Great Weekend Mitts

These mitts were made on a truly great weekend I had a while back. I had been inspired by the mitts the character Penny wears in Dr Horrible's and needed a cute project for the BSG Fleet Power Battle on Ravelry. There are patterns out there already but I decided to make up my own. So here they are, my Great Weekend Mitts.

UPDATE: I have slightly updated the pattern to include tips for knitting in the round. You can get the updated PDF of the pattern:
download now
Now you can print it!



Materials:
3 colors of Koigu KPM (the semi solid version), 1 skein each.
3 matching colors of either Rowan Haze or the Lion Brand LB Collection Silk Mohair
12 buttons
US Size 4 single pointed needles
4 Size 4 DP needles
embroidery needle big enough to thread 1 strand of koigu and 1 strand of the mohair but small enough to fit through the bottons.

These are knit on straight needles except for the thumb hole. This makes them very fast to finish.

Color's A and B make up the Stripes and Color C is the placket. Each color consists of 1 strand of koigu and 1 strand of the mohair.

Gauge: 5 stitches and 8 rows = 1 inch in stockinette

Cast on 44 stitches.

Rows 1-8: (k2, p2) in Color A
Row 9: p in Color A
Rows 10-29: are stockinette stripes. Each stripe is 4 rows in height. The stripes are as follows: Color B, A, B, A, B
Row 30: k Color A
Row 31: p Color A
Row 32: k4, k2tog, k9, k2tog, k9, k2tog, k9, k2tog, k5 in color A
Row 33: p Color A
Rows 34-53: are stockinette stripes. Each stripe is 4 rows in height. The stripes are as follows: Color B, A, B, A, B
Row 54: k Color A
Row 55: p Color A
Row 56: k5, M1, k10, M1, k10, M1, k10, M1, k5 Color A
Row 57: p Color A
Row 58: k Color B
Row 59: p Color B

Left Hand
Row 60: k20, place marker M1, k2, M1, place marker, k22 color B
Row 61: p Color B
Row 62: k Color A
Row 63: p Color A
Row 64: k to marker, pass marker, M1, k4, M1, pass marker, k22 Color A
Row 65: p Color A
Row 66: k Color B
Row 67: p Color B
Row 68: k to marker, pass marker, M1, k6, M1, pass marker, k22 Color B
Row 69: p Color B
Row 70: k Color A
Row 71: p Color A
Row 72: k to marker, pass marker, M1, k8, M1, pass marker, k22 Color A
Row 73: p Color A
Row 74: k Color B
Row 75: p Color B
Row 76: k to marker, pass marker, M1, k10, M1, pass marker, k22 Color B
Row 77: p Color B
Row 78: k to marker, remove all stitches between markers and place on holding thread or stitch holder, cast on 2 stitches, k to end of row Color A (there should be 44 stitches on the needles and 12 on the holding thread
Row 79: p Color A
Row 80: k Color A
Row 81: p Color A
Row 82-85: stockinette stripe in Color B
Row 86-91: k2, p2 ribbing Color A
Cast off

Right Hand
Row 60: k22, place marker M1, k2, M1, place marker, k20 color B
Row 61: p Color B
Row 62: k Color A
Row 63: p Color A
Row 64: k to marker, pass marker, M1, k4, M1, pass marker, k20 Color A
Row 65: p Color A
Row 66: k Color B
Row 67: p Color B
Row 68: k to marker, pass marker, M1, k6, M1, pass marker, k20 Color B
Row 69: p Color B
Row 70: k Color A
Row 71: p Color A
Row 72: k to marker, pass marker, M1, k8, M1, pass marker, k20 Color A
Row 73: p Color A
Row 74: k Color B
Row 75: p Color B
Row 76: k to marker, pass marker, M1, k10, M1, pass marker, k20 Color B
Row 77: p Color B
Row 78: k to marker, remove all stitches between markers and place on holding thread or stitch holder, cast on 2 stitches, k to end of row Color A (there should be 44 stitches on the needles and 12 on the holding thread
Row 79: p Color A
Row 80: k Color A
Row 81: p Color A
Row 82-85: stockinette stripe in Color B
Row 86-91: k2, p2 ribbing Color A
Cast off

Thumb
Distribute held stitches on 3 db needles as follows, Needle 1 [1 stitch from 1 side of thumb, pick up 4 stitches from inside of thumb hole where 2 were cast on for body of mitt, 1 stitch from other side of thumb], Needle 2 [4 stitches], Needle 3 [6 stitches]
Thumb Row 1: knit all 6 stitches on needle 1, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2
Thumb Row 2: k1, k2tog, k2tog, k1, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2
Thumb Row 3-5: k4, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2
Cast off

There are two ways to finish these. One way involves making buttonholes and having a functioning placket. I thought about that and did not anticipate a time I would be unbuttoning my stretchy mitts so I faked it.

Finishing Step 1: with the wrong side facing out, whip stitch the two sides of the mitt together using the outermost edges of the stitches.

Placket
The placket is attached by picking up stitches along the seam edge furthest from the thumb if you are looking at the back of your hand. This hides the seam, or if you are making a functioning placket, it is where is overlaps and buttons.

Starting from the top of the mitt pick up stitches as such,
4 stitches along top ribbing, 3 stitches from every stripe, and 5 stitches from the bottom ribbing. This is not the entire number of stitches but it is what makes the placket fit.

