Whenever I fly on a plane I have to have a project to work on, whether it be knitting or crochet -- I've gotta have something in my hands. It keeps me entertained, it helps me pass the time, and hey! I'm actually being productive! I'm SO glad I learned how to knit.

Last week I had a short whirlwind trip similar to my trip to Europe last yearwhere I made my traveling scarf. This time I went from Philly to Chicago to Boston and back. Three flights in three days (plus the expected delays) gave me plenty of time to knit. My Tapestry Crochet Yoga Bag is coming along well, and is a bit too big to be working on the plane with -- so I decided to bring a new, smaller project. I really liked the fingerless "Cornflower Mitts" I made over Christmas (I've actually made them twice, giving them to friends), but didn't know if it'd be something I would wear... so I modified the pattern a bunch and designed my own mittens.

Please comment if you find any errors in the pattern. Thanks.

Detail of the Cabled mittens

Palm-side of the cabled mittens, and their bigger cousin the Saguaro Cactus (picture courtesy ArizonaPlants.com)

• the materials:
  • 1 ball Moda Dea's Washable Wool in Moss (or any comporable worsted weight yarn, don't use a novelty yarn, or you won't get to appreciate the cable work)
  • 1 set of size 8 double pointed needles
  • 3 stitch markers
  • Stitch holder
• stitch glossary:
  • C2B1: slip 2 stitches on cable needle, hold needle to back, knit 1, knit 2 stitches from cable needle
  • C2F2: slip 2 stitches on cable needle, hold needle to front, knit 2, knit 2 stitches from cable needle
  • C1F2: slip 1 stitch on cable needle, hold needle to front, knit 2, knit 1 stitches from cable needle
  • C2B2: slip 2 stitches on cable needle, hold needle to back, knit 2, knit 2 stitches from cable needle
  • m1: Make 1 increase
  • pm: place marker
  • sts: stitches
• the pattern:
  • left mitten
    • Cast on 48 stitches, divide across needles as follows: 15, 9, 12, 12.
    • Row 1: Join round, careful not to twist cast on edge. Place marker to mark beginning of round. [k1, p1]* around.
    • Row 2 and 3: repeat Row 1.
    • Row 4: p1, k2, p2, k3, p2, k4, p2, k3, *[p2, k2], repeat from * 6 times, p1
    • Row 5: Begin Cable Pattern (see chart at bottom of page) p1, k2, p2, C2B1, p2, C2F2, p2, C2B1, *[p2, k2], repeat from * 6 times, p1
    • Row 6: repeat row 4
    • Row 7: p1, k2, p2, C2B1, p2, k4, p2, C2B1, *[p2, k2], repeat from * 6 times, p1
    • Row 8: repeat row 4
    • Row 9: repeat row 7
    • Row 10: repeat row 4
    • Row 11-xxx, repeat cable pattern (rows 5-10)
    • Row 23: Begin thumb gusset. Continue in pattern for 43 sts, pm, p1, m1, p1, pm, continue in pattern til end of round
    • Row 24: Continue in pattern til marker, p1, k1, p1
    • Row 25: Cont in pattern til marker: p1, m1, k1, m1, p1
    • Row 26: Cont in pattern til marker: p1, k3, p1
    • Row 27: Cont in pattern til marker: p1, m1, k3, m1, p1
    • Row 28: Cont in pattern til marker: p1, k5, p1
    • Continue increasing thumb gusset in this fashion until there are 17 stitches between markers, ending with p1, k15, p1. On next row place 15 knit sts on stitch holder.
    • Continue in Cable pattern until mitten comes to the top of your index finger (I started decreasing 1/2 way through my 10th cable repeat for my mittens)
    • Begin Decrease: you want to finish the mitten in the next 5 rows. Ideally you'd follow this pattern: [k2, p2tog]* across, but you have all the cable stitches in the way. So, k or cable all the k and cable stitches, and p2tog all the p stitches.(~37 sts)
    • cont in pattern, p1 instead of p2 where you have decreased.
    • cont in pattern and cont decrease: by k2tog in rib and k2tog on each side of the cabled stiches. (~25 sts)
    • cont in pattern, k1 instead of k2 where you have decreased.
    • k2tog, across. (~13 sts)
    • break yarn leaving 6-10 inch tail. Draw tail through remaining stitches to close. Weave in ends.
  • left thumb
    • from stitch holder, divide stitches evenly across 3 needles. k around, Pick up 2 stitches at base of thumb and k those as well. (17 sts)
    • k all stitches until thumb reaches desired length (just so it comes equal to the top of your thumb
    • [k2, k2tog] around
    • [k1, k2tog] around
    • k2tog around
    • break yarn, leaving 5 inch tail. Draw tail through remaining stitches to close. Weave in ends.
  • right mitten
    The right mitt is the mirrored opposite of the left mitt, including the cable pattern
    • Follow pattern for left mitten, substituting row 5 for the one listed below. Continue until row 23
    • Row 5: Begin Cable Pattern p1, k2, p2, C1F2, p2, C2B2, p2, C1F2, *[p2, k2], repeat from * 6 times, p1
    • Row 23: Begin thumb gusset. Continue in pattern for 27 sts, pm, p1, m1, p1, pm, continue in pattern til end of round
    • Row 24-end follow pattern for right mitten

Cable Pattern for the left mitten, the right mitten is mirrored. Click to see enlarged version

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Responses[4]

Posted by Jessica on March 7, 2007 9:52:59 AM EST #