Twiglet Mitts Pattern

Pattern update: 7 August 2015 1

Twiglet Mitts by Martine Ellis

These fingerless mitts feature a lovely lace pattern that looks like the branches of a tree, and a deep, comfortable gusseted thumb. You can make the mitts longer by adding more pattern repeats at the start (they are worked from the bottom, up).

You will need

• Size 2.5mm double pointed needles (US size 1.5) or equivalent circular needle if you like to magic loop • A 3mm knitting needle for casting off (US size 2.5) • 200m/218yd of any fingering weight/sock weight yarn (shown in Quince & Co Tern, colourway Boothbay Blue) • 3 stitch markers • Waste yarn

© Copyright 2013 Martine Ellis All rights reserved - this pattern is for personal use only. As it’s a free pattern, official support is not provided, sorry, I hope you understand. There is, however, an individual thread in the iMake Ravelry group for all of Martine’s patterns where fellow knitters can help you out. imakegsy.com - iMake on Ravelry

Pattern update: 7 August 2015 2

Gauge and sizing

10cm/4 inches: 28 stitches in stockinette. Finished mitt measures 16cm/6 inches long and 8cm/3 inches wide (not including thumb). They are designed to fit a small/medium lady’s hand, but they have plenty of stretch (see “note on sizing” below, if you have larger hands).

Abbreviations

K knit K2tog knit 2 together M1L (left leaning increase) insert the left needle from front to back into the horizontal strand between the last stitch worked and the first stitch on the left needle. Knit this strand through the back loop to twist it. M1R (right leaning increase) insert the left needle from back to front into the horizontal strand between the last stitch worked and the next stitch on the left needle. Knit this strand through the front loop to twist it. PM place marker SSK slip, slip, knit YO yarn over

Set up

Cast on 44 stitches (cable cast on) and join for knitting in the round. Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round if you need to or just use the tail of your cast on as a reference point.

Purl 2 rounds.

Pattern update: 7 August 2015 3

Wrist

Knit 4 pattern repeats (32 rounds in total).

Thumb gusset

• Pattern round: knit pattern round 1. • Knit/increase round: K22, pm, M1R, PM, finishing knitting round. • Pattern round: knit pattern round 3, slipping the markers and knitting the stitch between markers. • Knit/increase round: knit to marker, slip marker, M1R, K1, M1L, slip marker, finish knitting round. • Pattern round: knit pattern round 5, slipping the markers and knitting the stitches between markers. • Knit/increase round: knit to marker, slip marker, M1R, knit to marker, M1L, slip marker, finish knitting round.

Continue creating the gusset in this way, working in pattern and increasing between markers on the knit/increase round, until you have 23 stitches between markers. This should take 3 full pattern repeats.

Finish the mitt

Knit round one in pattern until you get to the 23 gusset stitches. Place these stitches on some waste yarn. Cast on 2 extra stitches to cover the gap left by your gusset stitches. Be sure to lose these 2 extra stitches on your next knit round by knitting 2 stitches together, twice, either side of where you cast them on (otherwise your lace pattern will go wrong). Finish pattern round one.

Continue knitting in pattern for 2 full repeats in total (16 rounds in total).

Purl 2 rounds.

Cast off in purl loosely (use larger needle).

Pattern update: 7 August 2015 4

Finish the thumb

Distribute the 23 gusset stitches over 2 double-pointed needles.

Using a third double-pointed needle, pick up 4 stitches in the gap at the top of the gusset hole (27 stitches). Mark the start of your round with a stitch marker if you need to.

Decrease round: K2tog, K until 6 stitches before end, SSK, K4

Repeat decrease round 4 times, giving you 19 stitches left.

Knit 4 rounds.

Purl 2 rounds.

Cast off in purl loosely (use larger needle).

Note for magic loopers: your decreases are either side of the 4 picked up stitches.

Finishing off

Close up any holes and weave in ends. Block lightly if required (but not necessary) to bring out the gently scalloped edges at the wrist.

A note on sizing

This design is made up of 4 columns twiglet lace (2 columns on the palm and 2 on the back of the hand). If you’d like to make larger mitts, you could add an even number of knit stitches in between each pair of lace columns. Your extra knit stitches are positioned on the thumb side of the mitt and the opposite side, so as not to disrupt the lace pattern on the palm and back of the hand.

Thanks to my test knitters Kate and Laura, to Jo for being my hand model and to Kate for inspiring me to “have a go”

Martine x

Pattern update: 7 August 2015 5

Pattern (written instructions)

8-round pattern (multiple of 11 stitches):

Round 1 *K3, K2tog, YO, K1, YO, SSK, K3; rep from * to end. Rounds 2, 4, 6 and 8 knit. Round 3 *K2, K2tog, YO, K3, YO, SSK, K2; rep from * to end. Round 5 *K1, [K2tog, YO] twice, KL, [YO, SSK] twice, K1; rep from * to end. Round 7 *[K2tog, YO] twice, K3, [YO,SSK] twice; rep from * to end.

Pattern (charted instructions)