mitts • The Knitting Vortex

Tartania Mitts

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Oct 292013

Hail, Tartania! Plaid hands are glad hands, and these tartan fingerless mitts make the technique easy. The horizontal colors are knit as stripes using one color at a time per row in a wide rib, then the vertical stripes are added at the end with a crochet hook in the purl columns; no crochet skills are needed. The Tartania Cowl is part of Hail, Tartania! an ebook collection which also includes a matching hat and fingerless mitts. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, knitting in the round, increasing; this pattern includes written instructions, as well as a chart and table for the plaid; a video tutorial is provided for the non-stranded plaid technique. Size: S (L); 6.75 (8)” circumference and 7 (8.75)” length; size S shown on 7” circumference hand. Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted (100% Merino; 210 yards/192m/100g); 1 skein each MC, CC1, and CC2, shown in MC Tortuga, CC1 Hollyhock and CC2 Cadmium; the sample used approximately 75 (95), 10 and 10 yards respectively. Other Materials: US 8 (5mm) 24” circular needle for Magic Loop, . . .

Pomona Mitts

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Jul 182013

Among my favorite design themes, Harry Potter is undeniably one which keeps appearing as if by magic in my knitwear. The Magickal Quidditch Socks, Amortentia and Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love have been expressions in knit of my love for the wizarding world. Now I can show another small item, the Pomona Mitts, which I designed for The Unofficial Harry Potter Knits Special Issue from Interweave. Professor Pomona Sprout’s fingerless mitts reflect her personality; earthy, robust, and ready for hard work. Cast on provisionally at the outer edge of the hand, the fingerless Pomona Mitts are worked flat using short rows, then grafted for a seamless finish. The cuff is shaped into a point with increases and decreases, and made to flare with a short row wedge. The finger opening is embellished with a spikey picot edge worked by repeatedly casting on and binding off stitches, and an optional narrow decorative satin ribbon is laced through the eyelets on the back of the hand as embellishment. A rich and tweedy yarn brings depth and . . .

Chunnel Mitts

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Nov 012012

The Chunnel Mitts are long armwarmers with fitted rib cuffs and hands, and deep textural gauntlet forearms which can be scrunched up or worn straight depending on the weather and your coat sleeve length. An easy and fast knit with a thumb slit and no increasing or decreasing, the deep channel tunnels of the gauntlet stitch pattern do an excellent job of breaking up pooling in variegated yarns. Weave the ends in neatly and the Chunnel Mitts are completely reversible, showing a different but equally attractive pattern on the reverse side. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, knitting into the stitch below with link to my tutorial, working in the round. Size: S (M, L): to fit 6.5 (7.5, 8.5)” palm circumference; 4 (4, 5)” length from wrist and 7 (8.25, 9.25)” cuff length. The Chunnel Mitts are very stretchy; size M will fit a wide range of hand sizes from teen to women’s large. Yarn: Malabrigo Rios (100% Superwash Merino; 210 yards/192m/100g), Size M shown in Candombe and Azules; 1 (1, 2) skeins, or . . .

So much colors!

FOs 1 Response »

Oct 112012

Variegated yarns are an ongoing challenge; they look so appealing in the skein that you cant resist, and yet – what to do with them, really? Socks, maybe; those are mostly covered up and are like a secret crazy. I think that’s why sock yarns tend to have the most numerous, exuberant instances of variegation. But what about something like a worsted weight superwash? My solution was to make fingerless mitts with a K1below stitch pattern. The hand and cuff edge are regular rib, but the long gauntlet arm section transitions to a K1below rib that breaks up the colors and makes a fluffy, less elastic brioche, good for scrunching up. Both pairs use Malabrigo Rios, one in the Candombe colorway, the other in Azules. I made the Candombe pair first as the design prototype, when I was trying to find a way to love all that yellow in my skein. Then I thought I’d try a shaded-variegated with some of the Azules left over from Blue Honey. It may be mostly blue, but . . .

First Fall 2012

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Sep 202012

The leaves begin to turn. Greens are joined by companion reds and yellows. The sky and ground are linked. And the time comes to knit mitts.

Laura Mitts

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Feb 242012

Fingerless handwarmers with mirrored ribbed cables, the Laura Mitts are worked from cuff to tip with a gusset thumb. The clean, sculptural lines of the ribbed cables offer a classic complement to every outfit. Techniques & Skills Used: cable CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, cables, knitting in the round; this pattern contains written instructions only. Size: S/M (M/L), to fit 8 (9)” palm circumference. Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted (100% merino wool, 210 yards/100g); 1 skein, shown in Paris Night. The size M/L sample used 95 yards. Other Materials: US 8 (5mm) 32” circular needle or dpns, or size to match gauge; Cable needle; Stitch markers (4, one different color); Yarn needle; Scrap yarn for thumb holder. Gauge: 20 st and 30 rows/4” in stockinette st, after blocking. See it on Ravelry or on Payhip, to read more or purchase the pattern.

