My Favorite Mittens

These are the best mittens that I've knit this winter. Thick. Warm. Comfy.

Cascade Eco in grey and white. Pattern based on the mitten specs for a 5 stitch to the inch gauge in Ann Budd's Handy Book of Knitted Patterns. A corrugated rib cuff, based on the Komi mittens in Charlene Schurch's Mostly Mittens. Double-stranded Fair Isle designs for the hand portion and thumb.

If you look closely, you'll notice that both mittens start with an alternating block pattern, then deviate to different designs, which come both from Schurch's chapter on reticulated patterns in Sensational Knitted Socks and Colorwork Stitches, the Harmony guide to colorwork. Very fun to work on: I just chose a pattern and then winged it, not worrying about where the repeat fell or if it was off-center. I added a vertical row of each color at the edge of palm and back of hand, so that I wasn't carrying the non-working color for more than 3 or 4 stitches to the next needle.

My favorite part of the project was this not-fussing. Since finishing these, I've been trying to knit a second pair with Cascade Eco that I hand-dyed. And can't recreate the mittens: this time I'm doing way too much thinking about the pattern and the gauge and the vertical-striped margins, and it's just not working.

Comments

Hannah said…
Oooh. Any chance I could convince you to do a pair in black and white or burgundy and white? I might be willing to wear mittens after all!
Janet said…
I'd be proud to knit you a pair! When you have time, send me some measurements: the circumference of your hand around the knuckles;the length of your hand from wrist to middle of little fingernail; and the lenght of your thumb from base of thumb to middle of fingernail. Or, if you know your glove size, send that (I wear a 7 1/2)