TWIGONOMETRY, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com.

INTRODUCTION

Twigonometry

beauty shot by Kim McBrien Evans

Mellow

I live at the edge of a forest, and when I look out my back window, I see a jumble of tree trunks and branches spanning out chaotically in all directions. But like most chaotic arrangements, if you look at them long enough, you start seeing patterns in them.

This is what I see.

I don't like having my hands covered, even in the coldest weather. They're too busy doing things. I find mitts too loose and floppy, and gloves…just awkward. Fingerless mitts are my hand covering of choice, as they fit close to the hand and stay out of my way. Twigonometry is the right kind of fingerless mitt. The stitch pattern—based on an irregular rib pattern—expands and contracts as my hands move. The mitten version also fits close to the hand right up to the fingertips, so that I can just barely pretend I'm not even wearing mittens. ;)

spacer model: Victoria Bingham, Kelsey Redman

spacer photos: Kim McBrien Evans

SIZE

S[M, L, XL, XXL]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Width: 6.5[7, 7.5, 8, 8.5] inches/ 16.5[18, 19, 20, 21.5] cm hand circumference.
Recommended fit: Choose a size close to your hand circumference, measured at the knuckles
Model fit: Hand circumference is 7.25 inches/18.5 cm; wearing 7.5 inch/19 cm size.

MATERIALS

Yarn
Indigodragonfly ROUSport [100% superwash merino; 398 m/328 yds per 100 g]; 1 skein;
Sample colours:
Spock Puppet (blue, shown as fingerless mitts above)
Only the Exact Phrase I Used Was "Don't"- Inara (red, shown as mittens below)

Yarn Characteristics
Choose a yarn that is round, smooth, and even in texture. A 3-ply or 4-ply sport or heavy fingering will work well. The stitch pattern works best with a solid or semi-solid color.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US 2.5/3mm in your preferred needle for working a small circumference in the round

Notions
stitch markers – ring style and removable
scrap yarn or stitch holder
tapestry needle

GAUGE

30 sts and 38 rows per 4 inches/10 cm in Tree Pattern stitch, stretched on hand as worn, measured at the knuckles
38 sts and 40 rows per 4 inches/10 cm in Tree Pattern stitch, unstretched
24 sts and 38 rows per 4 inches /10 cm in Stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES

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

1/1 LT: Slip the next 2 sts knitwise, one at a time, to the right needle. Slip both sts back to the left nee

dle in their new orientation. Knit the second stitch through the back loop, then knit into the back of both sts together and slip both sts from needle.
1/1 RT: Knit the next 2 sts together, without removing them from the left needle, then knit the first stitch only and slip both sts from the needle.

CHARTS

Cuff Pattern: P -[-, -, 1, 2] , k -[1, 2, 2, 2] , p3, k2, p1, k1, p2, k3, p3, k2, p1, k1, p2, k3, p -[1, 2, 2, 2] .

Thumb Pattern: K 0[0, 0, 1, 1] , p 0[0, 1, 1, 1] , k3, p2, k2, p1, k1, p1, k2, p2, k3, p1, k1, p 1[1, 2, 2, 2] , k 0[0, 0, 1, 1] .

Download all charts/all sizes here

DIRECTIONS

FINGERLESS MITTS
CO 48[52, 56, 60, 64] sts. Distribute sts across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round, noting or marking start of round.

Cuff
Cuff round: Work Cuff pattern from written instructions or chart twice around.
Work Cuff Pattern as set for 8[10, 10, 12, 12] rounds.

Hand
Hand round: Work Hand pattern twice around, starting and ending at stitch indicated on the chart.
Work as set until you have completed all 30 rounds of Hand Pattern.

Thumb Gusset
Note: The first stitch of the first rep of the Hand Pattern is the center stitch of the Thumb Gusset. While working the Gusset Pattern, exclude this stitch when working the Hand Pattern.

Gusset set up round: Work round 1 of Thumb Gusset Pattern for your size, pm, work the remainder of round 1 of Hand Pattern as established.
Round 1: Work Thumb Gusset Pattern round 2, work round 2 of Hand Pattern.

Continue as established, working thumb gusset sts in Thumb Gusset Pattern and remaining stitches in Hand Pattern – excluding first stitch in first rep of Hand Pattern – until Gusset chart is complete. 17[17, 19, 21, 21] sts in thumb gusset.

