INTRODUCTION

Duvet

by Heather Desserud

When winter arrives, my thoughts turn to counterpanes and window panes, and the delicate and intricate patterns we use to warm ourselves. This design was inspired by icy frost flowers on cold wintry windows, and multicolored patchwork quilts covering cozy beds.

Based on the traditional mitten construction used throughout Scandinavia, these mittens use fingering-weight yarn in densely knit colorwork to keep hands warm against the wind. Using a slightly variegated contrast color adds extra flavor.

model: Heather Desserud
photos: David Thomas

SIZE

Women’s Medium

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Palm Circumference: 7.5 inches/19 cm
Length: 10 inches/25.5cm

MATERIALS

[MC] Madelinetosh Sock [100% Merino; 395 yd/361 m per skein]; color: Ink; 0.5 skeins
[CC] Handmaiden Casbah [80% Merino, 10% Nylon, 10% Cashmere; 355 yd/325 m per 115g skein]; color: Peridot; 0.5 skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #1/2.25mm for small circumference in the round

Notions
waste yarn
yarn needle

GAUGE

42 sts/42 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in stranded stockinette stitch
40 sts/40 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Directions and tips for stranded colorwork (Fair Isle) can be found here.

CHARTS

DIRECTIONS

Using MC, CO 72 stitches. Distribute across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round.

Ribbing round: (K2, p2) around.
Work Ribbing as set for four rounds total.

Join CC.
Next round: Work Cuff Chart 4 times around.
Work as set until all 28 rounds of Cuff Chart are complete.

Left Hand, next round: Work Left Hand Main Chart around.
Right Hand, next round: Work Right Hand Main Chart around.

When you reach the thumb line, slip the 16 stitches as indicated by the chart onto a scrap piece of yarn, and cast on 11 stitches in pattern using backward loop cast-on method.

Work as set until Main Chart is complete. 8 sts rem.

Cut yarn and pull through final sts to secure.

Thumb
Return 16 sts from scrap yarn onto needle. Rejoin yarn, and starting at right edge of cast on sts, pick up and knit 2 sts in the corner, 12 sts over the CO edge, and 2 sts in the other corner. 32 sts.

Distribute across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round.

Thumb round: Work Thumb Chart around.
Work as set until Thumb Chart is complete.

Cut yarn and pull through final sts to secure.

FINISHING

Block and weave in ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Heather Desserud is a communications advisor, writer, bad runner and mitten-maker living in Nova Scotia, Canada. Originally from Ontario, when not designing mittens, you can find her posting selfies with her one-eyed cat, Lucretia.

You'll find her here on Ravelry.

Pattern & images © 2016 Heather Desserud. Contact Heather