Last time Mike’s sister was visiting, she did not have proper winter hand covers. I have a pair of mittens that I recently finished and she liked, so I decided to make her a similar pair. I used a beautiful rust-colored Ultra Alpaca yarn from Berocco (color #6228), that is 50% super fine alpaca and 50% Peruvian wool, and the pattern below.
I planned to finish the mittens before our next visit – which was this past weekend. As the visit approached, I was only done with the first mitten. Luckily the bus ride to NYC is long. You can see I had just started the second mitten when the bus ride started.
By the time we were approaching our destination, I was almost done with the mitten.
I was able to finish these and surprise the lucky recipient. You can see these mittens were really appreciated!
To create these mittens, I modified a basic pattern. These fit small female hands.
Basic Mittens for Small Adult Hands
Materials
Size 8 (5mm) double-pointed needles
Worsted weight yarn, at least 100 yards
Stitch holder
Stitch marker
Cuff: Cast on 30 stitches, divided evenly over three needles. Work K1, P1 ribbing for 2 1/2 ”
Begin main pattern: K5 rounds, then begin thumb gusset at beginning of 6th round.
Begin thumb gusset: K1 in front and back of the stitch, M1, K to end of round. K one round even
Increase round: K1, M1, K2, M1, K to end of round.
Knit one round even.
Increase round: K1, M1, K4, M1, K to end of round.
Knit one round even.
Increase round: K1, M1, K6, M1, K to end of round.
Knit one round even.
Increase round: K1, M1, K8, M1, K to end of round.
K one round even.
Next round: Place 11 stitches on stitch holder. Cast on 1 stitch over 11 stitches on holder.
Begin main hand part of mitten: Continue knitting every round until piece measures 6 3/4″ overall (from bottom of cuff).
Top of mitten: Decrease round *K2, K2Tog*; repeat for entire round, ending with K2
K4 rounds even.
Decrease round: *K2, K2Tog*; repeat for round, ending with K3
K1 round even.
Decrease round: *K2Tog*; repeat for all stitches in row
Draw thread through these remaining stitches and pull tight. Weave in the end.
Thumb: Place 11 stitches from holder onto two needles. Leaving long end (~8 inches), pick up 4 stitches in cast-on row (space forming top of thumb opening). Work these 15 stitches of thumb in stockinette stitch until thumb is 2″ long.
Decrease for top of thumb: *K2Tog*; repeating for entire round.
K1 round even.
Decrease round: *K2Tog*; repeating for entire round.
Draw thread through these remaining stitches and pull tight. Weave in end.
Reinforcing thumb: Thread long end from beginning of thumb onto darning needle. Reinforce thumb opening and holes created by thumb gusset. Reinforcing this weak part makes a warmer and stronger mitten.
2nd Mitten work as for first.
Voila!
yea! will have to try this pattern!
these are the best mittens ever! thanks pia!!!
Wait till you see what comes next!