DESCRIPTION
Castle Keep is the sole remaining tower of a castle that was built on the site of a fortress that gave the City of Newcastle its name. King Henry II of England built the stone Castle Keep between 1172 and 1177 on the site of a pre-existing wooden castle that was itself constructed where a Roman fort once stood. The gradual darkening of the stone as one looks up helps to reinforce its imposing history as a medieval fortification and a former prison. It is also rumoured to be haunted.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Hand Circumference: 7” (8¼”, 9½”) 18 cm (20.5 cm, 23.5 cm).
Cuff Circumference: 4½” (5¼”, 6”) 11.5 cm (13.5 cm, 15 cm).
Length: 6¾” (7¼”, 7½”) 17 cm (18 cm, 19 cm).

YARN
Brambles & Me, Natural Yarn Advent Calendar, Fingering Weight: 100% Bluefaced Leicester Wool; approx. 87.5 yds 80 m per 0.7 oz 20g miniskein. Colours: Days 7, 8, and 9; 1 miniskein each.
NOTE: Do not discard any unused yarn at the end of this project. It could be used in other projects in this collection.
NOTE: Wind each miniskein into two approximately equal portions.

NEEDLES
US #1 2.25 mm; 2 sets of 40” 100 cm circular needles.
US #3 3.25 mm, or size needed to obtain gauge; 2 sets of 40” 100 cm circular needles.
OR
US #1 2.25 mm; 4 sets of 24” 60 cm circular needles.
US #3 3.25 mm, or size needed to obtain gauge; 4 sets of 24” 60 cm circular needles.
OR
US #1 2.25 mm; 2 sets of 5 double-pointed needles.
US #3 3.25 mm, or size needed to obtain gauge; 2 sets of 5 double-pointed needles.

NOTIONS
4 stitch markers
Waste yarn
Blunt tapestry needle
Blocking pins, if desired

GAUGE
27 sts and 38 rnds = 4” 10 cm in stockinette stitch, after blocking.

CONSTRUCTION NOTES
These fingerless mittens are knit from the bottom up individually. A thumb gusset is added to each mitten, where stitches are increased on either side of a central stitch. These thumb stitches are then help on waste yarn while the remainder of each mitten is completed. They are then placed back on the needles to complete each thumb. It is recommended that the initial stitches be divided evenly onto two needles, so that the thumb gussets can be worked one stitch in from the beginning and the end of a single needle.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Model: Mia Malone
Photographer: Sarah Hird
Sample Knitter: Mia Malone
Layout: Lars Rains

REQUIRED SKILLS
Basic knitting skills
Knitting in the round
Small-circumference knitting
Written instructions