Grey Eyed
"The grey-eyed goddess said directly: 'Courage; and let the future trouble you no more." Homer, The Odyssey, trans. Robert Fitzgerald Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare, is often described by Homer as the “grey-eyed goddess." These mittens were inspired by Athena and incorporate two of her symbols, the owl and the olive tree.
Size and gauge
Women's Medium (approximately 7.5" circumference). 34 stitches/34 rows = 4"x 4"for stranded colorwork.
Materials
Yarn
Knit Picks Palette (100% Peruvian Highland Wool) Main color (MC): Wonderland Heather, approx. 130 yds/28 g. Contrast color 1 (CC1): Bison, approx. 110 yds/22 g. Contrast color 2 (CC2): Ash, approx. 1 yd.
Needles & notions
US1 - 2.25 mm double pointed needles or size that achieves gauge. Yarn needle. Waste yarn. Stitch markers, if desired.
Abbreviations and Terms
k - knit p- purl st/sts - stitch/stitches m1 - make 1 (increase) k2tog - knit two stitches together ssk - slip, slip, knit cdd - center double decrease (slip two stitches together as if to k2tog; knit next stitch; pass two slipped stitch over) 1x1 rib - \*k1, p1\*. Repeat from \* to \* until end of round. corrugated rib - \*k1 (MC), p1(CC1)\*. Repeat from \* to \* until end of round.
Instructions
Please note that the cuff is identical for both hands. There are separate charts for the left and right hands and thumbs.
Cuff
1. Using CC1, cast on 56 stitches and join to knit in the round. Knit one round in 1x1 rib. 2. Joining in MC, work in corrugated rib for 18 rows or until cuff reaches desired length. 3.Knit one round using MC only. 4. Increase round: \*k7, m1\*. Repeat from \* to \* seven more times. 64 sts.
Right hand
1. Begin chart for right hand, reading the chart from right to left, bottom to top. 2. On row 20, knit the first 33 stitches according to the chart. Knit the next 11 stitches using waste yarn. Slip these 11 stitches back to the left needle and knit them again according to the chart (using MC and CC1). Finish working to the end of the round, and continue knitting the rest of the chart. 3. On row 56, begin decreasing 4 stitches per row as indicated in the chart. When 8 stitches remain on the needles, cut the MC and thread through the live stitches. 4. Using CC2, duplicate stitch the eyes of the big owl. 5. \*\* Please note that certain rows contain long floats, particularly toward the top of the mitten. Around row 58, it may be easier to knit using MC only, and then add in CC1 afterwards, using duplicate stitch.
Left hand
1. Begin chart for right hand, reading the chart from right to left, bottom to top. 2. On row 20, knit for 52 stitches (or until 12 stitches remain in the row) according to the chart. Knit the next 11 stitches using waste yarn. Slip these 11 stitches back to the left needle and knit them again according to the chart (using MC and CC1). Finish working to the end of the round, and continue knitting the rest of the chart. 3. On row 56, begin decreasing 4 stitches per row as indicated in the chart. When 8 stitches remain on the needles, cut the MC and thread through the live stitches. 4. Using CC2, duplicate stitch the eyes of the big owl.
Thumbs
1. Remove the waste yarn and pick up the 22 live stitches (11 on top, 11 on bottom). Pick up another two stitches on either side of the thumb hole. 26 sts total. 2. Follow the charts for each thumb, beginning at the bottom right-hand corner of the thumbhole. \*\* For purposes of centering the chart on the thumb, stitch 1 is a "picked up" stitch on the right of the hole, and stitch 2 is the bottom right of the live stitches from the waste yarn. Stitch 7 should line up with the vertical line of the “olive branch" on the palm. 3. On row 23, begin decreases. 4. When 6 stitches remain on the needles, cut yarn and thread through live stitches. Weave in all ends and block.
