Felted Mittens with Unfelted Wool Cuffs (2004)

Submission Date: December 13. 2004

Materials: 1 skein worsted weight wool (such as Plymouth Galway, Patons Classic Wool, Brown Sheep Nature Spun), Size 8 dpn's (set of 5) Size 4 dpn's (for ribbing), OR 1 skein Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride worsted weight Size 9 dpn's (set of 5) Size 5 dpn's (for ribbing). Small amount of worsted weight cotton yarn for one of the cuff options.	Gauge: Unspecified
Size(s): Adult Medium.

Notes from Author: My hands were freezing in gloves a couple of weeks ago when I went for a walk. So, I decided a pair of felted mittens was in order. I wanted stretchy cuffs, but did not want to use acrylic. After a little experimenting, I came up with the following pattern. It has a few short rows to add some shape to the mittens, and there are two options for making the cuffs. You could use these cuff options with any mitten pattern you like. This pattern makes a medium adult mitten.

Pattern:

Right mitten:
Cast on 44 sts with the wool. Later, you will have two options for "picking up" stitches with the wool for the cuff.
Knit 10 rounds even.

Thumb gusset:
Round 1: Knit 3, PM (place marker), M1 (make one), K3, M1, PM. Knit around
Round 2: Knit even
Repeat these two rounds, working increases just after and just before the markers, until there are 11 sts between markers.

Palm and back of mitten:
Note: Back of mitten will be the 3rd and 4th needles on the right mitten, and the 1st and 2nd needles on the left mitten. The palm will be the opposite two needles.

On Round 1, place the 11 gusset sts on a thread and cast on 3 sts.
Rounds 1-7: Knit
Round 8: Short row round: On the back of mitten, knit to last 2 sts (of 4th needle), SWT (slip the next st, wrap it, return it to the left needle, turn the work). Purl 18 sts (to last 2 sts of back of mitten - 3rd needle), SWT. Knit to end of round, picking up and knitting wrap with stitch (and other wrapped stitch when you come to it on next round.)
Rounds 9-14: Knit
Round 15: Repeat Round 8
Rounds 16-21: Knit

Top of mitten:
Decrease round: *K1, K2tog, knit to last 3 sts of palm, SSK, K1. Repeat from * for back of mitten (substituting "back" for "palm").
Work one round even. (Work a short row on this first knit even round only.)
Repeat these two rounds until 8 sts remain. Graft top together or run yarn through all stitches, pull tight, and secure.

Thumb:
Put the 11 sts on two needles and pick up 5 sts with a third needle.
Knit 14 rounds.
K2tog, K1 around to last 4 sts. K2tog twice.
Cut yarn, pull through all sts on needle.

Option 1: Full mittens in washing machine (hot wash/cold rinse) to desired size.

Option 2: Before fulling, single crochet around the bottom edge of each mitten with TWO strands of cotton yarn held together. Tie the beginning and end together. It will all be cut off/removed later. Full mittens in washing machine (hot wash/cold rinse) to desired size.

Cuff:
(Use with Option 1) Mark four equal sections on the mitten edge. Whip stitch the smaller dpn's to the edge of the mitten to "pick up" sts., making an equal number in each section. The total number will most likely be more than 44 sts, but that's OK.

(Use with Option 2) Remove the crocheted sts. With smaller needles, pick up and knit 44 sts.

Both options:
Knit first round, decreasing down to 40 sts.
Work K2,P2 ribbing for desired length.
Bind off with larger needle.

Left mitten:
Work same as right mitten, but set up thumb gusset by knitting to last 6 sts of set up round (the 4th needle). PM, M1, K3, M1, PM, K3.

Felted Mittens with Unfelted Wool Cuffs (2004)

By: Peggy Pignato