better late than never

Remember the mitts I was going to make for a special first grade teacher for Christmas? They did get made, but they looked like something Frankenstein would wear, so they were never actually gifted. However, Valentine's Day gave me a second chance! I worked them up quick-like and did actually gift them on V-Day, though my blog post about it got superceded by a very funny card.

They came out looking like so (note the thematic placing of the hands, please):

I also managed to rewrite the pattern to make them a little more finished-looking*; so Mrs. C, this is for you. I think you may have been waiting a few months, sorry about that.

Marta's Fingerless Mitts (new and improved)
1 skein Baby Alpaca Grande (enough for 3 mitts, if that helps you in some way)
set of 10.5 DPNs (6.5 mm)
2 stitch markers
tapestry needle for weaving in ends

inc 1 by lifting bar between stitches and knitting into it
M1R by knitting into the stitch below the previous stitch
M1L by knitting into the stitch below the next stitch
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

CO 24 st loosely and divide evenly on three needles.

Knit 10 rows in k1 p1 rib.

Left Mitt:
Row 11: k1; inc1; p1; k4; p1; k2; inc 1; k15.
Row 12-15: k2; p1; k4; p1; k18.
Row 16 (cable row): k2; p1; C2F; p1; k18.
Row 17 (start thumb gusset): k2; p1; k4; p1; k10; k5 onto 4th DPN; k1; pm; M1R; k1; M1L; pm; k1.
Row 18 & 20: k2; p1; k4; p1; k to end of row.
Row 19 (and all WS rows until Row 29): knit in pattern until first marker; slip marker; M1R; knit until second marker; M1L; slip marker; k1.
Row 22 (cable row): k2; p1; C2F; p1; knit to second marker; slip marker; k1.
Rows 24 & 26: knit in pattern.
Row 28 (cable row): k2; p1; C2F; p1; knit to second marker; slip marker; k1.
Row 29 (bind off thumb gusset): knit in pattern to first marker; BO 11; k2 (remove markers).
Row 30: knit in pattern until 3 stitches remain in round; k2tog; k1.
Row 31 & 32: knit in pattern (can remove 4th DPN).
Row 33: k1; p2; k2tog; p1; k1; p1; k2tog; p1; (k1 p1) to end of round.
Rows 34-38: (k1 p1) rib
Row 39: BO loosely in pattern.


Right Mitt:
Row 11: k15; inc1; k2; p1; k4; p1; inc 1; k 1.
Row 12-15: k18; p1; k4; p1; k2.
Row 16 (cable row): k18; p1; C2B; p1; k2.
Row 17 (start thumb gusset):  k1; M1R; k1; M1L; pm; k5 onto 4th DPN; k9; p1; k4; p1; k2.
Row 18 & 20: knit until first purl stitch; p1; k4; p1; k2.
Row 19 (and all WS rows until Row 29): k1; M1R; knit until marker; M1L; slip marker; knit until first purl stitch; p1; k4; p1; k2.
Row 22 (cable row): knit until first purl stitch; p1; C2B; p1; k2.
Rows 24 & 26: knit in pattern.
Row 28 (cable row): knit until first purl stitch; p1; C2B; p1; k2.
Row 29 (bind off thumb gusset): k2; BO 11; knit until first purl stitch; p1; k4; p1; k2.
Row 30: k1; k2tog; knit until first purl stitch; p1; k4; p1; k2.
Row 31 & 32: knit in pattern (can remove 4th DPN).
Row 33: (k1 p1) 9 times; k2tog; p1 k1; p1; k2tog; p1.
Rows 34-38: (k1 p1) rib
Row 39: BO loosely in pattern.

* I recognize that, by doing this, I might have people scratching their heads as to why they should take such trouble for a "quick and easy" project, since all my little "improvements" may have elevated these mitts out of that realm but... they bugged me in their original incarnation, and I thought they needed some tweaking. Type A tendencies tend to show up in odd places.