Shhh, don't tell!

Hi Drews and Others:

Some of you may have heard that I've been knitting fingerless mitts for both E & Deb.  Oh, I'm sure Nancy has because of all the snivelling that I've done about it.

First there was the Jared Flood debacle - the whiz-kid knitting designer who can't write instructions worth a damn.  That book is now wasted money.  Maybe I can sell it on Ravelry.

Speaking of which, that's where I did find a lovely pattern, well written, and FREE.  Nalu by Leila Raabe.  I think you might have to be a Ravelry member to use that link.  So I knit a really nice pair for Deb...

 

and sent them on.  Of course, I forgot to take a picture of them after they were finished.

You'd think the second pair would be easier.  Nothing could be simpler than to make them a bit smaller for E's hands, and just do what I did before, right?  Nope.  For some reason, I kept having to frog the second one, over and over, like SIX times.  Finally, I worked through whatever mistake I was making, finished them both up, wove in all ends and TA-DAAAA...one is a half-inch shorter than the other.

E's mitts, washed (and Intrepid Elliot).

I think I forgot some rows.  But there is no way I am going back in there.  Blocking better take care of it.  I feel like such an amateur knitter.  Oh well.

E's mitts, blocked.  Well enough.

You may also have heard that I was in Missoula and there I got sight of the rare Dawson bird, nesting with its young:

 

 And that's all for now, except a preview of my next project:

 Trivia question for Nancy: does any of that yarn look familiar?
 Love & Hugs from Mary.

Double Knit mittens on One Needle, mostly

Hi Mary,  I have been looking over my posts and this is the most popular post I ever made.  I removed the directions on the original post but have decided to put them back up.  This is my adaption of the mittens described by Beverly Royce many years ago.  I took a class at Minnesota Knitters' Days that was taught by Sidna Farley of Denver CO and we made gloves using this method.   It is amazingly easy.

GAUGE Gauge 4 st/inch using size 5 needles over Stockinette. If your gauge is different multiply the size around your palm by your Sts. per inch to get the number you cast on. Always increase cast on to a number divisible by four.

(I rib with size 4 needles and cast on with size 6 needles)

Note: This is for a 7 inch palm. Change for larger or smaller palms by adding or subtracting 4 st at a time.

CAST ON CO 28 stitches: 14 st each onto two size 6 needles. Hold two needles together with purl side out. Pick stitches off onto one small (size 2 or 3 for ease) needle starting; first st. from front needle, second st from back needle, third st from front needle. Continue until all stitches are on one needle.

RIB Start rib onto size 4 needle. (Note, always slip Purlwise). First row, *S1, P1, S1, K1* across, end K1. Start next row *S1, P1, S1, K1* across, end K1. ** Make ribbing for at least 3 inches. Open and check occasionally to make sure you haven't knit the front to the back. **Two rows equal one round.

PALM Change to sz. 5 needles and start palm in Stockinette. In both first and second rows increase 2 st. Make both increases at first and last stitch of row. M1,*K1,S1*across,M1 (4 increases per 1 round). Stockinette is S1*K1, S1* across (pulling first slip st tight) ending K1. Knit for 2 to 2-1/4" (note, measure yourself! These measurements fit ME) End on a full round only.

LEFT MITTEN - THUMB Then inset Left thumb sts. Work next row to the last 6 (K1,S1) pairs. Knit these last st. with contrasting yarn then slip them back onto the left hand needle and continue in main color for 5-1/2" from cuff (or till last joint of longest finger) whichever is longer. Remember to end on a complete round.

 RIGHT MITTEN - THUMB Then inset Right thumb sts. Work next row completely, turn and on first 6 (k1,s1) pairs knit onto contrasting yarn. Put st back onto left needle and continue in main color until 5-1/2 from cuff (or till last joint of longest finger) whichever is longer. Remember to end on a complete round. Pull single needle and put front and back stitches onto 4 needles keeping the side edges the same. (8 st on each needle)

DECREASING

Round 1: (On 4 needles) K1, (S1, K1, PSSO), K10, K2tog, K1. Starting with third needle K1, (S1, K1, PSSO), K10, K2tog, K1. Four decreases made. Round 2 &3: Knit plain. Round 4: Decrease: K1, (S1, K1, PSSO), K8, K2tog, K1. Starting with third needle K1, (S1, K1, PSSO), K8, K2tog, K1. Four decreases made. Round 5: Knit plain. *** Round 6: Decrease: K1, (S1, K1, PSSO), K6, K2tog, K1. Starting with third needle K1, (S1, K1, PSSO), K6, K2tog, K1. Four decreases made. Round 7: Knit plain Repeat decreasing on even rounds until 4 st left on each needle (16 Sts.). End with a plain round. Pull yarn through all 16 Sts and tighten. Pull through a second time and weave in end of yarn. 

*** Try on while decreasing and add a second plain row between decreasing rounds if you need more length.

FINISHING THUMBS Pull contrasting thumb stitches and catch onto one small needle adding one st on odd side to match pairs. Using sz 5 needles start with s1 *k1, s1* around for 2-1/4". Pull needle and try on. Lengthen as needed. When it is the right length for your thumb pull yarn through all stitches and pull tight. Sew around twice and weave in the end. Repeat on other mitten. Sew up holes around thumb gusset as needed.

This version of Beverly Royces' double knitting mittens is © by Nancy Drew. One copy for your own use is permitted.  

Hugs,

Nancy