Kohti mittens

 A pair of mittens with a colourwork pattern.

(ohje löytyy suomeksi TÄÄLTÄ)

Yarn: about 80 grams of sport weight yarn. I have used Nordia Oona (colour A, dark grey) and Navia Duo (colour B, light blue).

Needles: 3mm

Gauge: 5x5 cm = 17 stitches and 18 rounds of the palm pattern, measured without any blocking

Size: hand circumference above thumb is 18 cm. The length of the mitten from the base of the thumb to the top is 18 cm. These mittens have a pretty tight fit.

Other: you'll need a piece of scrap yarn or a stitch holder for the thumb.

The pattern:

Cast on 48 stitches with colour A. Join to work in the round (12 stitches/needle) and knit a 2x1 rib as follows: 

8 rounds with colour A

2 rounds with colour B

8 rounds with colour A

2 rounds with colour B

8 rounds with colour B

Knit one round with colour A like this: *knit 6, make 1*, repeat *-* for the entire round.

You now have 56 stitches (14 stitches/needle).

Start knitting the chart from round 1.

Right hand: read chart from right to left.

Left hand: read chart from left to right.

Increases for the thumb start on round 11. The placement of the thumb is marked on the mitten chart with red, knit these stitches according to the thumb increase chart.

Remember to read the thumb increase chart also from right to left on right hand and left to right on left hand.

On round 29 of mitten chart knit until you reach the thumb, transfer the next 14 stitches to a stitch holder, cast on 2 stitches and keep on following the mitten chart.

The top decreases start on round 51. All decreases are knit with colour A.

When you are done with the chart, you have 12 stitches left. Put the 6 stitches for the palm to one needle and the 6 stitches for the back of the hand to another and, using kithener stitch and colour A, close the top.

The thumb: transfer the 14 stitches back to a needle and pick up 6 more stitches along the edge of the thumb hole = 20 stitches for the thumb (7-7-6).

Follow the pattern in the thumb chart, repeat the 4-stitch pattern 5 times per round.

When the thumb measures 5cm, or until half of the thumb nail is covered, start decreasing by knitting the last two stitches of each needle together on every round. Knit all decreases with colour A.

When you have 5 stitches left (2-2-1), cut both yarns. Pull colour B through the hole and then pull colour A through the stithes and pull tight to close the hole.

Weave in all ends on the wrong side.

The charts: