INTRODUCTION

Tea & Crumpets

by Deborah Simon

I always have a cold nose, cold ears, cold toes, and cold hands, but I need my fingers free to knit and type. Fingerless mitts are a perfect way to do that, as long as they have long cuffs to tuck into my sleeves and long tips to cover as much of my fingers as possible. Because I wear them incessantly, my fingerless mitts often lose their elasticity, so a stitch definition to preserve that is a real plus.

When I saw a twisted rib motif in a stitch dictionary one day, my mind went immediately to a mitt pattern. The three-dimensionality and texture of a twisted rib is striking and so easy to create. Be sure, if you use doublepointed needles, to pull the connection tight over the needle transition. I like to end a needle with a purl stitch and begin the next needle with a twisted knit stitch, but some people like to do the opposite. Experiment and see which works best for you. These mitts have it all, as far as I'm concerned (with the added bonus of not needing a formal blocking!).

photos: Deborah Simon, Stephanie Shiman

SIZE

Adult Women S/M[M/L]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Circumference unstretched: 5[6] inches/ 12.5[15] cm
Length: 10[10] inches/ 25.5[25.5] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
Wonderland Yarn Mary Ann Sock [85% merino wool/15% nylon; 475 yd per 4 oz skein]; color: Preponderance (shown in acid green) OR Outgriegously (shown in grey below); 1 skein (used 56 grams/1.98 oz/235.13 yards for two mitts)

Sweet Fiber Yarns Super Sweet Sock [80% merino wool/20% nylon; 414 yd per 4.06 oz skein]; color: Mountain Mist (shown above); 1 skein (used 74 grams/2.61 oz/304.69 yards for two mitts)

Yarn Characteristics:
The samples shown use a multi-ply fingering weight merino/nylon yarn. The yarn’s strength and elasticity provide clear stitch definition and lasting wear.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 set US #2/2.75mm needles preferred for working small circumferences in the round

Notions
2 stitch markers
yarn needle

GAUGE

48 sts/40 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in pattern stitch

PATTERN NOTES

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

k tbl double wrap:
k1 tbl, p1, k1 tbl; transfer these 3 sts to cable needle and wrap working yarn around them twice, counterclockwise. Transfer the 3 wrapped sts to right needle.

CHARTS

Chart A
Round 1: (K1 tbl, p1) three times, k tbl double wrap, (p1, k1 tbl) three times.
Round 2, and every even round unless otherwise specified: (K1 tbl, p1) seven times, k1 tbl.
Round 3: (K1 tbl, p1) twice, k tbl double wrap, p1, k tbl double wrap, (p1, k1 tbl) twice.
Round 5: (K1 tbl, p1, (k tbl double wrap, p1) three times, k1 tbl.
Round 7: (K tbl double wrap, p1) three times, k tbl double wrap.
Round 9: Rep Round 5.
Round 11: Rep Round 7.
Round 13: K1 tbl, p1, k tbl double wrap, (p1, k1 tbl) twice, p1, k tbl double wrap, p1, k1 tbl.
Round 15: K1 tbl double wrap, (p1, k1 tbl) four times, p1, k tbl double wrap.
Round 17: Rep Round 2.
Round 19: Rep Round 1.
Round 21: Rep Round 3.
Round 23: Rep Round 1.
Round 25: Rep Round 2.
Round 27: Rep Round 15.
Round 29: Rep Round 13.
Round 31: Rep Round 7.
Round 33: Rep Round 5.
Round 35: Rep Round 7.
Round 37: Rep Round 5.
Round 39: Rep Round 3.
Round 41: Rep Round 1.

Chart B
Round 1: K1 tbl, p1, k tbl double wrap, p1, k1 tbl.
Round 2: (K1 tbl, p1) three times, k1 tbl.
Round 3: K tbl double wrap, p1, k tbl double wrap.
Round 4: Rep Round 2.
Round 5: Rep Round 1.
Round 6: Rep Round 2.

