Winter Knits: Big Apple Fingerless Mitts

Winter Knits is an installment of wintery themed knitting patterns, and a reflection of what I'm currently casting on.

| One of my dearest friends is spending her Christmas holiday in the "big apple", a dream trip of sorts full of broadway shows, yummy food, and sweet family time. I wanted to make her something useful for her trip and when I came across Kretido's Kaisa Mittens, I knew they'd be perfect for my NY City-visiting, classy friend Danielle! Though I love a good mitten (they are so cute), they can be a bit impractical in this age of touchscreen phones. I set out to modify the pattern into a fingerless mitt, and along the way I made a few changes to Kretido's original pattern. I loved making these- the two-color technique was so fun to do, and it's a pretty quick knit overall (It took me about 6 hours to make a pair).

I used WATG's Sheepaca yarn in Ivory White and Lipstick Red for this project and gahhhh it's a gorgeous fiber! It knits up beautifully, and has the matte finish of wool but the soft (non-itchy) quality of alpaca. If you end up using this lovely yarn, you'll end up having some left over (perhaps enough for a second pair of gloves). It's a 3-ply Worsted Weight yarn, so just be sure to use a yarn of that weight to stay true to the pattern.

WINTER KNITS: Big Apple Fingerless Mitts

by Sara Thomas (inspired by Kretido's Kaisa Mittens)

SUPPLIES

(1) Set DP Needles, size 3.25mm/US 3

150g (total) 3-ply yarn, in two colors (I recommend a natural fiber yarn, for breathability. Cause I find sweaty palms really irksome!)

Yarn Needle

INSTRUCTIONS

Cuff:

Using Color A (or your main color), cast on 48sts (16 per needle) and join to work in the round. Work a K2, P2 rib pattern for 20 rounds.

Custom option: Shorten or lengthen the cuff to suit your fancy by decreasing or increasing the rib rounds.

Thumb Gusset:

Rnd 21: Knit round in stockinette stitch.

Rnd 22: K 10, K2tog*, repeat to end making 4 decreases total. (44sts)

Here we will begin our color work. Work rounds 23-25 as follows:

Color Work Pattern Rnd 1: Knit first stitch with color A, and using Color B (your contrast color), purl the next stitch. Work in this pattern to the end of the round.

If you are new to color work, you may find this tutorial helpful. Figure out a way to comfortably hold the yarn so that it does not tangle. Trust me, you don't want to deal with a tangly mess!

Color Work Pattern Rnd 2: Repeat Rnd 1 of color work pattern.

Color Work Pattern Rnd 3: Using only Color A, K1P1 to end of round.

Work rounds 26-30 in the color work pattern, ending after Rnd 2.

Increases:

We will be working the increases for the thumb gusset at the beginning of each round using color A, while working the color work pattern over the rest of the stitches. You will need to carry color B behind the thumb stitches when working a two color round. This may sound confusing but sometimes with knitting you just gotta do it. As you work it, you'll figure out the methodology. Remember to stay in pattern.

Rnd 31: yarn over (YO), K1, YO, Knit to end of Round.

Rnd 32: K3. Purl next stitch with color B, continue in color work pattern rnd 1 to end.

Rnd 33: YO, K1, YO, K2, being sure to carry color B behind knit stitches. Continue in color work pattern rnd 2, starting with P stitch, to end of rnd.

Rnd 34: With color A, knit around.

Rnd 35: YO, K1, YO, K4, continue in color work pattern rnd 1 to end of rnd.

Rnd 36: K7, continue in color work pattern rnd 2 to end.

Rnd 37: YO, K1, YO, K with color A to end of round.

Rnd 38: K9, continue in color work pattern rnd 1 to end.

Rnd 39: YO, K1, YO, K8, continue in color work pattern rnd 2 to end.

Rnd 40: With color A, knit around.

Rnd 41: YO, K1, YO, K10, continue in color work pattern rnd 1 to end.

Continue in pattern for 3 rounds.

Move the first 13 stitches (thumb stitches) to a scrap piece of yarn. Cast on 1 stitch with Color A, continue in color work pattern rnd 2 to end.

Work rnds 46-58 in pattern, or until mitts measure just past your knuckles. Cut color B, leaving a 3" tail.

Continuing on in color A, work a K2, P2 rib pattern for 5 rounds.

Cast off. Weave in ends.

Thumb:

Put 13 thumb sts from scrap yarn onto needles, pick up 3 stitches around thumb opening, and divide (5, 5, 6). Knit 3 rnds in stockinette stitch.

Next rnd, work K2, P2 rib pattern to end. Repeat patter for 4 more rounds. Cast off, leaving a 10" tail. Weave in tail, also using it to stitch up any holes at the base of the thumb. Knot securely. Weave in ends.

Repeat pattern for second fingerless mitt.

||Care: I recommend hand-washing all hand knit items in cool water with a mild detergent. Lay flat to dry. ||

#winterknits #kaisamittens #fingerlessglove