Crimp Hat & Crimpy Mitts

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Jan 032012

Crimp Crimp is a hat with built-in slouch and a casual fit created by tuck stitches, which can be worn at the back or side for different looks. This simple and fun technique solves the problem of just how to scrunch your hat and keep it perfectly slouched. Alternating sections of ribbing and stockinette add interest to the crown, making Crimp a unique hat and a perfect companion to the Crimpy Mitts. Techniques & Skills Used: Cable CO, knit/purl, tuck stitch, decreasing; this pattern includes written instructions, as well as a photo and video tutorial for the tuck stitch. Size: S/M (M/L); 18 (20)” unstretched brim circumference. Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Rios (100% superwash merino wool, 210 yards/ 192m/100g), 1 skein. Size M shown in Cumparsita. 2 skeins are needed to make both the hat and mitts. Other Materials: US 7 (4.5mm) dpns or 32” circular needle if using Magic Loop, or size to match gauge; Spare US 7 dpn for tucks; Stitch markers (8); Yarn needle. Gauge: 20 st and 28 rows/4” in stockinette . . .

Crimp it up – WIP Wednesday

FOs, WIPs 1 Response »

Dec 072011

Well, not exactly a WIP in terms of the knitting, but then that’s the easy part. These need to be sized and then organized for test knitting, which takes more focus. I’m still loving that tuck stitch, and it’s been turning up in other places too, so it feels like the zeitgeist is right. And with winter setting in, some textural ribbing and ruckling will bring a bit of warmth with interest. Also, maybe it’s the season, but I cant get enough of rich, dark red lately; not my usual type of thing at all, but so engaging. It looks purpley here, but that’s my lighting, trying to get a good shot of the variegation. Malabrigo Rios in Cumparsita, by the way.

Escallop Mitts

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Nov 072011

Fingerless mitts with a beaded and scalloped French cuff, the Escallop Mitts add a bit of decoration to any ensemble. The cuff is knit flat, then joined in the round to knit the garter stitch hand; buttons display your personal style and close the cuff. Techniques & Skills Used: longtail CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, easy lace, beading (crochet hook method), working in the round, 3-needle BO; the lace instructions are both written and charted, and a link to my beading tutorial is included. Size: S/M (M/L); 6 (7)” palm circumference and 8.75 (9.5)” length measured flat; to fit 7-7.75 (7.75-8.5)” hand circumference. Cuff is one size; the extremely stretchy garter stitch hand fits a wide range of hand sizes. Yarn: Madelinetosh tosh merino light (100% merino wool, 420 yards/112g); 2 (3) skeins. Size S/M shown in Alizarin. Other Materials: US 6 (4mm) 32” circular needle or dpns, or size to match gauge; Spare US 6 (4mm) needle for 3-needle bind off; 96 size 6/0 seed beads; 1.15mm crochet hook for placing beads; Stitch markers (2); Yarn . . .

Ruckle Mitts

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Oct 122011

Casual fingerless handwarmers, the Ruckle Mitts are worked with a built-in scrunchy tucked cuff, and tidy hemmed edges finishing both cuffs and fingertip openings. Fun to make and fresh to wear, they add relaxed chic to your outfit without having constantly to adjust long cuffs. For a matched Ruckle set, make them with the companion Ruckle Hat and Ruckowl Cowl. Techniques & Skills Used: provisional CO, knit/purl, increasing/decreasing, knitting in the round; this pattern includes written instructions, as well as a photo and video tutorial for the tuck stitch. Size: S (M, L, XL); 6.5 (7.5, 8.25, 9)” palm circumference and 4.25 (5, 5.5, 6.25)” length from wrist. The cuff is approximately 3” long. Yarn: Malabrigo Rios (100% Superwash Merino Wool; 210 yards/192m/ 100g); 1 skein. Size S shown in Azul Profundo. Other Materials: US 7 (4.5mm) dpns or 32” circular needle if using Magic Loop, or size to match gauge; Spare US 5 (3.75mm) circular needle for closing folded hems; Stitch markers (3); Yarn needle; Smooth cotton yarn for provisional CO and hem; Stitch . . .

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