Suzann Does It All

Author: suzann
Published: November 5th, 2008 under fingerless mitts

I think this pattern can be a quick holiday gift. I also think you could get a pair out of one ball of Elann Highland Wool. I made the cuff a bit longer on mine so I used more then the one ball.

The pattern as written is too large for my hands. My wrist only measures 6 1/2 inches around. So some mods were needed. I decided to do one less repeat of the pattern and work 40 stitches, instead of the called for 45 stitches.  I also didn’t care for the flared out cuff that most of the pictures of the finished mitts showed. I believe this is caused by the cable starting just four rows from the beginning of the mitt

Elann Highland Wool, Bright Blue (discontinued color)

Size 5 and 6 circs.

With the size 5 I cast on 35 stitches. I did 4 rows of garter stitch. Then increased to 40 stitches and started the pattern. I did 5 rows of the ribbing before the first cable crossing. This has reduced the cuff flair.

I could have done more cables, since I wanted a longer cuff. But decided to just do the ribbing.

After the thumb, I did 5 rows of the ribbing pattern. Then the cable, then 5 more rows of the ribbing. I decreased back to 35 stitches and did 4 rows of garter stitch.

On the first mitt I did the cable just above the thumb. I really didn’t care for how this felt. Sort of bunching where you thumb and hand come together. On the second mitt I eliminated the cable above the thumb and it feels a lot more comfortable.

Thumb. The pattern calls for the Afterthought Thumb. If you can wrap your mind around the fact that you are going to have holes and they can be fixed. You will be a lot happier with your knitting. I repaired mine by using only two ply’s of the yarn. This makes the repair a lot less bulky.

I worked the thumb with the size 5 needle and decreased two stitches. Ended with garter stitch. I think I would skip this or only do two rows, when I do this pattern again.

I am knitting this pattern for my daughter who has larger hands. I will add a purl stitch between the cable columns and only do the cable crossings on the front of the mitt. Which means you need to be careful where you place the thumb.

It is pouring rain outside so the color is not really true.