Chart C
Round 1: (K tbl double wrap, p1) three times, (k1 tbl, p1) four times, (k tbl double wrap, p1) three times.
Round 2 and all even rounds unless otherwise indicated: (K1 tbl, p1) 16 times
Round 3: K1 tbl, p1, (k tbl double wrap, p1) three times, (p1, k1 tbl) twice, p1, (k tbl double wrap, p1) three times, k1 tbl, p1.
Round 5: (K tbl double wrap, p1) eight times.
Round 7: K1 tbl, p1, (k tbl double wrap, p1) seven times, k1 tbl, p1.
Round 9: Rep Round 5.
Round 11: Rep Round 7.
Round 13: (K1 tbl, p1) twice, (k tbl double wrap, p1) six times, (k1 tbl, p1) twice.
Round 15: (K1 tbl, p1) three times, (k tbl double wrap, p1) five times, (k1 tbl, p1) three times.
Round 17: (K1 tbl, p1) four times, (k tbl double wrap, p1) four times, (k1 tbl, p1) four times.
Round 19: (K1 tbl, p1) five times, (k tbl double wrap, p1) three times (k1 tbl, p1) five times.

Thumb chart – S/M
Round 1: K3, (p1, k1 tbl) ten times, p1, k2. 26 sts.
Round 2: Ssk, (k1 tbl, p1) 11 times, k2 tbl. 25 sts.
Round 3: Ssk, (p1, k1 tbl) ten times, p1, ssk. 23 sts.
Round 4: (K1 tbl, p1) eleven times, k1 tbl.
Round 5: (K1 tbl, p1) ten times, k1 tbl, p2tog. 22 sts.
Rounds 6-10: (K1 tbl, p1) to end of round.

Thumb chart – M/L
Round 1: K5, (p1, k1 tbl) 11 times, p1, k4. 32 sts.
Round 2: Ssk, (k1 tbl, p1) 13 times, p2tog, p2. 30 sts.
Round 3: Ssk, (p1, k1 tbl) 12 times, p1, p2tog, p1. 28 sts
Round 4: P2tog, (k1 tbl, p1) 12 times, p2tog. 26 sts.
Round 5: K2tog, (p1, k1 tbl) 11 times, p2tog. 24 sts.
Rounds 6-10: (K1 tbl, p1) to end of round.

DIRECTIONS

LEFT MITT
Cast on 64[72] sts.

Set up round: *K1 tbl, p1; repeat from * around.
Repeat Set up round 7 more times.

Begin working Chart A:
Next round: *Work Round 1 of Chart A, p1[p1, k1tbl, p1]; repeat from * 4 times.
Continue working in pattern as established through Round 41 of Chart A.

Thumb Gusset
Work in pattern as established for 3 rounds.
Next round: Work in pattern as established for 63[69] sts, pm, m1R, p1[p1, k1 tbl, p1], m1L, pm. 3[5] gusset sts, 66[74] sts total.

Next round: Work in pattern as established to first m, sm, k1 tbl, p1, k1 tbl[(k1 tbl, p1) twice, k1 tbl], sm.

Note: Incorporate new thumb gusset stitches into the k1 tbl, p1 pattern as they are added. After working the increase round below the first time, new stitches added on the previous round will be worked as p1; after the second increase round, new stitches added on the previous round will be worked as k1 tbl – this sets the pattern for the new thumb gusset stitches. On each subsequent increase row, incorporate new stitches in pattern as established.

Increase round: Work in pattern to first m, sm, M1R, work in pattern as established to next marker, M1L, sm. 2 sts increased, 5[7] gusset sts, 68[76] sts total.
Next round: Work in pattern as established to end of round.

Repeat the last 2 rounds twice more. 9[11] gusset sts, 70[78] sts total.

Next round, work Increase round as follows: (K1 tbl, p1) 6[7] times, work Round 1 of Chart B, work in pattern as established to first m, sm, M1R, work in pattern as established to next marker, M1L. 2 sts increased.
Next round: Work in pattern as established, working Round 2 of Chart B.
Repeat the last 2 rounds twice more, working through Round 6 of Chart B. 15[17] gusset sts, 78[86] sts total.

Work Increase round followed by one round working in pattern as established three times. 21[23] gusset sts, 84[92] sts total.

Next round: Work in pattern to first m, rm, slip next 21[23] stitches onto scrap yarn, rm, cast on 3[5] sts. 67[77] sts.
Work one round in pattern as established.

Hand
Set up round: Work 0[2] sts in pattern, work Round 1 of Chart C over next 32 sts, work in pattern as established to end of round.

