Only five knitting days left before Christmas; try mittens

MATERIALS

• Yarn: 2 oz. worsted weight yarn in bright red

• 1 oz. worsted weight yarn in Christmas green

• 1 oz. worsted weight yarn in snow white

• 1 oz. Lion Brand Festive Fur in white No. 100

• Needles: One pair each U.S. No. 4 and U.S. No. 5 needles (or size required to obtain correct gauge).

• Tapestry needle

• Stitch markers

ABBREVIATIONS

K: knit

M: make one, increases 1 st

P: purl

St: stitch

RS: right side row

WS: wrong side row

sl: slip one stitch

pm: place a stitch marker

tog: together

Kf&b: knit in front and back of next stitch

k-wise: as if to knit

p-wise: as if to purl

CO: cast on

ssk: slip, slip, knit

Gauge: 5 sts: 1 inch, 7 rows: 1 inch on No. 5 needles

Finished size of mitten: 5 ¼ inches long and 2 ¾ inches wide

DESIGNER'S NOTES

Make One: pick up the horizontal ladder between the stitch just worked and the next stitch.

Place the strand over the left needle tip. Work into the back of the strand to twist the new stitch and tighten it up. One increase made.

Bobble: Kf&b of next st 3X (6 sts). Turn work, sl 1 p-wise, P 6 sts. Turn work, sl 1 k-wise, K1 row. Turn work, sl 1 p-wise, P row. Turn work, K2 tog 3X. Turn work, P1, P2tog and sl first P st over (1 st remains). Turn work,K1 pulling yarn tight for next stitch. One bobble made.

FUR CUFF

With smaller needles and white worsted weight yarn CO 30 sts. Add one strand of Festive Fur and, holding both Festive Fur and the white worsted weight yarn together, work K1, P1 ribbing for 1 inch, end having finished a wrong side row. Break yarns off leaving 12-inch tails.

MITTEN PALM

(RS) With larger needles and red yarn K1 row, P 1 row.

Thumb Gusset:

Row 1: (RS) K16, pm, M1, K1, M1, pm, K14.

Row 2: P 1 row.

Repeat these two rows, increasing 1 st each side of the thumb gusset, until there are 11 sts for gusset.

(RS) K27 sts, cast on 1 st, turn work

(WS) P12, cast on 1 st (13 sts)

(RS) K across 13 sts. Continue working stockinette st over these 13 sts until 7 rows have been worked.

(WS) P2 tog 6 X, P1. Break yarn and weave tail through the sts on the needle. Pull up tight. Sew thumb side seam. Leave yarn tail for finishing.

Attach yarn at thumb, pick up and K 3 sts across the thumb. K across palm (32 sts).

P 1 row.

Bobble Row:(RS) K6, make bobble in next st, K3, make bobble in next st, K to end of row.

P 1 row.

(RS) K8, make bobble in next st, K to end. Continue until nine rows have been worked from base of thumb.

SHAPE TOP OF HAND

Row 1: (RS) K1, ssk, K11, K2 tog, K1, ssk, K10, K2 tog, K1.

Row 2: P across.

Row 3: (RS) K1, ssk, K9, K2 tog, K1, ssk, K8, K2 tog, K1.

Row 4: P across.

Row 5: (RS) K1, ssk, K7, K2 tog, K1, ssk, K6, K2 tog, K1.

Row 6: P across.

Row 7: (RS) K1, K2 tog across row, end K1.

Cut yarn leaving an 18-inch tail. Weave yarn through sts on needle and draw up tight. Sew side seams to cuff. Sew cuff with white yarn. Weave yarn ends in. Work seam at thumb so no holes appear and fasten off. Shape bobbles and block mitten.

HOLLY LEAVES (MAKE 3)

These quick-to-knit leaves are a stylized version of a holly leaf.

Picot: K1, *place this K stitch back onto left needle, K1*, repeat between *s two more times for one picot.

With smaller needles and green yarn, CO3 sts.

Row 1: P3

Row 2: Make one picot, sl 1 as to P, Make one picot.

Repeat these two rows once more.

Row 5: P3

Row 6: K3

Row 7: P3

Row 8: Repeat Row 2

Row 9: P3

Row 10: Slip 1 st, K2 tog, pass sl st over. Break yarn leaving a 12-inch tail.

Weave yarn tail through the back of the slipped stitch "spine" and gently pull tight until the leaf flattens out a bit. Pull the picot stitches to the sides and gently steam the leaf to block.

Sew the leaves onto the mitten front positioning the leaves close to the bobbles.

---

Catherine Hollingsworth, interior designer, artist and professional knitter, has lived in Alaska for 17 years. A past president of Knitters of the North, she currently designs knitwear patterns for publication. To reach her, e-mail twosticks@adnmail.com.