Benelope mittens

A pair of mittens with a cable pattern.

(ohje löytyy suomeksi täältä)

Yarn: I used Nordia Milla, but any Aran or Worsted weight yarn is fine

Needles: 3,5mm dpns

Gauge: 5x5cm = 11 stitches x 15 rows in stockinette stitch, measured straight off the needles, without any blocking

Size: my hand measures 18cm around, from above the thumb. The knit fabric will stretch a bit horizontally. The length of the mitten from the base of the thumb to the top is 18cm.

Other: you will need two stitch markers and a piece of scrap yarn or a stitch holder for the thumb.

The pattern:

Cast on 40 stitches and divide evenly on 4 needles, join to work in the round.

Start the ribbing as follows: purl 1, *knit 2, purl 2*, repeat *-* until 3 stitches remain, knit 2, purl 1.

Repeat this round for 25 rounds, or to desired length.

Knit one more round of ribbing like this: 

needles 1 and 2: purl 1, make 1 purl, *knit 2, purl 2*, repeat *-* a total of 4 times, knit 2, make 1 purl, purl 1.

needles 3 and 4: purl 1, knit 1, make 1, knit 1, *purl 2, knit 2*, repeat *-* a total of 3 times, purl 2, knit 1, make one, knit 1, purl 1.

Start knitting the chart on needles 1 and 2. Knit all stitches on needles 3 and 4.

Knit 4 rounds.

Knit round 5 of the chart.

Right hand: on needle 3, knit 2, place marker, make one, knit 2, make one, place marker, knit the rest of the round.

Left hand: knit all stitches on needle 3, on needle 4 knit 7 stitches, place marker, make one, knit 2, make one, place marker, knit the rest of the round.

Both hands: repeat the increases on every third round like this: knit the chart on needles 1 and 2, knit until marker, slip marker, make one, knit until next marker, make one, slip marker, knit the rest of the round.

Increase five times in total, so on rounds 5, 8, 11, 14 and 17.

When the increases are done, knit round 18 of chart on needles 1 and 2, knit until marker, remove marker, transfer the next 12 stitches on a stitch holder or a piece of scrap yarn, remove marker, cast on 2 stitches and knit the rest of the round.

Continue knitting the chart on needles 1 and 2 and knit all stitches on needles 3 and 4.

The decreases for the top of the mitten start on round 51. Knit the chart on needles 1 and 2 ja on needles 3 and 4 knit as follows: 

*on needle 3 knit 1, ssk, knit until 3 stitches remain on needle 4, knit 2 together, knit 1. Knit one round without decreasing*

Knit the rest of the chart on needles 1 and 2 and repeat *-* on needles 3 and 4. The last round will be a decrease round.

When the chart and decreases are done, you will have 16 stitches left, 4 on each needle. Transfer the stitches of the front of the mitten to one needle and the stitches of the back to another, 8 stitches on both needles. Cut the yarn leaving a long tail and use kitchener stitch to close the top of the mitten.

The thumb: divide the stitches placed on the holder on two needles and pick up 4 stitches along the edge of the hole = 16 stitches divided on 3 needles (6-5-5).

Knit stockinette stitch in the round until half of the thumb nail is shoving (I have knit 15 rounds/5cm).

Knit the last 2 stitches of every needle together on every round until 4 stitches remain (2-1-1).

Cut the yarn and thread through the remaining stitches and pull tight to close the hole. Weave in the ends.

The chart: