Spruce Tree Mittens
Designed by Emily Benson The idea for these mittens was originally a structural one: why not put all the increases for the thumb gusset on one side, to make a more form-fitting shape? The final result is a cozy pair of mirror-image mittens, with a tall and skinny cable up the back. The cable pattern reminded me of the shape of the spruce trees we have here in interior Alaska, where warm mittens are a necessity eight months of the year. Enjoy! Yarn: Malabrigo worsted, 1 skein "Burgundy" Needles: set of five Us 7 needles, double pointed Notions: tapestry needle, 3 stitch markers Gauge: 18 stitches, 24 rows for 4 inch x 4 inch block Definitions: K: knit P: purl K1tbl: knit one stitch through back loop
C4F: cable 2 front by holding 2 stitches to front of work on cable needle, knit next 2 stitches,then knit held stitches off cableneedle C4B: cable 2 back by holding 2 stitches to back of work on cable needle, knit next 2 stitches, then knit held stitches off cableneedle Ssk: slip next stitch knit-wise, slip stitch after that knit-wise as well then knit these 2 stitches together by inserting left-hand eedle through thefront of both stitchessimultaneousl,wrapping yanaround right-hand needle, and pulling yarn through both slipped stitches at the same time (results in a decrease of 1 stitch) K2tog: knit two stitches together (results in a decrease of 1 stitch) Stitch patterns: Twisted stitch rib: Left-hand mitten: Round 1: [K1tbl, p1]; repeat these two stitches to end of round Round 2: repeat round 1 Right-hand mitten: Round 1: [P1, k1tbl]; repeat these two stitches to end of round Round 2: repeat round 1 Cable panel: (worked across 9 stitches centered on back of mitten) Row 1: knit all stitches Row 2: knit all stitches Row 3: knit all stitches Row 4: C4F, k1, C4B Continue repeating these 4 rows Instructions: Left-hand mitten: Cast-on 34 stitches Distribute stitches evenly on 3 or 4 needles Join to work in the round, being careful not to twist stitches Work in twisted stitch rib until piece measures 3 inches from cast-on edge (about 18 rounds) Next round (round 1 of gusset): k 14 stitches, place marker, k6 stitches, place marker, krow 1 of cable panel, place marker, k remaining stitches Round:almamariaxfaaaningst Round3:testitchremar,b,mark,lma xt wfca pan, lima, ing stitches (35 stitches) Repeat rounds 2 and 3 seven times more (42 stitches; end on row 1 of cable panel) Next round: kto marker,slip marker, to marker, slip marker, k next row of cable panel, lip marker, remaining stitches Next round: to 10 stitches before marker, place next 10 stitches onwaste yan, remove marker, cast-on6 additonal stitches, to marker slip marker, k next row of cable panel, slip marker, kremaining stitches (38 stitches) Next round: kto marker, slip marker, k next row of cable panel, slip marker, kremaining stitches Repeat this round until piece measures $4\,5/8$ inches from thumb cast-on edge; end on row 4 of cable panel (about 29 rounds) Redistribute stitchesonnedesuchthat frst 9 stithesareneed , nxt 10 stitchesarenneee,ext 9 stitches are on needle 3, and final 10 stitches are on needle 4 Next round roud of dcreasrouds):sk, kuntil stitchesreman oned2, ktog ssk, tmarkr lima knext row of cable panel, slip marker, kuntil2 stitches remain on needle 4, k2tog (34 stitches) Round 2: kto marker, slip marker, k next row of cable panel, slip marker, kremaining stitches Repeat rounds 1 and 2 three times more (22 stitches) Next round remove markers during this round): Ssk, kuntil stitches remain on neede 2, ktog, ssk, until stitches remain on needle 4, k2tog (18 stitches) Slip stitches from needle 2 onto needle 1 purl-wise Slip stitches from needle4 onto needle 3 purl-wise Cut yarn, aving taifabot 1. ft inlngth;uing tail graft topofmittetogetherusing Kithenestitc. Thumb: Pikupandknitstithesfworjustaecast-oneeacrossthetoofthehllft fortheth;ace the stitches on needle 1 Place live stitches held with waste yarn on needles 2 and 3 (5 stitches on each needle), remove waste yarn, k10 stitches Next round: kall stitches Repeathis round until thumb measures 21/2 inches from base ofthumb where stitches were picked up (about 16 rounds) Next round (roud 1 f decrease rounds): tog,k1];reat fourtiesmore, 2 stithes (12 stiths) Round 2: [k2tog, k1]; repeat three times more (8 stitches) Round 3:[k2togl; repeat three times more (4 stitches) Cut yarn,leaving tailof about6inchesinlength;bring tailthroughremaining stitheand pullsug Weavrdsat Right-hand mitten: Cast-on 34 stitches Distribute stitches evenly on 3 or 4 needles Join to work in the round, being careful notto twist stitches Work intwisted stitchrib remember to begin with pl instead of kitbl untilpiece measures inches from cast-on edge (about 18 rounds) Next round (round 1 of gusset): k5 stitches, place marker, k row 1 of cable panel, place marker, k6 stitches, place marker, k remaining stitches Round $2:\mathsf{k}$ tmark slmar xt rfcalpan slmar mark slimarmaining sth Rod lfk stitches (35 stitches) Repeat rounds 2 and 3 seventimesmore(42 stitches;endonrow1 ofcable panel) Nextrodar lakfcaae maa la stitches Next roud: tomarker,slipmarke, next rowof cable pael, slp marker, tomarker,emv marker, placeet 10 stitches on waste yarn, cast-on 6 additional stitches, k remaining stitches (38 stitches) Next round: tomarker, li marker knext rowof cable panel li marke, kremaining stitches Repeat this round until piece measures $4\,5/8$ inches from thumb cast-on edge; end on row 4 of cable panel (about 29 rounds) Redistribute stitches on needles such that frst 9 stitches are on needle 1, next 10 stitches are on needle 2, next 9 stitches are on needle 3, and final 10 stitches are on needle 4 Next round (round 1 of decrease rounds): Ssk, kto marker,slip marker, knext row of cable panel, slip marker, kuntil 2 stitches remain on needle 2, k2tog, ssk, k until 2 stitches remain on needle 4, k2tog (34 stitches) Round 2: k to marker, slip marker, k next row of cable panel, slip marker, k remaining stitches Repeat rounds 1 and 2 three times more (22 stitches) Next round (remove markers during this round): Ssk, kuntil 2 stitches remain on needle 2, k2tog, sk, k until 2 stitches remain on needle 4, k2tog (18 stitches) Slip stitches from needle 2 onto needle 1 purl-wise Slip stitches from needle 4 onto needle 3 purl-wise Cut yarn, leaving tailof about 1.5ft inlength; using tail, graft topof mitten together using Kitchener stitch. Thumb:
Follow instructions for left-hand mitten thumb. $\copyright$ 2010 Emily Benson. All rights reserved. For personal use only; please do not selobjects knitted from this pattern. Please direct questions to Emily at erbenson1@gmail.com or erbenson on ravelry.
