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.

SIZE
Small [Large] (shown in size Small)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Cuff circumference: 7.5[8.25] inches
Length: 10.5 inches

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

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.

DIRECTIONS

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.

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.

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.

More of her designs can be found on her website.