Date: Sun, 4 Aug 1996 21:54:58 -0500 From: Diana Foss To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: KNIT: mittens Marion tells me that she's got requests for my mitten pattern, but doesn't have an electronic version to forward. So here it is one more time. I won't post it again after this, but would be happy to send it individually to anyone who needs it. Mittens for Lise ---------------- The stitch is the Double Basket Pattern, from Barbara Walker's first Treasury. As she says, "This pattern has nearly as much lateral stretch as a ribbing. It is quite fascinating when left entirely unblocked, so that the vertical ribs can close up together except where they are pushed apart by the purled welts. This produces a series of highly embossed waves that look almost as if they were done with the aid of a cable needle." I used Jaeger Alpaka Pur (100% alpaca) which I bought in Hamburg last fall, and size 5 dpns. I didn't bother to check the gauge in pattern, just knitted a tube of the pattern to see if it would fit my hand. But afterwards I knitted a tiny swatch, *flat* in stocking st, using the same yarn and needles, and got 5 sts/in. But the aforementioned lateral stretch really gives a lot of leeway with the stitch gauge. This pattern is written for use of 4 dpns. If you normally knit with 5, you'll have to figure out how to divide the stitches. Here is the pattern, rewritten for circular knitting. You'll have it memorized almost immediately. Double Basket Pattern Round 1: *k11, p2, k2, p2, k1, repeat from * Round 2: *k1, p8, k2, p2, k2, p2, k1, repeat from * Round 3: *k1, p8, k2, p2, k2, p2, k1, repeat from * Round 4: *k11, p2, k2, p2, k1, repeat from * Round 5: *k11, p2, k2, p2, k1, repeat from * Round 6: *k1, p8, k2, p2, k2, p2, k1, repeat from * Round 7: *k1, p8, k2, p2, k2, p2, k1, repeat from * Round 8: *k11, p2, k2, p2, k1, repeat from * Round 9: knit Round 10: *k2, p2, k2, p2, k10, repeat from * Round 11: *k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p8, repeat from * Round 12: *k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p8, repeat from * Round 13: *k2, p2, k2, p2, k10, repeat from * Round 14: *k2, p2, k2, p2, k10, repeat from * Round 15: *k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p8, repeat from * Round 16: *k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p8, repeat from * Round 17: *k2, p2, k2, p2, k10, repeat from * Round 18: knit KFB: knit into the front and back of the stitch M1P: pick up the running thread before the next st and purl into it. SSK: One at a time, slip the next 2 sts as if to purl, then insert the left needle and knit them together. Right mitten: Cast on 44 sts, 12 on ndl 1, 16 each on ndls 2 and 3. Knit in k2 p2 ribbing for 2 1/2 inches, or longer, if desired. Begin each needle with k2. Establish Pattern: needle 1: k1, (KFB) 5 times, p2, k2, p1, purl and knit into the last stitch. 18 sts needle 2: k4, KFB, k5, p2, k2, p1, purl and knit into the last stitch needle 3: k4, KFB, k5, p2, k2, p1, purl and knit into the last stitch Continue with round 2 of pattern, working one repeat per needle. Work up to the join between thumb and palm, about 1 3/4 inches on my hand. Then perform Elizabth Zimmermann's Thumb Trick, from Knitter's Almanac: On needle 1: k1 with your real yarn, then k10 with a scrap of slippery cotton yarn in a contrasting color. Slip the stitches back on to the left needle and continue in pattern, knitting over the same sts you just knit with the waste yarn. Continue in pattern until the mitten is up to the top of your pinkie. Now redistribute your sts: needle 1: continue in pattern for 26 sts needle 2: k1, SSK, continue in pattern for 11 more sts needle 3: continue in pattern for 11 sts, k2tog, k1 Decrease rounds: needle 1: k1, SSK, continue in pattern until last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 needle 2: k1 SSK, continue in pattern until end needle 3: continue in pattern until last 3 sts, k2tog, k1 Continue until there are 10 sts left on needle 1. Graft sts together. Thumb: Carefully pick out the waste yarn and put the sts on to 3 needles, picking up 1 st on the left side of the hole and 1 on the right. I got 8 sts on top and 8 on the bottom (the other sts are held by the real yarn) which gave 18 total sts. Knit in rounds, knitting the picked-up side sts through the back, to help close the resultant holes. Knit until the top of your thumb, then k2tog all around and break the yarn, drawing it through all of the sts and pulling tight. Left Mitten: Knit as for right, but put the 12 sts on ndl 3 and 16 each on ndls 1 and 2. Establish pattern as follows: needle 1: k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, KFB, k2, KFB, k2 needle 2: k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, KFB, k2, KFB, k2 needle 3: k2, p2, k2, p1, M1P, (KFB) 5 times and continue in pattern *starting from round 11* Continue in pattern until you reach the thumb join and perform the thumb trick on the last 10 sts of needle 3. Continue until you reach the top of your pinkie, then redistribute the sts as follows: needle 1: knit the first st, then put it at the end of needle 3. K1, SSK, continue in pattern for the next 11 sts needle 2: continue in pattern for 11 sts, k1, k2tog needle 3: continue in pattern for 26 sts. Complete as for right mitten. Copyright 1996 by Diana Foss (diana@mooseyard.com) You may distribute this pattern for free, so long as you keep this notice attached. You may make and sell these mittens for charity, but not for profit. [...] Diana Foss in sunny San Jose, CA Diana Foss diana@mooseyard.com http://www.mooseyard.com Mac snubs Bob's bun scam. --- This pattern downloaded from Wool Works: the online knitting compendium http://www.woolworks.org/