Dragon Mittens Feb. 2009 Designed by String Theory 2.0 http://tringtheory2.blogspot.com
You can work these with lined cuffs (l recommend part silk for softness) and they're designed long enough so you can tuck them up under your coat sleeves. I've included directions for “traditional" cuffs also. My son helped me adapt an early 2oth century filet crochet pattern to make the prototype child's version of these. Because you have to carry and wrap yarns over large parts of the design (rather than traditional Fair Isle designs where the pattern would be constant and help with this) keeping your tension even is important. Be sure when you wrap the yarn you are carrying the you don't “"stack” them, that is wrap between the same stitches row after row, or the yarn you're carrying willshow through to the front. Advice on carrying colors, with pictures, available from h++n./..... oha... com/h... ??i00 hnit+.osalor-nat+orn html
Size: Child's medium (Women's small/medium, Women's medium/large).
Materials:
Size 2 and 3 double pointed needles (or circular if you do socks and mittens the magic needleway) Yarn A: 1/2 sRein KnitpicRs uioss yarn UK 1/4 nanR oT Uioss bare spacea ayea (you can do this yourself) (or equivalent fingering weight yarn containing at least 30% silk or cotton for softness) Yarn B: 1 ball Knitpicks Palette yarn (or equivalent fingering weight yarn)
Gauge:
Yarn A on size 2 needles 7 sts per inch Yarn B on size 3 needles 7 sts per inch Gauge over color work should be about 6 sts per inch, but keeping your work evenly tensioned is more important. Traditional cuffs: Cast on 48 (54, 62) stitches with Yarn B on smaller needles , divide stitches evenly amongst 3 needles and join without twisting. Work k2, p2 ribbing for 25 (30, 30) rounds. Next Row: Change to larger needls and knit one round, increase 4 (6, 6) stitches during this round; equals 52 (60, 68) stitches total. Nowgoto $^{\star\star}$ and follow pattern from there.
Directions-- Hand, front and back with lined cuff:
Cast on562)stithithnmlleediidstitchenlngt ddjoiwihttwit ing. Work 25 (30, 30) rows in straight stitch (Stockinette stitch, knit every round). NextRowChngetolrr nen plne roud, ncee66stithrng thispuru; equl2) stitches total. Next Row: Change to Yarn B, knit 25 (30, 30) rounds. During row 25 (30, 30), \*\*distribute your stitches amongst your needes this way: 4nedles, distibut stitches 26,13,13 (30,15, 15;36,18,18); 5ndles, distribute stithes 13, 13, 13,13 (15, 15, 15, 15; 18, 18, 18, 18). The front needle (4 needles) or 2 needles (5 needles) will be the back of the hand, the last 2 will be the palm. Next Row:Rejoin Yarn A and begin working body of mitten with row 1 of Chart 1 for right mitten, Chart 2 for left mitten, row1of Chart 3.e sure not to carry yarnsmore than5 stitcheswithout wrapping them soyou don't get loops. \*Er on the side of being alitleloose with your color Rniting,thiscanbe fixed when you block the mitens. Next Row: Row 2 of Chart 1for right mitten, Chart 2 for left mitten, row 2 of Chart 3. Continue pattern as set, placing in scrap yarn for the thumb as charted and decreasing for the top of the hand as charted. Finish the final 24 (20, 20) stitches with Kitchner Stitch (see instructions below) to close offthe top of the hand. Whip stitch the bottom of the lining into place on the inside at row 25 (30, 30) using the long tail of the cast on of Yarn A. Sew every other stitch and work Ioosely.
Directions-- Thumb:
Using larger needles, lip aneedle into the 10 (11 12) stithes on the top of the waste yarn you've knit infor the thumb hole AND the bottom of the waste yarn you've knit in for the thumb hole (you'llhave two needles each holding 1o stitches). Carefully remove the waste yarn-I use a crochet hook, rather than scissors. Pickup $^3$ (3, 4) additional stitches at each side of the thumb hole. Distribute the stitches evenly amongst 3 needles. Join yarnsA and B(leave long tails to weave in later, at least 6 inches) and work in a1 x1 color pattern untilthumb measures 18 (20, 24) rows. Next two rows: Using Yarn A and B together knit 2 together ll the way around (you'll probably have 1 extra stitch, just knit it). Break off yarns and thread through the remaining stitches. Pullfirmly (not tightly) to close off top of thumb.
Finishings
Weave in all ends, block (choose your method, http://nitty.com/ISSUEwinter2/FEATdiyknitter.html. I lie to gently submerge mine in warm water with baby shampoo, rinse twice, rollup in a towel and press to get out most of the water, then shape gently to even out all the stitches and place in a warm place to dry. Kitchetthfrallexlantionwih piue sehtp:wity.cm/SEumer/Athersaum Step1: Insert the needle intothe first stitch on the front needle asif toknit, while slippin it offthe end of the needle. Step2:Iert tedeinthenxt stitchntfnt eeasiftuut thisteeaveitnteentll the yarn through. Step3:Insert the needle intothefirst stitch on theback needle as if topurl, and slip it offthe end of the neede. Ste4ert theneeintthxt stithtbac nsiftknit navtnthellthy th. Keep repeatin stesI4,pausingtotightenupthestithesnowand thenutillthestitchesare workedThelast two stitches remaining on the needle willrequire you to perform step I then go directly tostep 3.
Key to symbols:
Decreasing for the top of the mitten: Beginning with first stitchSlip, slip, knit 2 together, work rest of row. Work tothe last 2 stitches of the row, knit 2 together. Yarn B Yarn A Women's med/lage Women's Small/med Child's medium
Chart 1: Right Hand
Key to symbols:
Decreasing for the top of the mitten: Beginning with fist stitchSlip, slip, knit 2 to gether, work rest of row. Work tothe last 2 stitches of the row, knit 2 together.
Yarn B Yarm A
Women's med/lage Women's Small/med Child's medium
Chart 2: Left Hand Decreasing fox the top of the mitten: Beginning with fist stitch-Slip, slip, knit 2 to gether, work rest of row. Work tothe last 2 stitches of the row, knit 2 together. Yarn B Yarn A . Women's med/ /age, Women's Small/med Child's Medium Knit thumb hole stitches with scrap yarn: Knit to the fist outlined stitch, knit 10 (11 12) stitches with a piece of scrap yarm. Then slide those stitches back onto the left needll and re-knit them with your main yarn.
