Nightowl Halflings
by RachOwl Joy
Construction Notes:
Knit top-down, in the round. Provisional stitches are cast-on for the thumb. A thumb gusset is decreased. Then the provisional stitches and held stitches are picked up and worked in the round upwards and away from the hand to form the rest of the thumb.
Stitch Notes:
Cable Back - slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold to back of work, knit next 2 stitches, knit 2 stitches from cable needle Cable Front - slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold to front of work, knit next 2 stitches, knit 2 stitches from cable needle Cable Twist - knit 2nd stitch on needle, knit 1"t stitch on needle, drop both stitches from left-hand needle. Side Cable - slip 1 stitch to cable needle and hold to front of work, knit next stitch, knit stitch from cable needle, slip 1 stitch to cable needle and hold to back of work, knit next stitch, knit stitch from cable needle. ssk - slip 1 stitch knitwise, slip next stitch purlwise, k slipped stitches together through the back loop. Left Purl Cable - slip 2 stitches to cable needle and hold to front of work, purl next stitch, knit stitches from cable needle. Right Purl Cable - slip 1 stitch to cable needle and hold to back of work, knit next 2 stitches, purl stitch from cable needle.
Sizes
(measured around theknuckles) Small - 5 inches Medium - 6 inches Large - 7 inches Extra-large - 8 inches
Gauge:
4” stockinette = 26 stitches, 40 rows
Materials:
Yarn: Malabrigo Silky Merino, 1-2 skeins Needles: US size 4 (or size needed to obtain gauge) Cable needle Stitch markers Waste yarn Yarn needle
Suggested Techniques
Tubular Cast-On using Judy's Magic Cast-On Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off
Left Hand:
Cast-on 28 (36, 44, 52) stitches using your favorite stretchy cast-on. Join in the round and knit 4 rounds in 2x2 ribbing. Round 5: [Cable Twist, p2, k2, p2], repeat around, Cable Twist, p2. Knit 4 more rounds in 2x2 ribbing Round 10: [k2, p2, Cable Twist, p2], repeat around, k2, p2. Round 11: purl around. Round 12 (set-up for cables): k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k8 (k12, k16, k20), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 13: repeat round 12. Round 14: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), y0, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). (29, 37, 45, 53 stitches) Round 15: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k9 (k13, k17, k21), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 16: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, Side Cable, p1, k2 (k4, k6, k8), k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k2 (k4, k6, k8), p1, Side Cable, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 17: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 18: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k1 (k3, k5, k7), k2tog, yo, p1, k1, p1, yo, ssk, k1 (k3, k5, k7), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 19: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 20: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k0 (k2, k4, k6), k2tog, yo, k1, p1, kl, p1, k1, yo, ssk, k0 (k2, k4, k6), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 21: (k6, k8, k10), p1, Side Cable, p1, k2 (k4, k6, k8), p1, kl, p1, kl, pl, k2 (k4, k6, k8), p1, Side Cable, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 22 (thumb cast-on): k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k1 (k3, k5, k7), yo, ssk, p1, k1, p1, k2tog, yo, k1 (k3, k5, k7), p1, provisionally cast-on 16 stitches onto left hand needle, slip next four stitches to holder or waste yarn, pl, k4 (k6, k8, k10). (41, 49, 57, 65 stitches) Round 23: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k16, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 24: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k3 (k5, k7, k9), yo, [slip 1 purlwise, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over], yo, k3 (k5, k7, k9), p1, k3, Left Purl Cable, k4, Right Purl Cable, k3, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 25: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k3, p1, k8, p1, k3, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 26: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, Side Cable, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), y0, ssk, k3 (k5, k7, k9), p1, k3, p1, Cable Front, Cable Back, p1, k3, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 27: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k9 (k13, k17, k21), pl, k3, pl, k8, p1, k3, pl, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Continued on next page. Round 28: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k2 (k4, k6, k8), k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k2 (k4, k6, k8), p1, k3, p1, kl, p2, k2, p2, k1, pl, k3, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 29: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k3, p1, kl, p2, k2, p2, kl, p1, k3, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 30: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k1 (k3, k5, k7), k2tog, y0, p1, k1, p1, yo, ssk, k1 (k3, k5, k7), p1, k3, p1, k8, p1, k3, pl, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 31 (begin thumb decreases): k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, Side Cable, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k1, ssk, p1, k8, p1, k2tog, k1, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). (39, 47, 55, 63 