Helicopter Mitts
I designed these mitts using a stitch pattern borowed from a hat design highlighting spiraling columns that resemble the twirling path of a maple seed (or helicopters as most children call them) as it falls to the ground each spring. These mitts can be knit using magic loop, 2 circulars or dpns.
Difficulty
Adventurous beginner; skills include lace stitches and working in the round.
Yarn
New Hampshire Knitting Mama Windham (worsted weight) (100% Merino).
Needles
1 -32" circular needle for Magic Loop, US size 5 (mm) or 2 -16" circular needles, US size 5 (mm) or 5 DPNs, US size 5 (mm)
Notions
Stitch markers TapestryNeedle Gauge Approximately 6 sts per inch in k2, p2, ribbing pattern, unstretched.
Abbreviations
K , k- Knit P,p-Purl sts - Stitches rnd - Round yo - Yarn over sl- Slip PM - Place Marker SM - Slip Marker M1L - Make one left (front) From the front, lift loop between stitches with left needle, knit into back of loop M1R - Make one right (back) From the back, lift loop between stitches with left needle, knit into front of loop p2tog - purl 2 sts together k2tog - knit 2 sts together ssk - Slip2 sts (one at a time) knitwise, then k2tog Helicopter Pattern (multiples of 12 sts) Rnd 1: \*P3, yo, k4, ssk, k3; rep from \* to end of rnd. Rnd 2: \*P3, k1, yo, k4, ssk, k2; rep from \* to end of rnd Rnd 3: \*P3, k2, yo, k4, ssk, k1; rep from \* to end of rnd Rnd 4: \*P3, k3, yo, k4, ssk; rep from \* to end of rnd
Directions
Cast on 48 sts. Divide sts onto needles according to needle type using, 12 sts per needle using 4 needles for DPNs, 24 sts per needle for 2 circulars, or all 48 sts on long circular needle for Magic Loop. Join sts for working in the round, being careful not to twist sts. K2, p2, ribbing for 10 rnds Work four repeats of the helicopter stitch pattern. (\*\*Note, to increase the length of the mitts, increase the number of repeats of the helicopter stitch pattern, ending after completing a Rnd 4 row)
Thumb Pattern
\*Note: The thumb pattern is a 'gusset' pattern where you are adding a series of stitches onto one side of your mitten to make a thumb space. You will be using stitch markers to indicate where the stitches should be added and increasing the number of stitches between the marker and the end of the round. In the first round, you are knitting in the helicopter pattern (round 1 of the pattern is repeated twice before you start the gusset). You will place a marker after the two repeats of the pattern to set aside those stitches that will become the thumb gusset stitches. Rnd 1: P3, yo, k4, ssk, k3, p3, yo, k4, ssk, PM, M1R, k3, M1L, PM p3, yo, k4, ssk, k3, ps, yo, k4, ssk, k3 Rnd 2: P3, k1, yo, k4, ssk, k2, p3, k1, yo, k4, k1, SM, k to next marker, k in helicopter pattern to end of rnd Rnd 3: P3, k2, yo, k4, ssk, k1, p3, k2, yo, k4, k1, SM, M1R, k to next marker,M1L, k in helicopter pattern to end of rnd Rnd 4: P3, k3, yo, k4, ssk, p3, k3, yo, k4, k1, SM, k to next marker, k in helicopter pattern to end of rnd Rnd 5: P3, yo, k4, ssk, k3, p3, yo, k4, ssk, k3, SM, M1R, k to next marker, M1L, k in helicopter pattern to end of rnd Rnd 6: P3, k1, yo, k4, ssk, k2, P3, k1, yo, k4, ssk, k2, SM, k to next marker, k in helicopter pattern to end of rnd Rnd 7: P3, k2, yo, k4, ssk, k1, p3, k2, yo, k4, ssk, k1, SM, M1R, k to next marker M1L, k in helicopter pattern to endof rnd Rnd 8: P3, k3, yo, k4, ssk, p3, k3, yo, k4, ssk, SM, k to next marker, k in helicopter pattern to end of rnd Rnd 9: P3, yo, k4, ssk, k3, p3, yo, k4, ssk, k3, SM, M1R, k to next marker, M1L, k in helicopter pattern to end of rnd Rnd 10: P3, k1, yo, k4, ssk, k2, p3, k1, yo, k4, ssk, k2, SM, k to next marker, k in helicopter pattern to end of rnd Rnd 11: P3, k2, yo, k4, ssk, k1, p3, k2, yo, k4, ssk, k1, SM, M1R, k to next marker, M1L, k in helicopter pattern to end of rnd Rnd 12: P3, k3, yo, k4, ssk, p3, k3, yo, k4, ssk, SM, kto next marker, k in helicopter pattern across to end of rnd You will have created 15 thumb sts Rnd 13: P3, yo, k4, ssk, k3, p3, yo, k4, ssk, k3, remove marker, bind off 15 sts Rnd 14: sl last st from rnd 13 onto next needle (if using 2 circulars or DPNs), and p2tog, p1, k1, yo, k4, ssk,k2, p3, k1, yo, k4, ssk, k2
Hand Pattern
Return to using the Helicopter stitch pattern and begin on Rnd 3 of the pattern. Complete the remaining rounds of the stitch pattern, and repeat the stitch pattern one additional time. K2, p2 rib for 10 rnds Bind off, now put them on, run outside and catch a few helicopters with your children!
