Hiya all,
Just lil ol' me here. Someone on Ravelry was wondering if there were a pattern for mittens using homespun worsted weight yarn (5-8 spi).
So here's the pattern for ya'll, it's not been test knitted so if there are any goofs let me know n I'll fix it for ya. I'll post some pics Thursday.
You will need about 3-4 oz of two ply (or singles if ya want or even chain plyed yarn) of worsted weight yarn. Or if you aren't a spinner just yet, you can use any worsted weight yarn. This will make two mittens for a size womens large (I have big hands for a chick).
You will also need size 5 double point knitting needles (this can easily be made with two circs or magic loop as it's based on two equal halves or sides.)
You will also be using the "Sherman Sock Method" for the top of the mitten.
Important abbreviations used in this pattern:
co= cast on
st(s)= stitch(es)
sl = slip
p= purl
k= knit
enc = encroachment sts (explained in pattern where they occur)
k2tog = knit next two stitches together as one.
BO = bind off or cast off
rnd = round
dpn(s)= double point needles.
some extra terms that sometimes are confusing:
knit even = knitting without decreases or increases, the stitch count remains the same for each round or row.
_ x's = however many times a certain action is repeated (usually in parentheses) example: "(k2tog, k1) 4x's" means to do what is in parentheses 4 times and them move on to the next set of instructions. in that line.
LEFT MITTEN:
With 2 dpn's cast on (co) 20 stitches, with either judy beckers magic caston (can be found at knitty.com) or simple backwards loop caston. Take one needle out of the cast on sts and with just the two dpn's
Purl across, turn
1: Sl 1, k 18, turn
2. Sl 1, p 17, turn
3. Sl 1, k 16, turn
4. Sl 1, p 15, turn
5. Sl 1, k 14, turn
6. Sl 1, p 13, turn
7. Sl 1, k 12, turn
8. Sl 1, p 11, turn
9. Sl 1, k 10, turn
10. Sl 1, p 9, turn
11. Sl 1, k 8, turn
(over the tip and going down the other side row)
12. Sl 1, p 6, sl next st, Purl encroachment st, turn
(encroachment sts are: pick up the loop around the bottom of the next st, knit the slipped st and the picked up or encroached sts together either purlwise or knitwise, depending on which side you are doing. Knit or purl through the front of the sts so that you don't have unsightly holes)
13. k7, sl 1, k encroachment sts, turn
14. p8, sl 1, p encroachment sts. turn
15. k9, sl 1, k enc. turn
16. p10,sl 1, p enc. turn
17. k 11, sl 1, k enc. turn
18. p12, sl 1, p enc. turn
19. k13, sl 1, k enc. turn
20. p14, sl 1, p enc turn
21. k 15, sl 1, k enc turn
22. p 16, sl 1, p enc turn
23 (last row of enc sts) sl 1, k 16, sl 1, k enc, sl 1. Do not turn.
You will now be working in the round.
Pick up on the cast on edge (if you used the magic caston you can just transfer 10 sts to one needle and then ten sts to another dpn.) 10 sts, with another needle pick up 10 more sts. You will have 20 sts on needle one and ten each on needles two and three.
Now work in rounds evenly (no increasing or decreasing) til the length of the mitten top reaches the crux of where your thumb meets your hand (or whomever you are knitting it for).
Work to end of round, Starting with the needle with 20 sts, BO 5 sts, knit around to end.
Next Round. At beginning of round, Cast on 10 stitches, Skip the 5 bound off sts, and knit next 15 sts left on needle 1. Then knit around.
Next round. Knit the 10 CO sts. Knit around. Knit 4 rounds even. (no shaping).
Next Round. K2tog (Knit two sts together), K6, K2tog, knit around remaining sts.
K 2 rounds even.
Next rnd. K2tog, k4, k2tog, k around.
Work 2 rnds even.
Next rnd. K1, k2tog, k around.
Knit 1 round even.
Either change to smaller needles (if you want to) or start k2,p2 ribbing for 2" Bind off in rib.
Make the RIGHT mitten the same way as for left except for the thumb gusset placement:
Right mitten: Work as for left mitten but on needle one, Bind off the last 5 sts on needle one, knit around.
Needle one again, k15, cast on 10 sts, skip the 5 bound off sts. and knit around. continue as for first mitten. On thumb gusset shaping, on 1st needle, k 15, k2tog, k6, k2tog, knit around, work 2 rounds even, on 1st needle, k 15, k2tog, k4, k2tog, knit around, work 2 rows even. Last round of shaping, work to last 3 sts on 1st needle, k2tog, k1, k around. follow direction for the rest of the mitten as written for the left mitten.
