I wanted to design a light weight fingerless mitt that would
be a good transition piece to wear on
those days that aren’t
too cold but have a bit of a chill in the
air. For the traditionalists, this pattern
makes a great full mitten as well. Instructions
are included for both versions.
The pattern design
comes from a Japanese stitch dictionary.
I started designing and working on the
mitts here in Portland, Oregon, and they
were completed just outside of Portland,
Maine, this last September when I attended
a knitting retreat on an island off the
coast of Maine.
model: Sherri
Bradley, Kelsey Bradley photos: Sherri
Bradley, Shellie Anderson
MATERIALS
Yarn
Madelinetosh Tosh Sport [100% superwash merino wool; 270 yds/246
m per skein] Fingerless version: Steam
Age; 1 skein
Full version: Allizarin;
1 skein
Recommended needle size [always use a needle
size that gives you the gauge
listed below -- every knitter's
gauge is unique] US
#3/3.25mm needles for working in the
round
Notions yarn
needle waste
yarn stitch
markers
GAUGE
24 sts/34 rounds = 4 inches
in stockinette stitch
26 sts/34 rounds = 4
inches in pattern stitch, slightly stretched
PATTERN NOTES [Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]
LLI (left lifted increase): Insert tip of
left-hand needle from front to back under left leg of stitch
below the last st knitted, now on the right-hand needle. Lift
this loop onto left-hand needle and knit into the back of the
loop.
RLI: (right lifted increase): Insert tip of
left-hand needle from back to front under right leg of stitch
below the first st on left-hand needle. Lift this loop onto left-hand
needle and knit into the front of the loop.
Charts The chart for this pattern is very large and fits on a letter-sized
page.
Click here and print the resulting
page.
DIRECTIONS
Both versions
CO 43[46] sts. Distribute stitches as you prefer
and join for working in the round, being
careful not to twist.
Right mitt, setup hand: K20[23], place marker for start
of hand pattern, work Pattern chart row 1 over 23 sts to end
of round.
Left mitt, setup hand: Work
Pattern Chart row 1 over first 23 sts
of round, place marker for end of hand
pattern, k20[23] to end of round.
Work as set until round 18 of Pattern chart is complete.
Gusset Right mitt gusset round 1:
K1, place marker for start of thumb
gusset, LLI, RLI, place marker for
end of thumb gusset, work to end of
round in pattern as set. 2 sts increased.
Left mitt gusset round 1:
Work in pattern as set to last st of
round, place marker for start of thumb
gusset, LLI, RLI, place marker for
end of thumb gusset, k1. 2 sts increased.
Both hands continue as follows: Gusset round 2: Work even
in pattern as set, knitting gusset
sts. Gusset round 3: Work to gusset
marker in pattern as set, slip marker,
LLI, k to next gusset marker, RLI,
slip marker, work to end of round in
pattern. 2 sts increased.
Repeat Gusset rounds 2 and 3 7[8] more times. 16[18] sts between
gusset markers, 59[64] sts total.
Divide thumb: Work to gusset marker in pattern
as set, remove marker, slip 16 thumb sts to waste yarn, remove
second gusset marker, work to end of round in pattern. 43[46]
sts.
Fingerless Mitts
Work as set until mitt hits base of ring
finger, approx. 7[7.5] inches from
CO edge, ending with an even-numbered
pattern row.
Ribbing: Work four rounds of ribbing as per
Cuff.
Bind off in pattern.
Thumb:
Return 16[18] held sts from waste yarn to needles. Distribute across needles
as you prefer. With RS facing, rejoin yarn and join for working in the
round.
Knit 5 rounds or to desired length.
Bind off loosely.
Full Mittens
Work as set until mitt reaches tip of
little finger, approx. 9.5[10] inches from CO edge, ending with
an even-numbered pattern row.
Thumb:
Return 16[18] held sts from waste yarn
to needles. Distribute across needles as you prefer. With RS
facing, rejoin yarn and join for working in the round.
Knit 16 rounds, or until thumb is long
enough to cover wearer’s thumb. Decrease round 1: [K2, k2tog] 4 times, k0[2]. 12[14] sts. Decrease round 2: [K2tog, k2] 3 times, k2tog 0[1] times. 9[10]
sts.
Break yarn and pull through rem sts. Pull tight to close.
FINISHING
Weave in all ends. Block.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Shellie Anderson lives in Hillsboro, OR,
with her 14-yea-old Jack Russell Terrier.
She is a bookkeeper by day and loves to
golf. Shellie has been knitting for over
40 years since her grandmother
taught her.
She recently caught
the designing bug and is currently working
on several new designs. You can find out
more about her and her designs on her
blog.
