Knitty: Winter 2006 - editor

Knitty: little purls of wisdom

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by Sari I love Lizbeth Upitis' Latvian Mittens and I have knitted several of them, but for this gift for my friend I wanted to design a pattern especially for her. The palm pattern reminds me of tiffany windows or art deco. The pattern is not exactly symmetrical to express that life isn't always strictly ordered. The cuff imitates traditional Nordic patterns. The yarn is from Norway. These mittens are knitted in good old Fair Isle tradition with two colors per row. Even if they look like an awful lot of work you can still knit them for Christmas. It will take an experienced knitter approximately one week to finish them.
model: Sari photos: Michael A. Riefler


SIZE
To fit an average woman's hand, glove size 7 - 8

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Circumference: approx. 9 inches Length: 12 inches

MATERIALS
Hifa 2 from Hillesvag Ullvarefabrikk [100 % pure new wool; approx. 344yd/315m per 100g skein]; 1 skein each color (less than half of each skein is used) [MC] #6089 Green [A] #6082 Blue [B] #6013 Red [C] #5070 Orange [D] #6099 Dark Brown Suggested alternate yarns: Jamiesons Double Knitting, Knitpicks Merino style, Elann Peruvian Highland Silk 1 set 3mm double-point needles Note: 3mm needles are between US #2 and # 3 in size. Swatch to determine which size you need. Split ring marker or safety pin Smooth waste yarn Tapestry needle

GAUGE
22 sts/33 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch 27.5 sts/31.5 rows = 4 inches in stranded colorwork pattern

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here]
Thumb This mitten pattern utilizes an afterthought thumb. To make this thumb, the thumb sts are first worked using waste yarn, then they are transferred back to the left needle and worked again, using MC and CC in the pattern as set. After finishing the mitten, the waste yarn is removed and the resulting live sts are placed onto the needles (you may prefer to place the sts on the needles before removing the waste yarn). The thumb is then worked from these sts.

DIRECTIONS
Using MC, CO 60 sts. Divide evenly between needles and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist. After the first few rows have been worked, place a safety pin or split ring marker in work to indicate beginning of round. K 5 rounds. Next Round: [K2tog, yo] to end of round. This round forms the picot turning line for the hem. K 5 rounds. Work Rounds 1-4 of Chart A (chart will be repeated 15 times in each round). Work Rounds 1-20 of Chart B (chart will be repeated twice in each round). Work Rounds 1-7 of Chart C (chart will be repeated 10 times in each round). Work Rounds 1-13 of Chart D (chart will be repeated 4 times in each round), then place thumb as follows: For Right Mitten: Work first 2 sts of Round 14 of chart, k11 using waste yarn, slip 11 sts just worked back to left needle and k them again using working yarns, following Round 14 of chart; work to end of round in pattern as set. For Left Mitten: Work first 17 sts of Round 14 of chart, k11 using waste yarn, slip 11 sts just worked back to left needle and k them again using working yarns, following Round 14 of chart; work to end of round in pattern as set. For Both Mittens: Work Round 15 of Chart D, then work Rounds 1-15 of Chart D once more. Work Rounds 1-31 of Chart E, working decreases as indicated (chart will be repeated twice in each round). When all rounds of Chart E have been worked, 8 sts remain. Break yarns, draw MC through remaining sts and pull tight. Thumb Remove waste yarn and place resulting live sts on needles. There shouuld be 22 sts. The sts which were below the waste yarn (towards bottom of mitten) will be the first sts of each round, followed by the sts which were above the waste yarn. Pick up 1 extra st at each end of both lower and upper sets of sts; the stitch which was picked up at the beginning of the lower set of stithes will be the first st of the round. 26 sts. Reattach MC and B and work Rounds 1-22 of Chart F, working decreases as indicated. When all rounds of Chart F have been worked, 6 sts remain. Break yarns, draw MC through remaining sts and pull tight.

FINISHING
Fold hem facings to inside and sew down, sewing only through purl bumps at WS of work, taking care not to pull yarn too tightly. Weave in ends and block lightly.
ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Sari has been a knitter for over 20 years now. At present she's writing her M.A. thesis which she hopes to finish by the end of the year. Once finished, she plans to devote more time to knitting and designing. Her musings on knitting can be read on her blog.
Pattern & images © 2006 Sari. Contact sabineriefler@web.de