Sitka Spruce I Mittens Knitting Pattern: Detailed Instructions for Women's Sizes with Coin Lace Design

Sitka Spruce I/ Mittens

By Diana Twiss

These mittens begin with a 3 x 1 rib stitch border followed by the Coin Lace pattern throughout. The thumb gusset expands gently from base of wrist in stocking stitch. You can follow the pattern exactly as written or you can customize them by altering the length of the wrist, the length to the thumb and the final length.

Materials

Yarn: 60 - 70 grams #2 weight yarn also known as Sport weight- yarn in photo is handspun from Sweet Georgia Yarns - blue-faced Leicester - colourway Sitka approximately 125 - 140yds required Needles: 4 - 3mm double pointed needles Tapestry needle, waste yarn Size Instructions are given for women's small, medium and large

Gauge

Using 3mm needles, in pattern 16 sts and 20 rows = 2"/5cm Really though, a mitten is a swatch, so just get knitting.

Abbreviations

M1l: Make 1 left: Insert left needle, from front to back, under strand of yarn which runs between last stitch on left needle and first stitch on right needle; knit this stitch through the back of the loop. 1 stitch increased (left leaning increase) M1r: Make 1 right: Insert left needle, from back to front, under strand of yarn which runs between last stitch on left needle and first stitch on right needle; knit this stitch through the front of the loop. 1 stitch increased (right leaning increase)

Coin Lace pattern

On the fifth row of each round, and working with the three knit stitches in the 3 x 1 rib, \*pass the 3rd stitch on your left hand needle over the first and second stitch on the left hand needle, then k1, yo, k1, p1\*

Making the Mitt

Make two identical mitts. Follow the chart, starting at the bottom and working your way up. Chart shows instructions for needle 1 and the thumb gusset. Needles 2 and 3 are nine rows of 3 x 1 rib stitch and Coin Lace placement in same positions as needle 1. Instructions for making the thumb follow the chart. Cast on 44 sts - for small , 48 sts - for medium, or 52 sts—for large size. Join in the round being careful not to twist the stitches. Working in the round on three needles - Small: Needle 1 - 12 stitches, needle 2 - 16 stitches, needle 3-16 stitches (44 stitches total) Medium: Needle 1 - 12 stitches, needle 2 - 20 stitches, needle 3-16 stitches (48 stitches total) Large: Needle 1 - 12 stitches, needle 2 - 20 stitches, needle 3-20 stitches (52 stitches total) Begin with nine rows (or more if you want) of 3 x1 rib stitch. \*K 3, p1\*. On tenth row, begin Coin Lace pattern. When the wrist is as long as you want it to be, begin the thumb gusset increases - shown on row 35 in the chart. Note that thumb gusset increases happen on each occurrence of the Coin Lace pattern, making the increases easier to keep track of. Continue following the chart, so you increase a total of 8 stitches for the thumb gusset - adding the original 3 stitches you will have a total thumb gusset count of 11 stitches. Continue in pattern until the thumb reaches the point that you need it, at the knuckle at the base of the thumb. Or follow the pattern. When the thumb reaches the length you need, or when you have reached row 55, follow the Coin Lace pattern where needed and place 11 thumb gusset stitches on waste yarn. Cast on three stitches using backward loop technique and continue in Coin Lace pattern for rest of the round. The remainder of the mitt is Coin Lace pattern for as long as you want the mitt to be. Bind off in row 3 of pattern, using a reverse pattern bind off. Purl when you should knit, and knit when you should purl.

Making the thumb

Place 11 stitches from waste yarn onto a needle. Knit 5 of those stitches onto needle 1 and the last 6 on needle 2. (Leave a long tail when you join the new yarn as you may need it to fill in spaces.) Using needle three, pick up an additional 6 stitches. The first one is one of the loops that sit on the edge of the held stitches. Then pick up stitches from the newly cast on stitches - although you cast on 3 stitches, there will be 4 loops there. When you lift these loops to put them onto your needle, twist them, or knit into the back of them. This will tighten up the loop. The last and sixth stitch is the other loop that sits on the edge of the held stitches. Your needles will look like this: (needle one- 5 stitches, needle two- 6 stitches, needle three- 6 stitches) total 17 stitches. Knit one round. On round 2, when you reach needle three, knit 2, k2tog, knit 2. (16 stitches total for the thumb.) Knit in the round until you reach the desired length. Cast off loosely in purl stitch. Weave in all loose ends and gently block.

Chart Legend

Make 1 right