Monday, January 15, 2007

Latvian-inspired mitten pattern


Here's the pattern for my "Latvian" mitten:

Requirements:
size 4 double-pointed needles
Karabella Aurora 8 (94 yards/skein) or other worsted weight yarn: 2 skeins color A, 1 skein color B, 1 skein color C
Tapestry needle
waste yarn

Ladies' size small
Gauge: 26 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches

CO 40 stitches in color A. Knit 1 row, then join yarn in the round. Knit 3 more rounds, then *K2tog, YO, rep. from * for one whole round. Knit 4 more rounds.
Switch to color B and begin pattern chart. Notice that some rows require you to increase or decrease by a stitch or two in order to fit the whole pattern repeat, and in switching from the wrist patterns to the main hand pattern you will increase by five stitches.

* note: the red centers of the main pattern's boxes, as well as the white centers of the cuff pattern's diamonds, can be done in duplicate stitch if preferred. If you choose to do so, just knit the boxes entirely in white and the diamonds entirely in black.

Dark outlines on the chart indicate where to place thumb gore for left and right mittens. Inside this outline, increase as charted for length charted. At final row of thumb gore, knit row, then place thumb stitches on a length of waste yarn. In the next round, knit to thumb stitches, cable cast on 3 stitches to make up for 3 original thumb gore stitches, then continue round.

Decrease for top of mitten as charted, using right-leaning (k2tog) decreases on right sides of mitten tops, and left-leaning (ssk) decreases on left sides of mitten tops. When four stitches are left on needles, break yarn, draw both colors through loops, pull through to wrong side of piece, and knot.

Pick up thumb stitches from waste yarn and pick up 11 stitches around hole left by thumb gore, continuing the stripe pattern. Join yarn and knit in the round until thumb reaches about 1/3 of the way up the thumb nail. Begin decreasing by four stitches in each round as charted. When six stitches remain on needles, break yarn, draw through loops, pull through to wrong side of thumb, and knot.

When mitten is finished, fold under and tack up picot hem. Weave in all ends and block mittens together to make sure they are the same size.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your mitten is darling! I love it and am tempted to make a pair to match the hat I just finished. Good job.

Batty said...

Wow, very impressive! Everybody is cranking out these gorgeous FI mittens all of a sudden. I think I need some. But I don't think I'm quite ready to go off and design my own. You did a wonderful job!

Dove Knits said...

Those are very pretty!

Anonymous said...

Could you tell me what the gauge is on these mittens?

Jen said...

the gauge was, I believe, 26 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches.

Anonymous said...

These are gorgeous! Can you tell me how long and wide they are? I need to make a woman's small and wonder if I'd need to modify the pattern. Thanks.

Jen said...

Thanks for the kind comment -- it's exciting to me to think that people are knitting my pattern! I gave the mittens to my mom so I don't actually have them to measure. But my mom has hands that are pretty small and they fit her well. I have fingers that are a little longer than hers and they also fit me. If you'd like more information than that, I can make my mom measure them for you.

Jane said...

What yarn did you use and what is the yardage per skein? Thanks.

Jen said...

Irishgirl, I used Karabella Aurora 8, and the yardage per skein is 94 yards.

Jane said...

Thanks so much! Then I should have plenty with the Cascade 220 that I couldn't resist buying yesterday!

Pinneguri said...

Thanks for sharing this pattern :)

Unknown said...

Wow! I will try and Show you my project used this pattern soon. Thanks!

Cheryl S. said...

Great mittens! Thanks for the pattern - these were my first colorwork items, and they were lots of fun to do. One thing, though - it looks like cell T60 in the chart should be color A instead of color B.

Anonymous said...

These are AWSOME. So super duper cute! I'm making myself a pair right now!

Kate said...

These are beautiful! I'm going to try these for my roommate. Do you have any suggestions on how to make these into a flap-style?

Thanks

Unknown said...

Could you please tell me what size4 double-pointed needles are in British sizes.
Thanks :-)