Dendritic : Knitty.com - Deep Fall 2017

Dendritic

Dendritic, a free knitting pattern from Knitty.com. Free knitting pattern for a tree-bark-like pair of fingerless gloves.

INTRODUCTION

Dendritic

beauty shot

Piquant

Dendritic (adj): Having a branched structure like a tree.

Trees fascinate me. Their unique silhouettes, their textured bark, and their graceful leaves always grab my attention. I also love fingerless gloves, and I make a lot of them—they're easily the most popular item that I sell from my knitting booth at the farmer's market.

I recently wanted to branch out from the traditional fingerless glove design (no pun intended.) And then I thought: What if I could make a tree-like mitt, with leaves growing up the back of the hand while branches spread across the palm? What if these leaves and branches could form an invisible gusset, so that the entire design could flow across the hand without interruption? Wouldn't that be fun?

It was.

Dendritic is a mirrored design—each hand has its own set of instructions. The thumb gusset is formed through increases in the leaf and branch designs. Knit in tight twisted ribbing and worsted weight yarn, it makes a warm, closely fitted cool-weather accessory. Perfect for giving your favorite tree a hug!

spacer model: Hannah Colbert

spacer photos: dgenna j. ulrich

Print Essentials Print Everything

SIZE

S[M, L]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Upper hand circumference: 5.5[6.25, 7] inches/ 14[16, 18] cm
Hand length: 7.5[8.5, 9.25] inches/ 19[21.5, 23.5] cm

Note: This pattern is intended to fit your hand with approximately 1 inch of negative ease. Choose your size accordingly.

MATERIALS

Yarn
spacer Quince Lark [100% worsted American wool, 134 yds/123 m per 50g skein]; color: Honey; 1 [2, 2] skeins

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
spacer US# 6/4mm needles for small circumference in the round: DPNs, 1 long circular or 2 short circulars
spacer 1 stitch marker
spacer Stitch holder for 16 [18, 18] stitches

Notions
spacer Tapestry needle

GAUGE

20 sts/ 28 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette
32 sts/28 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in (k1 tbl, p1) ribbing, unstretched

PATTERN NOTES

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

Abbreviations:
M3: (k1, yo, k1) into the same stitch. Increases two stitches.

Techniques:
Sewn bind off

CHARTS

charts

chart key

DIRECTIONS

Using your favorite stretchy method, CO 34[40, 44] sts. Distribute sts across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round.

Right Hand
Cuff
Ribbing: [P1, k1 tbl] around.
Work 21 rounds as set.

Lower Hand
Next round: Work Right Hand Rnds 1-18 chart, working ribbing repeat as indicated across final 16[22, 26] sts.
Work as set until Round 17 of chart is complete. 50[56, 60] sts.

Separate Thumb:
Round 18: Work in chart pattern as set to last 12[18, 18] sts of round. Slip last 12[18, 18] sts of round to stitch holder; for Size S only, also slip first 4 sts of round to the holder. 16[18, 18] sts held for thumb, 34[38, 42] sts for upper hand.

For size S only, this is the new start of round position. Round 19 of the chart will start here.

Upper Hand
Upper Hand round: Working ribbing repeat as indicated across first 16[20, 24] sts, work Right Hand Rnds 19-End chart around.
Work as set until chart is complete, and work Round 30 2[4, 6] more times.
BO using sewn method. Proceed to thumb.

Left Hand Cuff
Left Mitt Ribbing: [K1 tbl, p1] around.
Work 21 rounds as set.

Lower Hand
Next round: Work appropriate chart, working ribbing repeat as indicated across first 12[18, 22] sts.

Work as set until round 18 of chart is complete. 50[56, 60] sts.

Separate Thumb & Establish Upper Hand Pattern:
Size S only, next round: Work as per chart round 19 to last 4 sts of round. Slip last 4 sts of round and first 12 sts of the next round to holder for thumb. This is the new start of round.

Size M only: Slip first 18 sts of round to holder for thumb. and complete round as per Round 19 of the chart, starting at stitch 19 of the chart.

Next round, size L only: Work 4 sts in patt. Slip next 18 sts of round to holder for thumb, complete round (picking up again at st 25 of the chart), to end of round. Work 4 more sts in rib pattern as set. This is the new start of round.

16[18, 18] sts held for thumb, 34[38, 42] sts for upper hand.

Upper Hand
Upper hand round: Work Left Hand Rnds 20 to End of chart around, working ribbing repeat as indicated across last 16[20, 24] sts.
All sizes: Continue as set until chart is complete, and work Round 30 2[4, 6] more times.
BO using sewn method.

Proceed to thumb.

Thumb – Both Hands
Return 16[18, 18] sts of thumb from stitch holder to needles. Leaving a long tail to sew in the hole between thumb and hand, rejoin yarn.

Round 1: [P1, k tbl] to end.
Work Ribbing as set for 6[7, 8] rounds total.
BO using sewn method.

FINISHING

Block.

Weave in all ends on WS of work, except for the long tail between the thumb and body of the mitt. Put mitt on non-dominant hand, RS facing out, and weave in the end with minimal disruption of the ribbing.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

designernameHannah Colbert is an environmental educator, translator, and avid knitter in Portland, Maine. She designs and sells knitted accessories at the Portland farmer's market to justify buying more yarn. She is inspired by natural landscapes, Celtic knots, and Maine winters.

You can find more of her designs on Ravelry.

Pattern & images © 2017 Hannah Colbert.