Thumbs:
Starting at the bound off stitches of thumb hole, with needle one pick up and knit 6 sts, make sure to pick up a stitch in each "corner" of the thumb hole so there won't be any gaps. These corner sts are part of the count given so don't pick up anymore than called for. Pick up 5 sts with needle two, then pick up 6 more sts with needle three. (17 sts), K 1 round even on thumb.
Next round. K2 tog at each corner of thumb hole, (15 sts or 5 sts on each needle). knit even for @ 1" or when knitting reaches the bottom of the thumbnail.
Start decrease for tip:
(k2, k2tog) 3x's, k1, k2tog. Knit one round even.
Next round. K2tog, around, ending with k1, break off end leaving at least 6" tail, thread through last round of sts twice (more secure that way) Finish off, weave in ends. Repeat for other mitten.
Block if necessary and follow washing directions for your particular yarn.
Just a little quick note on making other sizes or using other weights of yarn.
The Sherman Sock Method is easily adapted to other sizes of mittens, sox and yarn. Of course on the lighter weight yarns you would have to do more even rounds to compensate, perhapes 2 for every one even round in worsted.
If you are using sock yarn or sport weight yarn you would cast on half the amount of sts required for a full round. In our pattern the full round is 40 sts so half would be 20 sts.
If using sport weight you would cast on 26 sts.
If you use sock or fingering weight yarn you would cast on 30- 34 sts, depending on size of hand.
The next part of the magic of the Sherman Sock method is calculating the short rows and turning.
All you have to remember is:
-2
-2
-4
In our example you have 20 sts per half,
in the first short row you would -2 sts for your plain knit sts. So we have sl 1, and k18, turn. This is 20-2 = 18
Okay the next calculation would be for the turning row,
In our example it's: sl 1, k8, turn. sl 1, p6, p enc. turn. So beings we worked down to 8 sts then 8-2 =6.
On the last short rows we work til 20-4 or there are 16 purls between turns and enc. 20-4=16.
I know sort of confusing but it works and makes this very easy to adapt for sizes and weights of socks or mittens or whatever you want to use this particular technique for. (hat brims comes to mind).
As I said previously, I will post some pics for ya n all that.
Happy knitting, if you happen to find goofs, just let me know and I'll do my best to fix em.
Thanks.
Tami aka knittycakebaker
Just lil ol' me here. Someone on Ravelry was wondering if there were a pattern for mittens using homespun worsted weight yarn (5-8 spi).
So here's the pattern for ya'll, it's not been test knitted so if there are any goofs let me know n I'll fix it for ya. I'll post some pics Thursday.
You will need about 3-4 oz of two ply (or singles if ya want or even chain plyed yarn) of worsted weight yarn. Or if you aren't a spinner just yet, you can use any worsted weight yarn. This will make two mittens for a size womens large (I have big hands for a chick).
You will also need size 5 double point knitting needles (this can easily be made with two circs or magic loop as it's based on two equal halves or sides.)
You will also be using the "Sherman Sock Method" for the top of the mitten.
Important abbreviations used in this pattern:
co= cast on
st(s)= stitch(es)
sl = slip
p= purl
k= knit
enc = encroachment sts (explained in pattern where they occur)
k2tog = knit next two stitches together as one.
BO = bind off or cast off
rnd = round
dpn(s)= double point needles.
some extra terms that sometimes are confusing:
knit even = knitting without decreases or increases, the stitch count remains the same for each round or row.
_ x's = however many times a certain action is repeated (usually in parentheses) example: "(k2tog, k1) 4x's" means to do what is in parentheses 4 times and them move on to the next set of instructions. in that line.
LEFT MITTEN:
With 2 dpn's cast on (co) 20 stitches, with either judy beckers magic caston (can be found at knitty.com) or simple backwards loop caston. Take one needle out of the cast on sts and with just the two dpn's
Purl across, turn
1: Sl 1, k 18, turn
2. Sl 1, p 17, turn
3. Sl 1, k 16, turn
4. Sl 1, p 15, turn
5. Sl 1, k 14, turn
6. Sl 1, p 13, turn
7. Sl 1, k 12, turn
8. Sl 1, p 11, turn
9. Sl 1, k 10, turn
10. Sl 1, p 9, turn
11. Sl 1, k 8, turn
(over the tip and going down the other side row)
12. Sl 1, p 6, sl next st, Purl encroachment st, turn
(encroachment sts are: pick up the loop around the bottom of the next st, knit the slipped st and the picked up or encroached sts together either purlwise or knitwise, depending on which side you are doing. Knit or purl through the front of the sts so that you don't have unsightly holes)
13. k7, sl 1, k encroachment sts, turn
14. p8, sl 1, p encroachment sts. turn
15. k9, sl 1, k enc. turn
16. p10,sl 1, p enc. turn
17. k 11, sl 1, k enc. turn
18. p12, sl 1, p enc. turn
19. k13, sl 1, k enc. turn
20. p14, sl 1, p enc turn
21. k 15, sl 1, k enc turn
22. p 16, sl 1, p enc turn
23 (last row of enc sts) sl 1, k 16, sl 1, k enc, sl 1. Do not turn.
