fingerless mittens

Fingerless mittens. They are handy to wear in moderately cold weather because they allow you to dig around in your purse for keys or bus pass without having to remove your gloves. You can even dial on the mobile phone while wearing them! The Tencel Wool is very soft and warm. Completed February 2003.

Yarn Brand: Cleckheaton's Tencel Wool in light blue

Quantity: 2 skeins (2 skeins are just enough for fingerless mittens. A third skein would be needed if whole mittens or gloves were wanted.)

Needles: Size 8 double-pointed needles

Gauge: 4.5 st = 1" over stocking stitch

Finished Dimensions: about 7.75" long.

Pattern:

My own design. Hold two strands of wool together throughout. Fits small ladies hands, particularly small wrists. To accommodate larger wrists, cast on 32 stitches and omit the increases. For larger wrists and larger hands, cast on 32 stitches and include the increases.

For the right hand
Cast on 28 stitches. Divide stitches evenly onto double-pointed needles. Join the stitches into a round.

Start knitting the wrist:

Rounds 1-10: *k2, p2, repeat from *. After Round 10, should be about 1.75" from beginning.

Rounds 11-21: Knit. After Round 21, should be about 3.25" from beginning.

Now increase number of stitches to accommodate the width of the hand.

Round 22: k1, m1, k12, m1, k2, m1, k12, m1, k1. There are now 32 st.

Rounds 23-30: Knit. After Round 30, should be about 5" from beginning.

Prepare the thumb hole:

Round 31: k1. Slip 6 st onto stitch holder. CO 6 st, join, and knit rest of round.

Knit the rest of the hand:

Rounds 32-40: Knit. After Round 39, should be about 6.5" from beginning.

Rounds 41-45: *k2, p2, repeat from *. Cast off in rib, should be about 7.75" from beginning.

For the thumb
Pick up 9 st around thumb opening. Divide those sts plus the 6 sts that are on the stitch holder onto the needles. Knit 8 rounds and cast off. (Tip: when picking up the stitches from the top of the thumb hole, pick up between the sts that were knit in the body of the mitten. That way the thumb looks seamless.)

Tuck in ends.

For the left hand
Everything the same as the right except for Round 31:

Round 31: k9. Slip 6 st onto stitch holder. CO 6 st, join, and knit rest of round.