Green Leaf Mittens

I really like to knit my mittens on two circular needles. It just seems easy to have the front half your stitches on one needle and the back half on the other. This pattern is for my "Green Leaf Mittens".  Feel free to think of this as a recipe in which you can switch out the center panel for anything else.  I also like cables. I should note that this makes mittens sized Women's Small.  To make larger mittens, add an equal number of extra stitches to each needle (making sure to keep the pattern centered on needle #1).  Here is a video tutorial on working in the round on two circular needles if you haven't used this technique before: http://www.stitchdiva.com/tutorials/knitting/on-two-circular-needles

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Yarn:
DK weight yarn (approximately 200 yards)

Gauge:
6 stitches and 9 rows = 1 inch

Needles:
US #3 (3.25 mm) - two circular needles
(Or four double-pointed needles - you'll have to adjust your stitches for DPNs)

Abbreviations:
K = knit
P = purl
M = make one
K2tog = knit two together

General pattern:
Cast on 48 sts - 24 sts on needle #1 and 24 on needle #2. K1,(P2, K2 across to last stitch), K1.
Continue ribbing for 14 rows.

Needle #1: Work Charted Pattern.  Knit across all sts on needle #2.

Note: You will have 26 stitches when you complete Row 1 (and all odd rows) of the charted pattern, but will go back to 24 when you complete Row 2 (and all even rows).

Rep for 2 rows before starting the thumb gusset (through Row 3 of the charted pattern).

Thumb gusset:
Row 1: Rep pattern across all sts on needle #1. On needle #2, K1, M1, K2, M1, knit across.
50 stitches total (2 thumb stitches)

Row 2 & 3: Work two rows even on both needles continuing in pattern across needle #1.

Row 4: Rep pattern across all sts on needle #1. On needle #2, K1, M1, K4, M1, knit across.
52 stitches total (4 thumb stitches)

Row 5 & 6: Rep Rows 2 & 3
54 stitches total (6 thumb stitches)

Continue increasing in same manner for the thumb gusset on every 3rd row until there are 18 sts for the thumb (or 9 sets of 2 increses = also equals 27 rows). Put thumb sts on waste yarn. When knitting next row, cast on 2 sts (backwards loop method) for a total of 24 sts on needle 2 (48 sts total).

Work the rest of the hand to desired length.

Hand Decreases:
Row 1: K2tog across - 24 sts (12 on needle #1, 12 on needle #2).

Row 2: Knit one row even.

Row 3: K2tog across - 12 sts (6 on needle #1, 6 on needle #2).

Row 4: Knit one row even.

Row 5: K2tog across - 6 sts (3 on needle #1, 3 on needle #2).

Pull yarn through remaining 6 stitches.

Finishing Thumb:
Remove waste yarn and divide stitches onto two circular needles, 9 sts on each. Start knitting in the round and pick up 2 sts from the edge of the hand where you CO 2 sts. Total Thumb stitches = 20.

Work in the round until you are ready to decrease.

Row 1: K2tog across both needles (10 sts total).

Row 2: Knit one row even.

Row 3: K2tog across both needles (5 sts total).

Pull yarn through remaining 5 stitches.

The gusset instructions above work the right mitten. When you want to work the left one, just move the increases to the end of needle 2, rather than at the beginning. Work the front exactly the same for both.

I'm still new to pattern writing, so if you have any comments on how to make this pattern better, please do let me know. Enjoy!

Pattern Chart:

K = Knit
P = Purl
O = Yarn over
// = Knit two together
\\ = Slip, slip, knit together through the back loop
Grey box = no stitch

Note: You will have 26 stitches when you complete Row 1 (and all odd rows) of the charted pattern, but will go back to 24 when you complete Row 2 (and all even rows).

©2011 Amy Mercer. All rights reserved. No part of this pattern may be reproduced in any form.
The written instructions, photographs, charts, and illustrations are intended for personal, non-commercial use. Feel free to give away what you make, but please do not sell items made from this pattern. Thanks!

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