last hurrah

I am signing off on 2009 with a first for me: the first time that I have floated one of my knitting patterns out on the Internet pond. I designed these easy quick fingerless mitts to match the Yarn Harlot's An Unoriginal Hat pattern. This project represents my last bit of gift giving for the holiday season. I finished them today, along with an Unoriginal Hat (with modifications to make it larger) for my dear friend, who is having us over for New Year's Eve.

If you make them, I hope it is an enjoyable experience! Please let me know any comments you may have on the pattern, good or bad.

Marta's Fingerless Mitts

Yarn: Alfresco Yarn (mahogany colorway) from Woolbearers in Mount Holly NJ. Any chunky yarn which gives you 3.5 stitches per inch on 10.5 needles will work. One skein is more than enough for both mitts. (One skein of the Alfresco was enough for the mitts and the hat.)

Supplies: Set of 5 size 10.5 DPNs
Tapestry needle

Notes:

M1 by knitting into the back loop of the next stitch without removing the stitch from the needle, then knitting the stitch as normal.

C2F: Slip 2 to cable needle, hold in front, K2, K2 from cable needle
C2B: Slip 2 to cable needle, hold in back, K2, K2 from cable needle

Pattern:

CO 24 stitches and divide evenly between three DPNs.

Wrist ribbing: (K1 P1) repeat for 10 rows (can be knit on one size smaller needles to make ribbing tighter, then switch to 10.5 size for remainder of pattern).

Left mitt:
Row 1 (and next 4 rows): K2 P2 K4 P2 K14.
Row 6: Start cable pattern: K2 P2 C2F P2 K14.
Row 7: Start thumb gusset: K2 P2 K4 P2 K6 (K5 onto 5th DPN*) K1 M1 K1 M1 K1 (26 stitches total)
Row 8: K2 P2 K4 P2 K16
Row 9: K2 P2 K4 P2 K12 M1 K3 M1 K1 (28 stitches total)
Row 10: K2 P2 K4 P2 K18
Row 11: K2 P2 K4 P2 K12 M1 K5 M1 K1 (30 stitches total)
Row 12: Cable row: K2 P2 C2F P2 K20
Row 13: K2 P2 K4 P2 K12 M1 K7 M1 K1 (32 stitches total)
Row 14: K2 P2 K4 P2 K22
Row 15: K2 P2 K4 P2 K12 M1 K9 M1 K1 (34 stitches total)
Row 16: K2 P2 K4 P2 K24
Row 17: K2 P2 K4 P2 K12 M1 K9 M1 K1 (36 stitches total)
Row 18: Cable row: K2 P2 C2F P2 K26
Row 19: Bind off thumb gusset: K2 P2 K4 P2 K14 BO 11 loosely K1 (25 stitches total distributed over 3 needles again)
Row 20: K2 P2 K4 P2 K13 K2tog (24 stitches total)
Rows 21 & 22: K2 P2 K4 P2 K14
Rows 23 through 28: (K1 P1) repeat until end
BO loosely.

Right mitt:
Row 1 (and next 4 rows): K14 P2 K4 P2 K2
Row 6: Start cable pattern: K14 P2 C2B P2 K2
Row 7: Start thumb gusset: K1 M1 K1 M1 K1 (K5 onto 5th DPN*) K6 P2 K4 P2 K2 (26 stitches total)
Row 8: K16 P2 K4 P2 K2
Row 9: K1 M1 K3 M1 K12 P2 K4 P2 K2 (28 stitches total)
Row 10: K18 P2 K4 P2 K2
Row 11: K1 M1 K5 M1 K12 P2 K4 P2 K2 (30 stitches total)
Row 12: Cable row: K20 P2 C2B P2 K2
Row 13: K1 M1 K7 M1 K12 P2 K4 P2 K2 (32 stitches total)
Row 14: K22 P2 K4 P2 K2
Row 15: K1 M1 K9 M1 K12 P2 K4 P2 K2 (34 stitches total)
Row 16: K24 P2 K4 P2 K2
Row 17: K1 M1 K11 M1 K12 P2 K4 P2 K2 (36 stitches total)
Row 18: Cable row: K26 P2 C2B P2 K2
Row 19: Bind off thumb gusset: K1 BO 11 loosely K14 P2 K4 P2 K2 (25 stitches total distributed over 3 needles again)
Row 20: K2tog K13 P2 K4 P2 K2 (24 stitches total)
Rows 21 & 22: K14 P2 K4 P2 K2
Rows 23 through 28: (K1 P1) repeat until end
BO loosely.

*From this point until you bind off the thumb gusset, keep those 5 stitches on the extra DPN and knit the thumb gusset increases on a separate DPN.