Placket Rows 1, 3, 5, 7, 9: *(k2, p2) repeat till last two, k2 Color C
Placket Rows 2, 4, 6, 8,: *(p2, k2) repeat till last 2, p2 Color C
cast off

If you were planning on making the placket functioning they you will have to deal with the buttonholes on your own. sorry! I am a new pattern maker and have not yet mastered the perfect buttonhole, much less how to describe it.

Finishing Step 2: Stitch down the edge of the placket to the top of the mitt. I used a single strand of the mohair and a medium length backstitch. This makes the placket look nice and finished, one of the benefits of cheating and faking the closure. You will skip this step if you made a functioning placket obviously, although I doubt you are even reading my directions at this point if you did.

Finishing Step 3: Stitch on buttons with a strand of the koigu and mohair together.

Finishing Step 4: I do this as I go but I am including it just in case. Weave in all ends.

Now go take pictures of your new cute mitts holding a cup of coffee or tea or snowball and post them on Ravelry!

*reminder that I am new to the pattern writing, and I am a lousy editor so if you come across mistakes or if you need clarification let me know!

I love the Green Market in the morning.

Twice this week I have ended up at the Union Square Green Market early in the morning. It is an awesome way to start the day. I was already taking pictures of my knitting project so I had my camera out and went a little snap happy documenting how pretty all the veggies looked this morning. I picked up an amazing bunch of beets for $2.50 at one of the stands that had mounds and mounds of carrots and beets.




I actually don't like peaches very much but they are so darn pretty, esp in the early morning light.

Lords of Kobol Mission Complete

This is my completed project for the BSG Fleet Power Battle's second round of missions. I chose the Lords of Kobol mission, meaning I had to make something "Honoring" or representing one of the Lords of Kobol. I have dubbed this shawl the Hera Mountain Ridge Shawl, named after the mountain ridge on Kobol.

Any of you not into BSG this is all giberish to you so here are all the pretty pictures. I got to city an hour early and hung out in Union Square taking pics. It was fun, made my morning feel a little more productive.

Never thought I would be Crazy for Potholders

I blame Hello Yarn and the Japanese Bookstore.

I have been on a major potholder kick recently, which a year ago I would have thought was about as possible as a toilet paper cozy kick, but one can never predict where your interests will take you. Anyway, it started when my mom sent me a vintage potholder she had found at an antique store. She had been inspired by Hello Yarn's recent vintage potholder acquisitions and subsequent pot holder crocheting experiments. The weekend after receiving the potholder I turned it into a pattern and made three with some Karabella Vintage Cotton that was just not working with the scarf pattern I had started ages ago. This also happened to mark the start of my blue/red trend.



The next pattern I started using was the Pretty Petals Potholder. I only loosely followed the pattern since I hate reading crochet patterns. They should all be in graph form like the Japanese patterns. I used some Sensa Cotton that I had hanging out in my stash and some Paton's Grace. I ended up bringing this one to my grandmother and it was used as a trivet under the many bouquets of flowers she was receiving. The color in the pictures is a bit deceiving. It is actually bright pink with pale green leaves.



I had so much fun making that one that I picked up some Rowan 4 ply cotton, which is very sadly discontinued, and came up with a cabbage pattern. This is accomplished by using a light green as the base, dark green as the petals and a dark purpley-maroon as the accent. The purpley-maroon is crocheted onto the back loop of the top of the petals. I also added a row to the center of the potholder. The picture does not do it justice because the finished product is awesome. I just have trouble taking pictures in one of the rooms in my apartment. I swear it is the black hole of light.




I am making like a dozen more pairs of these. I love them, and they have already been gifted.

Finally, I made a placemat out of the pretty petals pattern. I picked up some Blue Sky Skinny Dyed Cotton, which Holy Crap is amazing stuff, and whipped this up.


Seriously, if I won the lottery, which coincidentally I don't actually play, I would buy enough of this yarn for several sweaters and a blanket. The Blue Sky people have a way with colors and that Glacier is the perfect delicate light blue.

Nerdy Knitting for points on Ravelry

So Battlestar Fan, Itsyournickle on Ravelry decided to put together a BSG Knitting contest, the Battlestar Galactica Fleet Power Battle. Similar to the Harry Potter House Battles, except this one is between the Pegasus, Galactica, and the Cylon Basestar. Unfortunately, I am a weak link on the Cylon Basestar. I only finished one of the first months challenges. Luckily it was complicated so I feel like I accomplished something. Knitting Designer Glenna C. designed a sock pattern called Viper Pilots. I used that sock pattern to make a Viper Pilot Cowl. I have this thing about not making socks. I tend to use and abuse socks so I feel that it would be a waste to spend time and precious yarn on them, so I make cowls instead. This one used some Kramer sock yarn that I got from The Point when they had their going out of business sale. It's merino, silk, and silver. I used the arrow cable pattern, the vipers, 6 times separated by the swirled rib cable and a little shaping at the bottom so it flares.




The only time I smile at work is when I take pictures of my knitting for this blog or Ravelry. Otherwise it is scowl city.

The intensity of the cables were a welcome distraction from my life for the month of June. It is difficult to be sad when you are thinking this hard about your knitting.

I am hoping to finish all of the challenges for the month of July. The first being a garter stitch shawl with a lacy border. I am smitten with all these finnish knitters and their garter stitch shawls I see on Ravelry. Here is a sneak peak of the colors.



Warning to anyone visiting Purlsoho, Beware of the wall of Koigu. It will suck you in every time.