You will now be working in the round.
Pick up on the cast on edge (if you used the magic caston you can just transfer 10 sts to one needle and then ten sts to another dpn.) 10 sts, with another needle pick up 10 more sts. You will have 20 sts on needle one and ten each on needles two and three.
Now work in rounds evenly (no increasing or decreasing) til the length of the mitten top reaches the crux of where your thumb meets your hand (or whomever you are knitting it for).
Work to end of round, Starting with the needle with 20 sts, BO 5 sts, knit around to end.
Next Round. At beginning of round, Cast on 10 stitches, Skip the 5 bound off sts, and knit next 15 sts left on needle 1. Then knit around.
Next round. Knit the 10 CO sts. Knit around. Knit 4 rounds even. (no shaping).
Next Round. K2tog (Knit two sts together), K6, K2tog, knit around remaining sts.
K 2 rounds even.
Next rnd. K2tog, k4, k2tog, k around.
Work 2 rnds even.
Next rnd. K1, k2tog, k around.
Knit 1 round even.
Either change to smaller needles (if you want to) or start k2,p2 ribbing for 2" Bind off in rib.
Make the RIGHT mitten the same way as for left except for the thumb gusset placement:
Right mitten: Work as for left mitten but on needle one, Bind off the last 5 sts on needle one, knit around.
Needle one again, k15, cast on 10 sts, skip the 5 bound off sts. and knit around. continue as for first mitten. On thumb gusset shaping, on 1st needle, k 15, k2tog, k6, k2tog, knit around, work 2 rounds even, on 1st needle, k 15, k2tog, k4, k2tog, knit around, work 2 rows even. Last round of shaping, work to last 3 sts on 1st needle, k2tog, k1, k around. follow direction for the rest of the mitten as written for the left mitten.
Thumbs:
Starting at the bound off stitches of thumb hole, with needle one pick up and knit 6 sts, make sure to pick up a stitch in each "corner" of the thumb hole so there won't be any gaps. These corner sts are part of the count given so don't pick up anymore than called for. Pick up 5 sts with needle two, then pick up 6 more sts with needle three. (17 sts), K 1 round even on thumb.
Next round. K2 tog at each corner of thumb hole, (15 sts or 5 sts on each needle). knit even for @ 1" or when knitting reaches the bottom of the thumbnail.
Start decrease for tip:
(k2, k2tog) 3x's, k1, k2tog. Knit one round even.
Next round. K2tog, around, ending with k1, break off end leaving at least 6" tail, thread through last round of sts twice (more secure that way) Finish off, weave in ends. Repeat for other mitten.
Block if necessary and follow washing directions for your particular yarn.
Just a little quick note on making other sizes or using other weights of yarn.
The Sherman Sock Method is easily adapted to other sizes of mittens, sox and yarn. Of course on the lighter weight yarns you would have to do more even rounds to compensate, perhapes 2 for every one even round in worsted.
If you are using sock yarn or sport weight yarn you would cast on half the amount of sts required for a full round. In our pattern the full round is 40 sts so half would be 20 sts.
If using sport weight you would cast on 26 sts.
If you use sock or fingering weight yarn you would cast on 30- 34 sts, depending on size of hand.
The next part of the magic of the Sherman Sock method is calculating the short rows and turning.
All you have to remember is:
-2
-2
-4
In our example you have 20 sts per half,
in the first short row you would -2 sts for your plain knit sts. So we have sl 1, and k18, turn. This is 20-2 = 18
Okay the next calculation would be for the turning row,
In our example it's: sl 1, k8, turn. sl 1, p6, p enc. turn. So beings we worked down to 8 sts then 8-2 =6.
On the last short rows we work til 20-4 or there are 16 purls between turns and enc. 20-4=16.
I know sort of confusing but it works and makes this very easy to adapt for sizes and weights of socks or mittens or whatever you want to use this particular technique for. (hat brims comes to mind).
As I said previously, I will post some pics for ya n all that.
Happy knitting, if you happen to find goofs, just let me know and I'll do my best to fix em.
Thanks.
Tami aka knittycakebaker
