Friday, February 15, 2013

Minnesota Mittens

I have made this pattern (or portions of it) more times than any other pattern.

I knit these as if I were knitting 2 socks on 2 circular needles.  I also have rather large cold hands, so my last two pairs have been with bulky instead of worsted yarn and I cast on 29 stitches (a multiple of 4 + 1).

When I have gotten a hole in the thumb, I have ripped back the thumb and put a new one on.  The cuff I have on my current pair is at least 8 years old, but I have brand new 'uppers.'


Minnesota Mittens
2 skeins Brown Sheep Worsted 
size 8 dp needles

CO 33 sts  
Join, being careful not to twist.
Purl 2 rows
Knit 10 rows
Purl 1 row

Turn and knit 1 row, knitting the last stitch together with the first stitch.  (32 stitches) 
Change color if a contrasting color was used for the cuff

Knit 2 rows
Rib 7 rows
Knit 5 rows  (This makes the base of the thumb about 2" from the rib, adjust as needed.  i.e. 13 rows on my last pair)

Thumb gusset
Right mitten:
K2, inc 1, K3, inc 1, knit around
knit 1 round
K2, inc 1, K5, inc 1, knit around
knit 1 round
K2, inc 1, K7, inc 1, knit around
knit 1 round
K2, inc 1, K9, inc 1, knit around
knit 1 round
K2, put the 11 stitches of the gusset on a holder, knit around
K2, cast on 3 stitches, knit around.
Left mitten:
K11, inc 1, K3, inc 1, knit around
knit 1 round
K11, inc 1, K5, inc 1, knit around
knit 1 round
K11, inc 1, K7, inc 1, knit around
knit 1 round
K11, inc 1, K9, inc 1, knit around
knit 1 round
K11, put the 11 stitches of the gusset on a holder, knit around
K11, cast on 3 stitches, knit around.



Knit 24 rows or until mitten reaches the top of the little finger (approx.)

For rounded tips 
K6, K2tog around
K5, K2tog around
K4, K2tog around
K3, K2tog around
K2, K2tog around
K1, K2tog around
K2tog around
Break yarn and run through remaining stitches (4)

Thumb
Pick up 5 stitches from behind thumb to make 16 stitches (along with the 11 from the holder)
Decrease 1 stitch on each side of thumb in first knit round (14 stitches)
Continue in stockinette stitch for 1 ¾" (about 12 rows)
Decrease by K1 K2tog around, break yarn and run through remaining stitches

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