Free Pattern Phursday - Nine
By now, most of you know how much I love knitting toe up socks. I really don't like casting on a whole whack of stitches, and joining them in the round, avoiding twisting them I always twist the foundation round at least once. There is an easy fix for it, if you catch it in the first round, and that's usually what I do if I happen to twist the join.
However, I like to find work arounds so I don't have to do this fiddly checking and rechecking. I developed this pattern earlier this fall for top down mittens. Using the fabulous Judy's Magic cast on, and just regular toe up type increases, the tip is knit, then the palm, then the thumb hole is created, the gusset decreased, the cuff made and a nice stretchy bind off. All that's left is to pick up the stitches around the thumb hole, knit a few inches and gather up the remaining stitches in a circle and secure them. No grafting, no worries about holes or gaps at the thumb joint. Once the mitten is bound off, you simply weave in a few ends.
However, I like to find work arounds so I don't have to do this fiddly checking and rechecking. I developed this pattern earlier this fall for top down mittens. Using the fabulous Judy's Magic cast on, and just regular toe up type increases, the tip is knit, then the palm, then the thumb hole is created, the gusset decreased, the cuff made and a nice stretchy bind off. All that's left is to pick up the stitches around the thumb hole, knit a few inches and gather up the remaining stitches in a circle and secure them. No grafting, no worries about holes or gaps at the thumb joint. Once the mitten is bound off, you simply weave in a few ends.
Top Down Mittens
Size: Fits Adults medium
Materials: 2 skeins Diamond Luxury Collection
Silk Tweed – 100% raw silk
1 skein SRK Ovation – 75% kid mohair, 25% silk
4 mm 40” circular needle
Gauge: 18 stitches and 28 rows to 4 inches
Note: Mittens are knit top down using Magic Loop method. They also can be knit on two circular needles. Good tutorials are available online to demonstrate both Magic Loop and Judy’s Magic Cast on. The needle used is slightly smaller than usually used for this yarn to create a denser fabric. One strand of each yarn is held together thoughout.
Method:
Using Judy’s Magic Cast on, and 1 strand of each yarn, place 20 stitches onto the circular needle (10 on each side). Knit 1 round plain.
Begin increasing every other round as follows:
Increase round 1: Needle 1 – knit 2, inc 1 knit 6, inc 1, knit 2. Repeat on needle 2 – 4 stitches increased (24 stitches total).
Knit 1 round plain.
Increase Round 2: Needle 1 – knit 2, inc 1 knit 8, inc 1, knit 2. Repeat on needle 2 – 4 stitches increased (28 stitches total.)
Knit 1 round plain.
Increase Round 3: Needle 1 – knit 2, inc 1 knit 10, inc 1, knit 2. Repeat on needle 2 – 4 stitches increased (32 stitches total).
Knit 1 round plain.
Increase round 4: Needle 1 – knit 2, inc 1 knit 12, inc 1, knit 2. Repeat on needle 2 – 4 stitches increased (36 stitches total).
Now, knit plain until piece is 5 ½” (or the length from the middle fingertip to thumb crotch) from the cast on edge.
Thumb Gusset: (For the right mitten, use the numbers in brackets.)
Knit 4 (14) cast on 12 stitches using e-wrap method, knit to end of round. Knit next round plain. 48 stitches total.
Begin decreasing for thumb gusset.
Increase round 1: Knit 3 (13) SSK, knit 10, k2tog, knit 13 (3). Knit next round plain.
Increase round 2: Knit 3 (13) SSK, knit 8, k2tog, knit 13 (3). Knit next round plain.
Increase round 3: Knit 3 (13) SSK, knit 6, k2tog, knit 13 (3). Knit next round plain.
Increase round 4: Knit 3 (13) SSK, knit 4, k2tog, knit 13 (3). Knit next round plain.
Increase round 5: Knit 3 (13) SSK, knit 2, k2tog, knit 13 (3). Knit next round plain.
Increase round 6: Knit 3 (13) SSK, k2tog, knit 13 (3). Knit next round plain.
Now continue knitting plain for 15 rounds.
On the next round you will cast on 5 stitches for the button flap. So, for the left hand, knit across the needle that has the thumb on it, then at the beginning of the next needle cast on 5 stitches. You are no longer working in the round, but you ar now working in rows. (For the right mitten, work across the thumb needle and the top of the hand needle and cast on the 5 stitches at the end of the top of the hand.)
Work back and forth on these 41 stitches in seed stitch (k1, p1) for 10 rows. Cast off in pattern. Weave in ends, and secure button to button flap.
Thumb: Carefully pick up 12 stitches by inserting the needle under the loop created by the e-wrap cast on, and pick up an additional 4 stitches to close up the gap at the top of the thumb hole. Divide the stitches evenly onto the two needles and knit until the thumb is 2 inches long. Knit 2 together across the next round – 8 stitches remain. K2tog across the next round – 4 stitches remain. Break yarn and draw through the remaining stitches. Pull end through to the wrong side and secure well. Sew down a button on top of each button flap.
Ta Da! Your mittens are finished!
Copyright Log Cabin Yarns 2010. Distribution by any means is strictly forbidden without permission of the author.
So, there you have it - a lovely pair of top down mittens. If you have any questions, drop me a line. Better yet, if you make a pair, send me a photo!
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