Backyard Mittens
I call these mittens Backyard Mittens simply because I knitted them to go with the gorgeous Backyard Leaves Scarves. The pattern is available from Interweave, and it’s absolutely amazing. These mittens, on the other hand, are very simple to showcase this yarn that I fell in love with.
The fancy thing about these is really that they are semi-convertible. I don’t care for how you have to keep a button secured on regular convertible mittens; it seems a bit fussy when you’re in the middle of something. Instead I fashioned a palm hole which does not let in the cold when you don’t want it too, and that you can “convert” simply by curling your fingers out of the hole.
(Um. Excuse the fact that I haven’t yet woven in the ends in this pic.)
Size
Length: 25 cm or 9.75 inches.
Width (across palm): 9 cm or 3.5 inches.
Material
Manos Silk Blend (30% silk, 70% merino, 270 m or 300 yards); 1 skein. This pattern probably uses somewhere between half and three quarters of one skein, I used the leftovers from a scarf, so I’m not entirely sure!
- 4.5 mm or US #7 circular needles (or DPNs, but pattern is written for magic loop)
Gauge
22 sts/32 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
Directions
CO 36 sts.
Work 18 rows of 2×2 ribbing.
Work 6 rows of st st.
Next row: K1, m1, k to last st of first needle, m1, k1. Repeat for second needle.
Next row: K all.
Repeat these 2 rows once more. (44 sts)
Then, work st st until you have 12 cm or 4.75 inches from cast-on-edge. Then do a nifty afterthought thumb on the first 7 sts of the first needle (for the left mitten, you work the thumb on the last 7 sts of the first needle)
K for another 3.5 cm or 1.75 inches. For me this meant 11 rows.
Palm opening
This is where we make the opening of the palm. We start this with a bit of ribbing around the opening; you want this bit to be elastic, trust me!
First needle: K4, (p2, k2), repeat to last 4 sts, k4.
Second needle: K all.
Repeat this row 3 more times, for 4 rows total of ribbing.
Next row: K4, put 14 sts on a scrap piece of yarn, CO 14 sts (I prefer a cable cast-on, but use whatever makes you happy), and then k to end of round.
Next row: Continue ribbing as before; k4, (p2, k2), repeat to last 4 sts of the first needle, and knit the second needle in pattern.
Repeat this row 3 times more, for 4 rows total of ribbing.
We will return to this later For now, let the held stitches sit, and go on to knit until the mitten covers everything but the very tip of your second finger from the thumb counted (is that fore finger or index finger? I can’t remember!) For me this meant 13 rows or 4.25 cm.
Form the tip of the mitten
K2tog, k to last 2 sts of first needle, ssk. Repeat this for second needle.
Repeat this row until you have 4 sts left. Cut yarn and pull through remaining sts, securing tightly.
The flap
To give your palm a bit of protecting against evil cold winds (here in Sweden winters are COLD, I knew from the beginning that I needed some overlapping fabric here!) we are going to pick up the stitches currently held on a scrap of yarn, knit a bit of 2×2 ribbing and then secure it by sewing the edges to the inside of the mitten. It will be worth it. Trust me.
So, put the stitches back on your needle with the right side facing you.
First row: (P2, k2), repeat to last 2 sts, p2.
Second row: (K2, p2), repeat to last 2 sts, k2.
Repeat these 4 rows 3 more times; then cast off, and then, as you should have one yarn end on each side, use them to sew the edges of this bit of ribbing to the inside of the mitten.
Thumb
Turn mitten inside out and pick up the stitches between the contrast coloured yarn, 7 sts on each side, 14 sts total. As you knit the first row, pick up an extra stitch on each side to close the gap, twisting as you do so. (16 sts total)
Knit until the thumb is covering your own thumb. For me this meant 16 rounds. At this point, k2tog all the way around (8 sts total), and then knit one round before cutting the yarn, draw through remaining stitches, and fasten securely.
Finishing
Weave in ends (sorry, there’s many), and you’re good to go!