Kaleidoscope Mittens
by Kim Helmick ©2010, All Rights Reserved
Materials
Fingering weight yarns: Color A: Berroco Sox-Metallic in color 1369 Papaya (bright multi)
Color B: Nature Spun from Brown Sheep in color 601F Pepper (black)
U.S. #1 (2.25mm) double point needles (set of 5)
Cast On 64 stitches using 2-color long-tail method over two needles to ensure stretchy cuff opening. (Black on thumb and multi on pointer finger.)
Distribute 16 stitches on each of four needles. Making sure cast on edge is not twisted, join in the round. Place marker for beginning of round.
Cuff will be corrugated ribbing for a total of 15 rounds as follows:
*K2 with color A; bring color B forward and P2 (color A remains in back), color B to back;* repeat. (I carry color A in my left hand since I find it easier to purl color B with my right hand in the English method I am more familiar with. Do what feels best to you.)
Hand Pattern:
Row 1-3: Knit around with color B.
Rows 4 & 5: *K2 color B; K2 color A* repeat around.
Rows 6 & 7: Knit around with color B.
Repeat rows 4-7 six times. (There should be a total of 7 completed colored block sections above your cuff.)
Thumb Gusset, right mitten (thumb gusset and thumb will be solid black, color B)
Round 1– Needles 1-3: *K2 color B, K2 color A across. Needle 4: K2 color B; K2 color
A; place marker for beginning of gusset increases and K1 (color B throughout), M1R, K1,
M1L, K1, place marker to indicate end of gusset section; K1 color A, K2 color B, K2 color A, K2 color B, K2 color A.
Round 2 – Knit around in established pattern. When you reach the gusset stitches knit them in color B begin mindful to tack down your carried color as you go. (This is especially important as the gusset gets wider!)
Continue to knit in the pattern of 2 rows of 2x@ color blocks and 2 rows of plain black.
On Round 3 you will increase the thumb gusset again by slipping the 1st marker, K1, M1R and then knitting the gusset stitches in black (tacking down your colored yarn which is being carried behind!) until you reach the last stitch before 2nd marker. M1L and knit the last stitch, slip the marker and continue on in pattern. Increase the gusset every-other row until there are 17 stitches between the markers.
When there are 17 sts between the gusset markers: knit around in pattern to the first marker. Place the 17
gusset sts onto stitch holder. Using backwards loop method, cast on 3 stitches to right needle and finish knitting stitches to end of 4th needle. You will be picking up the gusset stitches from the holder later to knit the thumb.
Left mitten gusset: Will be done in same fashion as the right, except it will be worked on needle 1 rather than needle 4 as follows:
Round 1: Knit first 8 sts on needle 1 in pattern; place marker, K1, M1R, K1, M1L, K1, place marker. Continue row in pattern.
Round 2: following established pattern, knit around evenly. (Don’t forget to tack down the colored yarn you are carrying behind the extra gusset sts! Make sure it’s not tight or you won’t have room for your thumb.)
Continue to knit in the pattern of 2 rows of 2x@ color blocks and 2 rows of plain black.
On Round 3 you will increase the thumb gusset again by slipping the 1st marker, K1, M1R and then knitting the gusset stitches in black (tacking down your colored yarn which is being carried behind!) until you reach the last stitch before 2nd marker. M1L and knit the last stitch, slip the marker and continue on in pattern. Increase the gusset every-other row until there are 17 stitches between the markers.
When you have put the gusset stitches onto a holder and have 16 stitches on each needle once more, continue knitting the hand of your mitten until it measures 1" short of your tallest finger tip, ending with a 2x2 color block section if possible. Cut color A (multi) leaving 3"-6" tail to weave in at end.
Finger tip decreases (worked in color B [black] only)
Round 1 – Needle 1: knit to last 3 sts; K2tog, K1
Needle 2: K1, ssk, knit to end of needle
Needle 3: knit to last 3 sts; K2tog, K1
Needle 4: K1, ssk, knit to end
Rounds 2 & 3 – knit around
Round 4 – repeat as for round 1
Round 5 – knit around
Repeat rounds 4 and 5 until 10 sts remain on each needle. Then do the decrease rounds only until 3 sts remain on each needle. Knit to end of needle 1 and graft the mitten tip together using Kitchener stitch.
Thumbs (worked in color B [black] only)
Place the 17 sts from the holder onto 2 needles. Pick up 7 sts from sides/back of opening. Redistribute these 24 stitches so that there are 8 sts on each of three needles.
Knit around until thumb is ½" short of the tip of your thumb. Decrease as follows:
Round 1: K4, K2tog around all sts.
Round 2: K3, K2tog around
Round 3: K2, K2tog around
Round 4: K1, K2tog around
Round 5: K2tog around
Cut yarn leaving 6" tail. Thread tail onto tapestry needle and run through the remaining sts twice. Remove needles, pull tight and move to inside of thumb (through center of tip) to secure.
Sew in your ends.
Abbreviations: CO = cast on; K = knit; P = purl; sts = stitches; M1R = make 1 right (pick up bar between sts from behind and knit into front of st); M1L = make 1 left (pick up bar between sts from front and knit into back of st); K2tog = knit 2 together; ssk = slip, slip, knit (slip one as if to knit, slip one as if to purl, insert left needle and knit the two slipped sts together)
