Ever since I began knitting, I have adapted patterns, improvised, and written up my own patterns to meet my needs. A while ago, I formally wrote up a pattern and made it available as a free ravelry download. Now that I have a blog, I thought I'd replicate it here, so that it's available to all web users. My next free pattern, another pair of mitts, will be available soon.
Magic Mitts
This simple mitt pattern, with a thumb gusset, is knit the same for both hands. It uses 2x2 rib cuffs and plain stockinette stitch to show off the lovely self-striping colours of the yarn. It would work well with other self-striping, variegated or solid yarns with a similar gauge to the Lincraft Prism, such as Patons SWS. While this pattern is written to be knit using the magic loop method or 2 circulars, it could also be knit on double pointed needles by dividing the stitches equally amongst 3-4 needles. They can easily be knit 2-at-a-time.
Size
Women’s S [L]
Materials
Lincraft Prism: 70% wool, 30% soybean, Approx 65m per 50g ball; 2 balls
1 x 4.5 mm (US 7), 40” circular and 1 x 5.0 mm (US 8), 40” circular needle for magic loop OR 2 circulars of each size OR 4-5 double-pointed needles of each size
4 stitch markers (only 2 required if knitting one-at-a-time)
Approx 24 inches smooth waste yarn in a contrasting colour
Tapestry needle
gauge
22 st = 4 inches
Pattern Notes
pm – place marker
sm – slip marker
m1L (make 1 left-leaning stitch) – insert left needle from front to back, under the strand of yarn between the last stitch on the left needle and the first stitch on the right needle; knit this stitch through back loop.
m1R (make 1 right-leaning stitch) – insert left needle from back to front, under the strand of yarn between the last stitch on the left needle and the first stitch on the right needle; knit this stitch.
Directions
Cast on 32 [36] stitches on smaller needle. Divide equally and join to knit in the round.
Knit 14 rounds of K2 P2 rib.
Switch to larger needle. Knit 6 rounds stockinette.
Next round – Begin thumb gusset: K16 [18] pm m1R on the first needle, then K1 m1L pm K15 [17] on second needle.
Knit 2 rounds stockinette.
Next round – Thumb increase: K16 [18] sm m1R K1 on first needle, then K2 m1L sm K15 [17] on second needle.
Continue to increase in this manner, every 3rd round, until there are 9 [11] thumb stitches between the markers. Note: the increases are always immediately after the first marker, and just before the second marker.
Next round: K16 [18], transfer 9 [11] thumb stitches to waste yarn, cast on 1 stitch in the gap (backward loop method) on the second needle, k15 [17].
Knit 3 more rounds stockinette.
Change to smaller needles and knit 7 rounds K2 P2 rib.
Cast off in rib.
Thumb:
Using the larger needle, pick up the 9 [11] stitches from the waste yarn and then pick up 3 more stitches in the gap. 12 [14] stitches.
Divide stitches evenly and knit 6 rounds of stockinette.
Cast off loosely.
Weave in ends and block if desired.
variations
There was quite a bit of yarn leftover, so you can easily add length by knitting more rounds before starting the thumb gusset.
Use 1x1 rib on the cuffs instead of 2x2. Or 3x1, etc.
For a medium size, CO 34 and use 1x1 ribs on cuffs. Increase thumb to 9 stitches as with smaller size.
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