page.
Click here and print the resulting
page.
DIRECTIONS
RIGHT MITT
Cuff
Using MC, CO 44[48] sts. Divide sts between
needles and join to work in the round, being careful not to
twist. After several rounds have been worked, place split ring
marker or safety pin in work to indicate beginning of round.
Rounds 1-6: [K2 using CC, p2 using MC] to end of round.
Round 7: Using CC, k1, m1, k22[24], m1,
k to end. 46[50] sts.
Arm Round 1: Beginning and ending as indicated
for your size, work Round 1 of Chart A over first 23[25] sts,
then Round 1 of Chart B over last 23[25] sts. This round establishes
chart patterns for arm.
Rounds 2-34: Work all sts in pattern
as set.
You will have just completed Round 6
of Chart A, and Round 16 of Chart B.
Thumb Gusset Round 1: Work 22[24] sts in pattern,
m1, place marker, k2, place marker, m1, work in pattern to
end. 48[52] sts.
Round 2: Work all sts in pattern.
Round 3: Work in pattern to marker, m1,
slip marker, k2, slip marker, m1, work in pattern to end. 50[54]
sts.
Rounds 4-15: Work as for Rounds
2-3. 62[66] sts when Round 15 is complete.
Round 16: Work all sts in pattern.
Hand Round 1: Work 23[25] sts in pattern,
place next 16 sts on hold on waste yarn, work remaining 23[25]
sts in pattern. You will have just completed Round 9 of Chart
A, and Round 15 of Chart B. Rounds 2-5: Work all sts in pattern.
You will have just completed Round 13 of Chart A, and Round 1
of Chart B. Round 6: Using CC, [k2tog, k21[23]] twice.
44[48] sts. Rounds 7-10: [K2 using MC, p2 using CC]
to end of round.
Using CC, BO all sts in pattern.
Thumb
Place 16 held thumb sts on needles. Attach
CC at point where gusset joins hand; round begins at this point. Round 1: Using CC, k all sts. Rounds 2-5: [K2 using MC, p2 using CC]
to end of round.
Using CC, BO all sts in pattern.
LEFT MITT
Work Cuff and Arm as for Right Mitt.
Thumb Gusset: Round 1: K1, m1, work in pattern to last
st, m1, k1. 48[52] sts. Round 2: Work all sts in pattern. Rounds 3-16: Work as for Rounds
1-2. 62[66] sts when Round
15 is complete.
Hand: Round 1: Work 54[58] sts in pattern,
place next 16 sts (last 8 sts of this round and first 8 sts
of next round) on hold on waste yarn; rejoin work to continue
working in the round.
Complete Hand and Thumb as for Right
Mitt.
FINISHING
Weave in ends and block as desired.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Linda Wilgus lives in Chesapeake, VA, with
her husband, daughter and sock-stealing
golden retriever. Every three years she
moves to a different part of the world,
courtesy of the US Navy. Linda loves designing
seamless knits and enjoys finding inspiration
for her designs in each place she lives.
If she’s not knitting,
she can usually be found reading, writing
or tromping around in the woods with her
family and dog in tow.
