The cable in these fingerless mitts reminds me of politics:
sometimes candidates swing to the left or right to appeal to
their constituents, sometimes they swing to the center…
Okay, actually, lofty platitudes about politics were not the
inspiration for these mitts. My real inspiration came from
a pun and a wild hare. I’d been reading about the
sheep breed Romney, and I got it into my head that I wanted to
spin some Romney and knit some mitts, thus creating “Mitts
Romney.” The fact that I didn’t care for the
candidate Mitt Romney did not deter me from my goal, and as I
spun the yarn and planned and knit the mitts, I kept chuckling
to myself about my little joke.
The fiber was beautiful, hearty, natural pin drafted roving. I
spun it long-draw to get the most loft
from it that I could, and I ended up
with snuggly but lightweight armwarmers that I can’t wait
to wear to keep away the fall chill.
Brown
Sheep Nature Spun Sport [100% wool; 184 yd/169
m per 50g skein]; color: Ash; 2 skeins
Recommended needle size [always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed
below -- every knitter's gauge is unique] US
#4/3.5 mm needles for working
in the round: DPNs, 1 long
circular or 2 short circulars
Tools waste
yarn yarn
needle 7
stitch markers (2 each of 3
different styles or colors
plus one for the start of round) cable
needle
GAUGE
24 sts/32 rounds = 4 inches
in stockinette stitch
30 sts/32 rounds = 4 inches in cable pattern
PATTERN NOTES [Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]
LLinc: Insert
the left needle tip from back to front into
the stitch two stitches below the first stitch
on the right needle. Knit this stitch
through the back loop.
RLinc: Insert
the right needle tip from front
to back into the stitch below
the next stitch on the left needle,
and knit into it, being careful
not to slip the next stitch off
the left needle.
Lifted increase informaiton can be found
here and
here.
Charts
The charts for this pattern are very large and
fit on a letter-sized page.
Click here and
print the resulting page.
C6R: Slip next 3 sts to cable
needle and hold at back of work; k3, then k3
from cable needle. C6L: Slip next 3 sts to cable
needle and hold at front of work; k3, then k3
from cable needle. T3R: Slip next st to cable
needle and hold at back of work; k3, then
p1 from cable needle. T3L: Slip next 3
sts to cable needle and hold at front
of work; p1, then k3 from cable needle.
DIRECTIONS
Cuff
Cast on 48 stitches using your favorite stretchy
cast-on (I used the Twisted German cast-on),
distribute across needles as you prefer and join
to work in the round. Place marker if required
for start of round.
Ribbing round: [K2, p2] around.
Work Ribbing round until the cuff
measures 2.5 inches from cast on edge.
Left mitt, pattern setup round: K2,
place marker for start of cable pattern, work
row 1 of Left Hand Chart, place marker for
end of cable pattern, k11, place marker for
start of ribbing, (p1, k1) 4 times, p1, place
marker for end of ribbing, k9.
Right mitt, pattern setup round:
K3, place marker for start of cable pattern,
work row 1 of Right Hand Chart, place marker
for end of cable pattern, k11, place marker
for start of ribbing, (p1, k1) 4 times, p1,
place marker for end of ribbing, k8.
This sets up cable patterns on back of hand
and ribbing for palm.
Work in pattern as set until 32 rows of chart
are complete; continue until row 15 of a second
repeat is complete.
Thumb marker setup, Left mitt: Work
in pattern as set to end of ribbing, k4, place
2 markers, work to end of round as set. Thumb marker setup, Right mitt: Work
in pattern as set to end of cable
pattern, k7, place 2 markers, work
to end of round as set.
Gusset round 1: Work in pattern as
set to first of two thumb markers, sl m, LLinc,
RLinc, slip marker, work to end of round as
set.
Gusset round 2: Work
even in pattern as set.
Gusset round 3: Work
in pattern as set to first
of two thumb markers, sl m,
LLinc, k to second thumb marker,
RLinc, slip marker, work to
end of round as set.
Gusset round 4: Work
even in pattern as set.
Repeat Gussets rounds 3 & 4 5
more times. 14 sts between markers, chart row
30 complete.
Divide thumb sts: Work in pattern
as set to first thumb marker, remove thumb
marker, slip 14 thumb sts to waste yarn, CO
2 sts using backwards loop method, placing
a marker between the 2 sts, remove second thumb
marker, work to end of round as set.
Next round: Work in pattern as set
to 2 st before center of thumb marker, SSK,
remove marker, k2tog, work to end of round
as set.
Work 8 more rounds in pattern as set. Chart
row 8 complete.
Ribbing round: [K2, p2] around.
Work 5 more rounds as set. Bind off loosely
in pattern.
Thumb
Return the 14 held stitches back on the needles. With
RS facing, rejoin yarn, and pick up and knit
2 stitches over the CO sts, distribute sts
as you prefer, and join to knit in the round.
16 sts. Ribbing round: [P2,
k2] around.
Work 5 more rounds as set. Bind off loosely
in pattern.
FINISHING
Weave in ends, using yarn tails to close any holes in the thumb. Block.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Jen Gall divides her time between parenting 2 sweet boys, knitting,
and saving the world (by working for non-profit organizations). A
long time ago, a friend told her she belonged in Berkeley, California,
and she has been there ever since.