Continue Hand
Next rnd: Place thumb gusset sts on a stitch holder or scrap yarn, rm, CO 1 st using the backward loop method, work to end of round. 48[52, 56, 60, 64] sts.
Continue to work Hand Chart until hand measures 1.25[1.25, 1.5, 1.5, 1.75] inches/ 3[3, 4, 4, 4.5] cm above end of gusset.

Upper ribbing: Work Cuff pattern from written instructions or chart twice around.
Work Cuff Pattern as set for 8 rounds.

BO all sts in pattern.

Thumb
Replace thumb gusset sts on needle. 17[17, 19, 21, 21] sts.
With RS facing, reattach yarn at crook of thumb and pick up and knit 3 stitches at the edge of the hand to close the gap; work across the previously held sts as per Thumb Pattern from written pattern or chart, then work the 3 picked up sts as per the last 3 sts of Thumb Pattern – this is the new start of round.
20[20, 22, 24, 24] sts.

Thumb round: Work Thumb Pattern from written instructions or chart once around.
Work as set for 1 inch/2.5 cm, or desired length.

BO all sts in pattern

Finishing
Block by washing mitts and lay flat to dry. Weave in all ends.

MITTENS
CO 48[52, 56, 60, 64] sts. Distribute sts across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round, noting or marking start of round as you prefer.

Cuff
Cuff round: Work Cuff Pattern from written instructions or chart twice around.
Work Cuff Pattern as set for 8[10, 10, 12, 12] rounds.

Hand
Hand round: Work Hand Pattern twice around, starting and ending at stitch indicated on the chart.
Work as set until you have completed 14 rounds of Hand Pattern. Clip a removable stitch marker in the fabric at the start of this round, and leave it there as you work the rest of the hand – it will be used for measurement.

Gusset set up round: Work round 1 of Thumb Gusset Pattern for your size, pm, work the remainder of round 15 of Hand Pattern as established.
Round 1: Work Gusset Pattern round 2, work round 16 of Hand Pattern.

Continue as established, working gusset sts in Gusset Pattern and remaining stitches in Hand Pattern – excluding first stitch in first rep of Hand Pattern – until all gusset rows are complete.
17[17, 19, 21, 21] sts in Thumb Gusset.

Continue Hand
Next rnd: Place thumb gusset sts on a stitch holder or scrap yarn, rm, CO 1 st using the backward loop method, work to end of round.

Continue to work Hand Chart until hand measures 5.5[6, 6.5, 7, 7.25] inches/ 14[15, 16.5, 18, 18.5] cm from the removeable marker placed just before starting Thumb Gusset, or until Hand is 1[1, 1, 1, 1.25] inches/ 2.5[2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 3] cm shorter than wearer's longest finger.

Next rnd, setup pattern for decrease: Work Cuff pattern from written instructions or chart twice around, either placing a marker or dividing the sts on your needles at the midpoint of the round. The following decrease instruction refers to the midpoint of the round.

Decrease rnd: *K1, ssk, work Cuff Pattern as established to 3 sts before midpoint of round, k2tog, k2, ssk, work Cuff Pattern as established to 3 sts before end of round, k2tog, k1. 4 sts dec'd.

Repeat Decrease rnd every round 7[8, 9, 10, 11] more times, until 16 sts remain.
Cut yarn and pull through remaining sts to close.

Thumb Round: Work Thumb Pattern around from chart or written instructions.
Work in pattern as set until thumb measures 2.25[2.25, 2.5, 2.5, 2.75] inches/ 5.5[5.5, 6, 6, 7] cm, or to cover wearer's thumb length.

Decrease and close: K2tog around until 5 sts remain. Cut yarn and pull through remaining sts to close.

FINISHING

Block by washing mittens and lay flat to dry. Weave in all ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designername Curiosity and exploration are the focus of Canadian knitwear designer and indie hand dyer, Kim McBrien Evans. Her knitwear designs are known for their ability to turn an abstract idea into a wearable reality and reflect her lifelong love of colour, texture, pattern, and shape. She is the Master Evil Genius behind Indigodragonfly Studio.

She is co-author of Custom Shawls for the Curious and Creative Knitter (with Kate Atherley). Her work has appeared in Vogue Knitting, Knitscene, Knit.Wear, Knitting Magazine (UK), A Stash of One’s Own (ed. Clara Parkes), The Sewcialists, Digits & Threads, and Uppercase.