stitches) Round 32: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k0 (k2, k4, k6), k2tog, yo, k1, p1, kl, p1, kl, y0, ssk, k0 (k2, k4, k6), p1, k2, p1, Cable Front, Cable Back, p1, k2, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 33: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k2 (k4, k6, k8), p1, k1, p1, kl, p1, k2 (k4, k6, k8), p1, k2, p1, k8, pl, k2, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 34: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k2 (k4, k6, k8), yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2 (k4, k6, k8), p1, ssk, p1, k8, p1, k2tog, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). (37,45, 53, 61 stitches) Round 35: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k1, p1, k8, p1, kl, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 36: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, Side Cable, p1, k3 (k5, k7, k9), yo, [slip 1 purlwise, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over], yo, k3 (k5, k7, k9), p1, kl, p1, k8, p1, kl, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 37: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, ssk, k8, k2tog, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). (35, 43, 51, 59 stitches) Round 38: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), y0, ssk, k3 (k5, k7, k9), p1, k10, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 39: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k9 (k13, k17, k21), p1, k10, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 40: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k2 (k4, k6, k8), k2tog, yo, k1, yo, ssk, k2 (k4, k6, k8), p1, ssk, k6, k2tog, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10).). (33, 41, 49, 57 stitches) Round 41: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, Side Cable, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, Cable Front, Cable Back, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 42: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k1 (k3, k5, k7), k2tog, y0, p1, k1, p1, yo, ssk, k1 (k3, k5, k7), p1, k8, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 43: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, ssk, k4, k2tog, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). (31, 39, 47, 55 stitches) Round 44: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k0 (k2, k4, k6), k2tog, yo, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, yo, ssk, k0 (k2, k4, k6), p1, k6, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 45: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k2 (k4, k6, k8), p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k2 (k4, k6, k8), p1, k6, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 46: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, Side Cable, p1, k2 (k4, k6, k8), yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2 (k4, k6, k8), p1, ssk, k2, k2tog, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). (29, 37, 45, 53 stitches) Continued on next page. Round 47: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 48: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k3 (k5, k7, k9), yo, [slip 1 purlwise, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over], yo, k3 (k5, k7, k9), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 49: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 50: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), y0, ssk, k3 (k5, k7, k9), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 51: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, Side Cable, p1, k9 (k13, k17, k21), p1, Side Cable, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). ( 28, 36, 44, 52 stitches) Round 52: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), ssk, k3 (k5, k7, k9), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). (28, 36, 44, 52 stitches) Round 53: purl around. Rounds 54-57: [k2, p2] around. Rounds 58-63: repeat rounds 5-10. At this point: 1. Wrist Length: bind off using your favorite stretchy bind off. 2. Mid-forearm & Elbow Length: a. Measure around your arm at the point you wish your gloves to end: w. bStitches per inch: s. C. Multiple w by s to get your ending stitch count: e. d. b = beginning stitch count. e. Divide b by e to get your ratio of increase. For example, for me: b = 52 and e = 104. That makes my ratio 1/2. That means I increase 1 stitch every round two rounds. To make it more even, I increase 2 stitches every 2 rounds, or 2/2. However, because this would give me a hat instead of an arm, what I have done is to increase 4 stitches over 5 rounds, so: 1. increase round 2. plain round 3. increase round 4. plain round 5. cable round, no increases I call this my “increase repeat." For my arms, the proper increasing seems to be 2 increase repeats, then 1 plain repeat (rounds 6-10). Every person's rate of increase will be different. You can either calculate it yourself (with occasional frogging!), or ask for help. For January-March 2011, Iwill calculate your arm increases if you ask me to. :-) If you simply don't want to worry about the increases, just do the wrist-length version, or knit it as long as it is comfortable for you. There is a lot of fudging involved with making the elbowlength halflings, I'm afraid! Once you are happy with the length of your mitts, bind-off in pattern using a stretchy bind-off. I suggest using Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off. It's really quite easy, and perfect for ribbing!
