Blue Stores Mittens
Sarah F. Price
Blue Stores Mittens are named for the Hudson Valley New York hamlet where I live. The bold geometric design reminds me of a stark winter landscape. The zigzag of blue recalls flashes of winter color, in my case a splashing stream on my favorite winter walk. Blue Stores Mittens offer color play and a good entry into stranded work. The mittens include a ribbed cuff to protect from cold breezes and a gusseted thumb for maximum mobility. Knit in warm istex LéttLopi, they can be lined with your choice of lace or fingering yarn. Feel free to customize with the colors of your winter landscape. Size: small (medium, large) To fit palm circumference: 6.5", (7.5", 8.5"), designed with "wiggle room" for a liner Actual length (not including cuff): 7"(8.5", 9.5") adjustable to fit Yarn: Istex Létt-Lopi [100% wool; 109 yd/100m per 50g ball] [MC] #0054 Ash 1 ball (large will require approx 10yd/9m from a second ball) [CC1] #0058 Dark Grey % ball [CC2] #1402 Heaven Blue 4-5 yds/4-5m Or a worsted weight yarn that gets gauge Needles: 2 (4, 6) US or size needed to get gauge 1 (3, 5) US Notions: stitch marker, waste yarn, tapestry needle Gauge: 26 (22, 20) sts and 28 (22, 20) rows = 4" in colorwork pattern with larger needle Patternnotes For extra warmth knit a liner in lace or sock weight yarn.
Cuff
With MC and smaller needles, loosely CO 40 stitches. Join in round, distribute over 3 needles or preferred working method, pm at beg of round. Ribbing round: [k1,p1] around. Work 2" of ribbing as set.
Hand
Work rnds 1-20 of chart, increasing as indicated and changing to CC2 for second repeat of zigzag pattern. The last pattern repeat of each rnd is an incomplete repeat of 5 sts. Note: Rnd 1 has color only in gusset. Next rnd: Place gusset sts on scrap yarn for thumb. CO 1 st in CC1 to close gap and continue in pattern working the hand until you have a total of 6 [7 for large size] repeats of zigzag pattern until 1-3/4"(2", 2-1/4") short of desired length. Top of mitten: If using dp needles, arrange sts so the first 24 sts of round are on needle #1 and 12 each on needle #2 or #3, or pm between the 24th and 25th st to mark front from back of mitten. For additional warmth, strand top of mitten. Use 2 strands of main color alternating sts. Work one rnd plain. Next rnd: SSK, knit 20, K2tog, SSK knit 20, K2tog (decreasing 4 stitches/round). Work one rnd plain. Work above two rnds until 24 stitches rem. Break yarn leaving a 12-inch tail. Close top of mitten with Kitchener Stitch. (Note: to round off the corners, treat first 2 and last 2 stitches as one when working the Kitchener stitch.)
Thumb
Place sts on scrap yarn on needles. Pick up 3 sts from body of mitten to close gap, MC, CC1, MC (22 sts), pm. Divide stitches into 3 equal groups (7,7,8). Work striped pattern as set with MC & CC1 for 1" (1 -1/4", 1-3/4"), or 7 rnds short of desired length. Start thumb cap, stranding with 2 strands of CC (or desired color for thumb cap). rnd1: k5, k2tog, k5, k2tog, k6, k2tog (3 sts decreased). rnd 2, 4 & 6: knit. rnd 3, 5 & 7: decrease as established in rnd 1 (10sts rem).
Finishing
Cut yarn leaving a 6" tail and thread through rem 10 sts, pull tight and weave in ends.
Abbreviations
CC1 main contrasting color CC2 secondary contrasting color cast on Inc increase k knit Kitchener Stitch http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer04/FEATtheresasum04.html K2tog knit two together P purl MC main color m1 make 1 stitch: 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 back loop. 1 stitch increased. pm place marker rem remain, remaining rnd round sm slip marker SSK slip 2 stitches as if to knit, then knit those 2 stitches together st[s] stitch[es] Many thanks to my wonderful test knitters on Ravelry: Kristoemily, Ihensley, MistyRainbowRose and Sheepwell. Special thanks to Sheepwell for her very helpful comments/edits and the Kitchener tip for rounding the corners. Any errors are, of course, my own. Questions, comments? Fieldstone on Ravelry copyright @ Sarah F. Price 2015 All rights reserved. For personal use only.
