The year I was a nanny I made mittens. The baby slept a lot and while she did I made mittens for friends and for my brother and my sisters and for our Lithuanian foreign exchange student. I knit them constantly. I also knit a hat that looked like Max and a tie and a bunch of cowls and hats. But this winter and fall (my prime knitting season) I was so wrapped up in making these little animals that there was almost no knitting. I've had one sad mate-less mitten sitting in my basket since September and this weekend I'm going to finish the other off. I use my grandmother's mitten pattern. It's easy and perfect and you don't have to set the thumb (you are welcome). Have a lovely long weekend and knit some mittens.
I used size 4 double sided needles and a ball of worsted weight yarn.
Cuff - Cast on 44 stitches and divide on 3 needles.
Join, work in round k2 p2 ribbing for 3 inches.
Decrease 2 stiches in the last round. There should be 42 stitches.
Hand - K even for 2 rounds.
First increase round: Increase one stitch in the first stitch, k1, inc 1 in the next stitch, k to end of row.
K 2 rounds even.
Second increase round: Inc 1 stitch in the first stitch, k3, inc 1 in the next stitch, k to end of row.
K 2 rounds even.
Continue to increase with two more stitches in between the increases every 3rd row, increase until you have 54 stitches on.
K 2 rounds even. Slip the 15 thumb stiches to a stitch holder.
Cast on 3 stitches, there should be 42 stitches on now.
Continue to work even until the measurement above cuff is 6 inches. Decrease 3 stitches in the last row.
First decrease round: k2tog every 3rd and 4th stitch, 10 times
K even 3 rows
Second decrease round: k2tog every 2nd and 3rd stitch, 10 times
K even 3 rows
Third decrease round: k2tog in succession all the way round. Break off yarn, leaving a tail. Draw end tightly through all stitches and fasten off.
Thumb – Slip to two needles the 15 stitches from the stitch holder.
With 3rd needle pick up and knit on the 3 cast on stitches.
There should be 18 stitches on the needles for the thumb.
K around until the thumb measures 2 inches above the cast on stitches.
First decrease round: *k1, k2tog* repeat 5 times
K even 2 rounds
K2tog in succession.
Finish as for top of mitten.
Make another mitten exactly the same way!