Right Hand:
Rounds 1-21: as for Left Hand. Round 22 (thumb cast-on): k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, provisionally cast-on 16 stitches onto left hand needle, slip next four stitches to holder or waste yarn, p1, k1 (k3, k5, k7), yo, ssk, p1, k1, p1, k2tog, yo, k1 (k3, k5, k7), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). (41, 49, 57, 65 stitches) Round 23: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k16, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 24: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k3, Left Purl Cable, k4, Right Purl Cable, k3, p1, k3 (k5, k7, k9), yo, [slip 1 purlwise, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over], yo, k3 (k5, k7, k9), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 25: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k3, p1, k8, p1, k3, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 26: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k3, p1, Cable Front, Cable Back, p1, k3, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), y0, ssk, k3 (k5, k7, k9), p1, Side Cable, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 27: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k3, p1, k8, p1, k3, p1, k9 (k13, k17, k21), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 28: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k3, p1, k1, p2, k2, p2, k1, p1, k3, p1, k1 (k3, k5, k7), k2tog, yo, kl, y0, ssk, k1 (k3, k5, k7), pl, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 29: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k3, p1, k1, p2, k2, p2, k1, p1, k3, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 30: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k3, p1, k8, p1, k3, p1, k1 (k3, k5, k7), k2tog, y0, pl, kl, pl, yo, ssk, k1 (k3, k5, k7), p1, k4, pl, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 31 (begin thumb decreases): k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, kl, ssk, pl, k8, p1, k2tog, k1, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, Side Cable, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). (39, 47, 55, 63 stitches) Round 32: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k2, p1, Cable Front, Cable Back, p1, k2, p1, k0 (k2, k4, k6), k2tog, yo, kl, p1, kl, p1l, kl, yo, ssk, k0 (k2, k4, k6), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 33: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k2, p1, k8, p1, k2, p1, k2 (k4, k6, k8), p1, kl, p1, kl, p1, k2 (k4, k6, k8), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 34: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, ssk, p1, k8, p1, k2tog, p1, k2 (k4, k6, k8), yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2 (k4, k6, k8), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). (37, 45, 53, 61 stitches) Round 35: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k1, p1, k8, p1, k1, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 36: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k1, p1, k8, p1, k1, p1, k3 (k5, k7, k9), yo, [slip 1 purlwise, k2tog, pass slipped stitch over], yo, k3 (k5, k7, k9), p1, Side Cable, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 37: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, ssk, k8, k2tog, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). (35, 43, 51, 59 stitches) Round 38: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k10, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), y0, ssk, k3 (k5, k7, k9), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 39: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k10, p1, k9 (k13, k17, k21), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 40: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, ssk, k6, k2tog, p1, k2 (k4, k6, k8), k2tog, yo, k1, y0, ssk, k2 (k4, k6, k8), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). ). (33, 41, 49, 57 stitches) Round 41: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, Cable Front, Cable Back, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, Side Cable, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 42: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k8, p1, k1 (k3, k5, k7), k2tog, yo, p1, k1, p1, yo, ssk, k1 (k3, k5, k7), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 43: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, ssk, k4, k2tog, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). (31, 39, 47, 55 stitches) Round 44: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k6, p1, k0 (k2, k4, k6), k2tog, yo, k1l, p1, k1, p1, k1, yo, ssk, k0 (k2, k4, k6), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 45: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, k6, p1, k2 (k4, k6, k8), p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, k2 (k4, k6, k8), p1, k4, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). Round 46: k4 (k6, k8, k10), p1, ssk, k2, k2tog, p1, k2 (k4, k6, k8), yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k2 (k4, k6, k8), p1, Side Cable, p1, k4 (k6, k8, k10). (29, 37,45, 53 stitches) Rounds 47 onward: as for Left Hand. Continued on next page. Thumb (for both Left & Right Hands): Pick up stitches from waste yarn and provisional cast-on. There should be around 20-21 stitches - decrease around if needed. Knit the first provisional stitch together with one stitch from the waste yarn stitches, knit around to the last provisional stitch, which is knit together with the last waste yarn stitch, knit the remaining two waste yarn stitches. At this point, you should have 18 stitches. Knit around for 10 rows (or until a comfy length). Bind-off purlwise.
Possible Variations:
Instead of alternating Cable Twists on ribbing, Cable Twist every knit column on the 5th rounds. Instead of seed-stitching the center of the lace diamond(s), knit it stockinette. Eliminate the Cable Twists in the ribbing. Eliminate the diamonds in the hand. Please feel free to message me on Ravelry if you need any help! Also, check the pattern page for helpful links. Many, many thanks to my testers! \~RachOwl Joy
