Summer Soltice and Mittens

Happy First Day of summer!

Welcome Litha!   

Happy Father's Day

to all you Dads, past, present and future.  

 

I know this post seems a little out of place but I wanted to get these mittens ready for winter before they were needed.   I used an easy two needle pattern and 100% wool by Briggs and Little.  I selected colours that would make them sort of sock monkey style.  Now they will sit in a drawer where I will forget about them and be thrilled when I start to drag out the warm clothes in autumn.

Materials

1 pair 3.75 needles for ribbing.
1 pair 4.50 mm needles for body.
Yarn
Stitch holder

Adult sizes small, medium, large.

To make.

Using smaller needles, cast on 34 (36:38) sts.
Work K1, P1 rib stitch for 3.5" (9 cm).

Change to larger needles and work 6 (8:8) rows stocking stitch.

Increase for thumb.

Row 1  K15 (16:17) sts, inc 1 st in next st, K2, inc 1 st in next st. K to end of the row.
Row 2 Purl
Row 3 K15 (16:17) sts, inc 1 st in next st. K4, inc 1 st in next st. K to end of the row.
Row 4 Purl
Row 5 K15 (16:17) sts, inc 1 st in next st, K6, inc 1 st in next st, K to end of the row.
Row 6 Purl
Continue in the manner until 6 (7:7) increases have been made 46 (50:52) sts are now on the needle.
Next row Purl

Divide for the thumb:

K17 (18:19) sts, place on a stitch holder, K12 (14:14) sts for the thumb section, K to the end of the row placing the last 17 (18:19) sts on the holder. Break yarn. Join yarn with the wrong side facing and work the thumb sts only, work 9 (11:13) rows. 
Next row K2tog across. Break yarn leaving a long enough tail to draw through all the remaining sts on the needle.

Continue with the body. With wrong side facing, join yarn at the break and work in stocking stitch for 3.5 (4:4.5) inches 9 (10:11)cm or until the tip of the baby finger.

Decrease for top

Row 1 *K2, K2tog* repeat from * to * ending with K2 (0:2)
Row 2 Purl
Row 3 *K1 K2tog* repeat from * to * ending with 2 (0:2)
Row 4 Purl
Row 5 K2tog across.
Break yarn leaving a long enough tail to draw through the sts remaining on the needle and sew the side seam. Darn in loose ends. Make second mitten.