Hansa Mittens
These mittens were inspired by Latvian mittens. Use fingering weight yarn for warm and beautiful mittens.
Yarn
KnitPicks Palette 50 g = approx. 210 m, 1,75 oz = 231 yds White (main color, MC) 1 ball. Iris Heather (contrasting color, CC) 1 ball If you need to substitute yarn, choose loosely spun, 2-ply fingering weight yarn.
Needles
US #0 and #1 (2 mm and 2,25 mm) DPN's.
Gauge
38 sts = 4"/10 cm in stranded pattern.
Sizes
Finished mittens will fit a large woman's hand or a medium men's. The mitten measures 8,5" in circumference. You can make yours smaller by switching tosmaller needle size. Please read the pattern carefully through before casting on.
Abbreviations
Standard Knitty abbreviations have been used in this pattern.
Left mitten
Cast on 80 sts (20 sts/needle) in MC onto smaller needles and knit 6 rows in stockinette stitch. Purl one row for edging. Switch to larger needle size and knit 6 rows. Knit braided edging: Row 1: with CC, knit all sts. Row 2: with CC, purl all sts.
Row 3: [k1 with MC, k1 with CC], repeat [-] to end. Row 4: Bring both yarns to front as if to purl, [purl the MC st with MC, purl the CC st with CC], repeat [-] to end, bringing the new color under the old every time you change. The yarns are supposed to twist around eachother. Row 5: [purl the MC st with MC, purl the CC st with CC], repeat [-] to end, bringing the new color over the old every time you change. The twist created on row 4 will unravel on row 5 if this is done correctly. Repeat rows 1 and 2 once. Begin stranded colorwork by working R1 in chart. Every stitch of the cuff is represented in chart, knit all rows in chart. In the chart, the thumb, including the gusset, is represented and one half of mitten. Both sides of mitten are the same. The dark squares in the chart are in CC and the white squares are in MC. One square equals one knit stitch. Note on rows 1 and 2: Row 1: with CC, knit. Row 2: with MC, [k39, slip 1], repeat [-] Continue according to chart on row 3. Thumb gusset: Begin gusset pattern on row 20. In the gusset chart, you will find 3 sts on row 20 for the thumb. The middle stitch is the contrasting color stitch between hand and palm (ie. this is the stitch between the halves of the mitten). Make 1 stitch in CC on both sides of this middle stitch = 3 sts for the gusset. The two new sts will become the edge sts of the gusset. Make new stitches inside these edge sts: in the right edge, knit the edge st before increasing, and in the left edge, knit until the edge st remains before increasing. After you have knitted the gusset and you're on row 44, slip the gusset sts onto a stitch holder or use some scrap yarn to place the stitches on hold. To replace the gusset stitches, make 1 stitch in CC between the MC stitches (this will replace the middle stitch described above and will also become the new stripe between hand and palm). Continue according to chart. Begin top decreases on row 84. After last row in chart, cut yarn and graft the top with MC.
Right Mitten
Knit the right mitten as the left one, but reverse the order of rows 4 and 5 in the braided edging.
Thumbs:
Pick up sts left on holder, and slip them onto 3 DPN's. Pick up 3 new sts to avoid any holes: pick up 1 MC st, 1 CC st (use the 1 new st created after finishing the gusset) and 1 MC st = 3 more sts for thumb. Knit the top of the thumb according to thumb chart. After last row in chart, cut yarn and graft the top with MC.
Finishing
Sew the decorative edging right below the first CC row: fold the 6 rows before 1 purled row to the WS and use a tapestry needle to sew the cast-on edge to the body of mitten. Weave in ends and block gently.
Copyright
This pattern is offered for non-commercial, personal use only. Any other use, including commercial reproduction or modification, distribution, transmission or republication in electronic or any other means without prior written permission from the designer is strictly prohibited and is a violation of copyright and intellectual property rights. If you have any questions regarding the use of this pattern, please contact me via email and I will be happy to assist. Tuulia Salmela 2011. http://tuulia.blogspot.com tuulia.salmela@gmail.com http://www.ravelry.com/people/Tuulia