Next round: Work in pattern as established, working next round of Chart C.
Work through Round 20 of Chart C as established.

Work 7 rounds in pattern as established.
Bind of f loosely in pattern.

Thumb

Size S/M
Setup Round: Transfer 21 thumb sts onto DPNs. Starting at center of cast on stitches, rejoin yarn and pick up and knit the center cast-on st, pick and knit a stitch in the area before the next stitch, *p1, k1 tbl; repeat from * to last held st, p1, pick up and knit two stitches in the area before the next stitch, pick up and knit the last cast-on stitch, pm. 26 sts.

Work Thumb from Chart or Written Instructions through Round 10.

Size M/L
Setup Round: Transfer 23 thumb sts onto DPNs. Starting at center of cast on stitches, rejoin yarn and pick up and knit 3 cast-on sts, pick up and knit 2 sts in the area before the next stitch, *p1, k1 tbl; repeat from * to last held stitch, p1, pick up and knit 2 stitches in the area before the next stitch, pick up and knit the last 2 cast-on sts, pm. 32 sts.

Work Thumb from Chart or Written Instructions through Round 10.

Bind off loosely in pattern.

RIGHT MITT
Work as for LEFT MITT through the end of Chart A.

Set-up
Round 1: pm for beginning of round*(k1 tbl, p1), repeat from * (this will now be referred to as “in pattern") around
Rounds 2-8: repeat Round 1.
Rounds 9-41: *(follow Chart A, p1 [p1, k1 tbl, p1]), repeat from * around 4x.

Thumb Gusset
Work in pattern as established for 3 rounds.
Next round: Work in pattern for 31[35] sts, pm, M1R, p1[p1, k1 tbl, p1], M1L, pm, work in pattern as established to end of round. 3[5] gusset sts, 66[74] sts total.

Next round: Work in pattern to first m, sm, k1 tbl, p1, k1 tbl [(k1 tbl, p1) twice, k1 tbl], sm, work in pattern as established to end of round.

Note: Incorporate new thumb gusset stitches into the k1 tbl, p1 pattern as they are added. After working the increase round below the first time, new stitches added on the previous round will be worked as p1; after the second increase round, new stitches added on the previous round will be worked as k1 tbl – this sets the pattern for the new thumb gusset stitches. On each subsequent increase row, incorporate new stitches in pattern as established.

Increase round: Work in pattern to first m, sm, M1R, work in pattern as established to the next marker, , M1L, sm, work in pattern to end of round. 5[7] gusset sts, 69[79] sts total.
Next round: Work in pattern as established to end of round.
Repeat the last 2 rounds twice more. 9[11] gusset sts, 70[78] sts total.

Next round, work Increase round as follows:(K1 tbl, p1) 6[7] times, work Round 1 of Chart B, work in pattern as established to first marker, sm, M1R, work in pattern as established to next marker, M1L, sm, work in pattern as established to end of round.
Next round: Work Round 2 of Chart B, work in pattern as established to end of round.
Repeat the last 2 rounds twice more, working through Round 6 of Chart B. 15[17] gusset sts, 78[86] sts total.

Work Increase round followed by one round working in pattern as established three times. 21[23] gusset sts, 84[92] sts total.

Next round: Work in pattern to first m, rm, slip next 21[23] stitches onto scrap yarn, rm, cast on 3[5] sts, work in pattern to end. 67[77] sts.
Work one round in pattern as established.

Hand
Set up round: Work 0[2] sts in pattern, work Round 1 of Chart C over next 32 sts, continue in pattern to end of round.

Next round: Work in pattern as established, working next round of Chart C.
Work through Round 20 of Chart C as established.

Work 7 rounds in pattern as established.
Bind off loosely in pattern.

Thumb
Work as for LEFT MITT.

FINISHING

Weave in ends. Block gently as desired.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

When she was in the sixth grade, Deborah decided to either go into education or the law, and, as it turns out, she's still doing both. Knitting is her happy place, though, and she's done many things with fiber since teaching herself to knit almost 2 decades ago. With the help and tutelage of some very good fiber giants, Deborah began designing patterns several years ago and hasn't looked back since.

Pattern & images © 2021 Deborah Simon