Borough Mittens : Knitty Winter bis 2011

by Veronica O'Neil

I love knitting for the men in my life (big and small) and these were a lot of fun to create with my fashionable beau in mind. Tough-looking Garter Stitch cuffs and rustic metal buttons compliment the structured columns of these convertible fingerless mitts nicely; but my favorite feature of these mittens is the seemingly seamless thumb gusset, with hidden increases nestled in the bold rib pattern.

Work these in a high-definition heavy worsted weight yarn to create a strong, dense and virtually impenetrable fabric that will stand up to even the most grueling outdoor chores of this chilly winter season.

These mittens are designed to fit very snug and they are worked in a stretchy rib pattern that will conform to most average adult hand sizes, both men and women.

model: Lucas Lanthier

photos: Veronica O’Neil


SIZE Adult Medium[Adult Large] (shown in Medium)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Palm circumference: 7[8.5] inches
Hand length: adjustable to fit.

MATERIALS
Yarn
Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Hand Dyes [50% Alpaca/50% Merino Wool; 100 yd/91 m per 100g skein]; Chocolate; 2 skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 set US #8/5mm double-point needles
OR
1 long US #8/5mm circular needle for magic loop
OR
2 US #8/5mm circular needles for 2 circulars method

Notions
Stitch markers
Four approx 5/8-inch buttons or toggles
yarn needle sized to fit through buttonholes
Size H-8/5mm crochet hook
Stitch markers
Scrap yarn

GAUGE

18 sts/24 rounds = 4 inches in [K2, p4] rib (after blocking)
16 sts/24 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette

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

Garter Stitch Worked In The Round
Round 1: Knit.
Round 2: Purl.

Backwards Loop Cast-on
Instructions for the Backward Loop Cast On can be found here.

Crochet Chain
Instructions for working a crochet chain can be found here.

DIRECTIONS
Using long-tail cast-on, CO 30[36] sts. Distribute sts as you prefer and join for working in the round.

Work in Garter Stitch until work measures 4 inches from cast-on edge, ending with a knit rnd.

Establish rib pattern:
Size Medium: P2, k2, [p4, k2] to last 2 sts, p2.

Size L: K1, P4, [k2, p4] to last st, k1.

Work 5 more rounds as established in rib patt.

Place markers for thumb:
Size Medium, Right Mitten: P2, [k2, p4] three times, k1, pm, k1, p4, pm, cont in established rib patt to end of rnd.

Size Medium, Left Mitten: P2, k1, pm, k1, p4, pm, cont in established rib patt to end of rnd.

Size Large, Right Mitten: K1, P4, [k2, p4] three times, k1, pm, k1, p4, pm, cont in est rib patt to end of rnd.

Size Large, Left Mitten: K1, P4, k1, pm, k1, p4, pm, cont in established rib patt to end of rnd.

Thumb increases:
Increase rnd: Work in est rib patt to first marker, sm, kfb, p to 1 st before next marker, pfb, sm, cont in est rib patt to end of rnd. 2 sts increased.
Rnds 2-4: Work in est rib patt to first marker, sm, k1, p to next marker, sm, cont in est rib patt to end of rnd.

Rep rnds 1-4 five times more. 42[48] sts.

Next rnd: Work in est rib patt to first marker, remove marker, k1, p2, slip next 12 sts on scrap yarn for thumb, p2, remove marker, work in est rib patt to end of rnd. 30[36] sts. Pull yarn tight over gap to close it up.

Work 3 rnds in est rib patt.
Work 10 rnds in Garter Stitch.

Mitten Top
Setup round, size Medium: BO 7 sts, k until you have 16 sts on the right needle, BO rest of round. Break yarn, leaving a 12 inch tail.
Setup round, size Large: BO 9 sts, k until you have 18 sts on the right needle, BO rest of round. Break yarn, leaving a 12 inch tail.

Rejoin yarn.
With RS facing and using backwards loop cast on method, CO 7[9] sts, p across 16[18] mitt stitches, CO 7[9] sts. 30[36] sts.

Distribute sts as you prefer and join to resume working in the round.
Work 4 rnds in Garter Stitch.

Make centered buttonhole as follows:
Next rnd: Yo, k to end of rnd. 31[37] sts.
Next rnd: Slip 1 purlwise, p1, psso, p to end of rnd. 30[36] sts.

Continue in Garter Stitch until work measures 1.5[2] inches from cast-on edge or until works reaches tip of pinky finger, ending with a purl rnd.

Decrease top:
Rnd 1: [K4, k2tog] around. 25[30] sts.
Rnds 2, 4, 6, 8: Purl
Rnd 3: [K3, k2tog] around. 20[24] sts.
Rnd 5: [K2, k2tog] around. 15[18] sts.
Rnd 7: [K1, k2tog] around. 10[12] sts.
Rnd 9: [K2tog] around. 5[6] sts.

Break yarn, leaving an 18-inch tail. With yarn needle, thread yarn tail through 4[5] sts and pull to close.

Button loop:
Insert crochet hook into last st and chain 4. Attach end of chain with a slip st at top of mitten, opposite the beg of chain and fasten off.

THUMB
Return 12 held sts to needles. Distribute across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round.
Round 1: Rejoin yarn, and pick up and knit 0[1] st in crook of thumb, p12, pick up and knit 0[1] st in crook of thumb. 12[14] sts.
Rounds 2-4: Purl.
Work 8[10] rounds in Garter Stitch, or until work reaches tip of thumb, ending with a purl rnd.
Decrease round: K2tog around. 6[7] sts.
Break yarn, leaving a 12-inch tail. With yarn needle, thread yarn tail through rem sts. Pull yarn tight to close top of thumb.

FINISHING
Block.

Sew buttons to the mitts as pictured: one on the back of each mitt, centered midway between the Garter Stitch cuff and mitten top along the center rib; and one on the palm of each mitt, centered along the Garter Stitch phony seam near the cast-off edge.

Weave in all ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Veronica O’Neil lives with her happy little family, two sexy cats and two very feisty rescue dogs in Hollywood, CA.

She loves to knit, sew, cook, bake and blog about it here.