Apex Mitts
by Paula McKeever Snapper Knits
Materials:
·2 colors of fingering weight yarn such as Dream in Color Smooshy - 135 yards of Color A and 60 yards of Color B. If the color placement is switched for the second mitt, then 1o0 yards of each. · 2.5 mm needles (or size to get gauge) - either DPNs or circulars for Magic Loop . One or two stitch markers ·scrapyarn The slip stitch technique is an easy way to use different colors in your work while only knitting with one strand of yarn in each row. To get the best effect, choose yarns that have lots of contrast with each other. At least one (Color A) should be a solid, or a semi-solid. The other (Color B) can be a solid as well, but a variegated might work as long as it's not too busy, and a striping yarn could be interesting as well. A good trick for deciding whether two yarns have enough contrast is to squint your eyes down as much as you can - this will filter out the color and will let you view the value or "lightness" and “darkness" of the yarn. You can also take a black and white photo, or lay the skeins on a copier. If your two skeins look the same, there won't be enough contrast, and you should go raid your stash for another choice! Directions for the hand section are given in charts. If desired, they can easily be converted to Written form. All slipped stitches will be slipped as if to purl. Carry unused color yarn on the inside of the mitt. Gauge: 9 sts / inch in stockinette and slip stitch pattern, unstretched, with size 2.5 mm needles. Sizes: Smaller and Larger. Instructions are written for smaller size, the larger will be in parentheses. At the gauge stated, Smaller will fit a palm circumference of 6-7.5 inches, and Larger willfit 7-8.5 inches. Adjusting needle size and gauge will help tweak the fit to Suit you.
INSTRUCTIONS:
CUFF: Cast on 52 (56) STS WITH COLOR A (Dark/blue). Work in Knit 2 Purl 2 Ribbing for 2.75 inches. Change to B (light/white): Knit 1 row, Purl 2 rows. Change to A. Knit 2 rows. Change to B. Knit 1 row. Purl 2 rows. Knit 1 row, increasing 4 (6) sts evenly spaced over therow. HAND: Start chart for desired size. The left mitt is the mirror image of the right. All other instructions are the same for both hands except for the placement of the gusset which is Offset. Use color A for rows 1&2, then B for rows 3&4. Repeat throughout the mitt. Work each stitch with the color indicated. If it's a blue square, the stitch should be knit with blue/dark; if it's white, then knit with white/light. Similarly for the slipped stitches — if the icon is in a blue square, then the blue color stitch should be slipped, and so on. All even rows will be worked the same as the previous odd row. Using the same color as the previous row, knit all knitted stitches, and slip all slipped stitches. The gauge in slip stitch pattern, unstretched, is 9 sts / inch.
HINT: Using a colored marker or pencil, make a mark on the chart for the color that is used on each row.For example if color A is red, mark rows1&2witharedmarkonthesideofthe chart, and if color B is yellow, make a yellow mark for rows 3 & 4. Continue marking rows up the chart. You can also do this where they're mentioned inthe text. THUMB GUSSET: Increases can be done in any manner, but the Lifted Increase gives a smooth appearance to the gusset without any purl bumps. For a left leaning increase, lift the stitch below the stitch you just knit on the right needle, and knit into it. For a right leaning increase, lift the stitch below the stitch on the left needle, and knit into that one; then knit the stitch on the left needle. The gusset will be worked with a LEFT LEANING LIFTED INCREASE on the last stitch before the gusset, then the gusset stitches are worked, then a RIGHT LEANING LIFTED INCREASE. Place your markers on either side of the gusset stitches as follows: Work the first 31 (33) sts, place a marker. Do a LEFT lifted increase on the stitch to the right of the marker. Work the gusset stitches, then do a RIGHT lifted increase on the next stitch. Place a marker, and work the remaining stitches in the round. Work chart through row 40 (44). On the next row, work 31 (33) stitches, place the next 21 stitches on waste yarn and remove markers, cast on one stitch using the backward loop method, and continue working the rest of the row according to the chart.
TOP CUFF:
Change to B: Knit 1 round, decreasing 4 (6) sts evenly spaced over the row. Purl 2 row Change to A. Knit 2 rows. Change to B. Knit 1 round. Purl 2 rows. Change to A, Knit 1 round. Then work in Knit 2 Purl 2 ribbing for 1 inches, or desired length. Bind off with a stretchy bind off.
THUMB:
Row 1: (With color A) knit 21 sts from waste yarn, then pick up 5 sts in the gap at the top of the thumb. (26 sts) Row 2: Knit 21, ssk, K1, K2tog (24 sts) Rows 3 & 4: (With Color B) K1, Slip 1; repeat around row. Rows 5 & 6: (With color A) Knit Repeat rows 3-5 one more time. Work K2 P2 ribbing for 5 rows. Bind off with a stretchy bind off.
ABREVIATIONS:
K Knit P Purl K2tog Knit 2 stitches together ssk Slip one, slip one, knit together through the back loop sts stitches
| CHARTKEY |
| No stitch |
| Knit |
| M Make one stitch |
| Slip stitch with yarn in back |
CHART 4: Clue 4, Left Hand, Size Larger
Copyright Paula McKeever 2015. Pattern and garments made from pattern are for personal use only and not for resale. Pattern or parts of pattern may not be reproduced for sale in any manner.
