recipe for warm hands

Ta da! They're done and stored in my car.


Pattern: my own; see below for instructions
Yarn: Knit Picks Imagination; colour Pixie Dust; used 1 skein (50g; 219 yds) with only a few yards leftover
Needles: 2.5mm dpns
Notes: Not a lot of yarn leftover. Perfect project for 50g of fingering yarn.

Since these fit a lot better than my first attempt at sock yarn mittens, I thought that I should write it all down so that I don't forget. The mitten & thumb tip decrease is adapted from the Round Toe in Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks. This results in mittens that can be worn on either hand. As with any sock toe, feel free to substitute your own favourite mitten tip.

These instructions have NOT been test knit! You have been warned.

My gauge: 8 sts/inch on 2.5mm dpns

My mitten's finished size: 10.25" long from bottom of cuff to mitten tip (8" long excluding cuff), 8" diameter, thumb is 2.25" long. If you want to make your mittens larger, you'll need more than one skein (50g) of yarn.

Abbreviations
pm - place marker
sm - slip marker
m1 - make one (increase a stitch using your favourite method)

Cast on 64 sts. Join in the round placing marker to indicate the beg of the round. Knit in 2x2 rib until cuff measures 2.25" long.

Next Rnd: k31, pm, k2, pm, k31

Inc Rnd: k31, sm, m1, k2, m1, sm, k31
Next Rnd: k31, sm, k4, sm, k31
Next Rnd: k31, sm, k4, sm, k31
Inc Rnd: k31, sm, m1, k4, m1, sm, k31
Next Rnd: k31, sm, k6, sm, k31
Next Rnd: k31, sm, k6, sm, k31

Continue increasing one stitch after the first marker and one stitch before the second marker, every 3rd round until there are 22 sts between the two markers.

Next Rnd: k31, remove marker, cast on 2 sts using backward loop cast on, slip the next 22 sts onto some waste yarn, k31

Continue knitting in the round until mitten is 2.5" shorter than the desired length.

Dec Rnd: [k6, k2tog]; repeat til end of round
Next 6 Rnds: knit
Dec Rnd: [k5, k2tog]; repeat til end of round
Next 5 Rnds: knit
Dec Rnd: [k4, k2tog]; repeat til end of round
Next 4 Rnds: knit
Dec Rnd: [k3, k2tog]; repeat til end of round
Next 3 Rnds: knit
Dec Rnd: [k2, k2tog]; repeat til end of round
Next 2 Rnds: knit
Dec Rnd: [k1, k2tog]; repeat til end of round
Next Rnd: knit
Dec Rnd: [k2tog]; repeat til end of round

Cut yarn and draw through the remaining 8 sts. Pull tightly.

Thumb

Place sts on waste yarn back onto your needles. Join yarn to the first stitch. Knit all the way around and pick up and knit 2 sts between the thumb and the palm. Place marker. You should have 24 sts on your needles. Knit in the round until thumb is 0.75" shorter than desired.

Next Rnd: [k2, k2tog]; repeat til end of round
Next 2 Rnds: knit
Next Rnd: [k1, k2tog]; repeat til end of round
Next Rnd: knit
Next Rnd: [k2tog]; repeat til end of round

Cut yarn and draw through the remaining 6 sts. Pull tightly.

Weave in ends, blah blah, block. Show everyone in the house how lovely they look (even the cats).