by Jen Gall

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.

SIZE
IZE
One size fits hands with circumference measurements from 7 inches to 9 inches. Ribbing makes this pattern very stretchy.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Hand Circumference: 6.5 inches
Length from cast-on to bind-off: 12 inches

MATERIALS
Fiber:
Pattern version [shown above]
Tawanda Farms Romney wool [pin-drafted roving]; natural grey; 3 ounces.

Finished Yarn:
Wraps per inch: 14
Ply: 2
Yardage used: 200

	Spinning Tool: Schacht Ladybug; scotch tension Lazy Kate: Schacht arched lazy kate

Drafting Method:
Long-draw

Commercial Yarn Alternative

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

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.

Twisted German Cast-on:  See this video by Lucy Neatby for a good tutorial.
Backwards loop Cast-on: See this page for information.

For shorter mitts, work only chart rows 1-16  

DIRECTIONS

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.

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.

 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. 

You'll find more of her designs on Ravelry.