M is for … Mitts have strong, clean lines in a super-springy slipped rib that the men (and women!) on your gift list will love to wear. The pattern comes in two sizes with two bind-off options.

Note: When working the bind-off row of the Conch Bind-Off, remember to count your stitches accurately. The bind-off row is worked:

• Step 1: K1
• Step 2: K1, pass first stitch on RH ndl over stitch just knit
• Step 3: K1, pass first stitch on RH ndl over stitch just knit
• Step 4: P1, pass first stitch on RH ndl over stitch just knit
• Step 5: P1, pass first stitch on RH ndl over stitch just knit
• Step 6: K1, pass first stitch on RH ndl over stitch just knit.

This results in 5 stitches having been bound off AND most importantly, the K1 in step 6 is also the first stitch of the “K3” instruction for the next pattern repeat. Counting this way will ensure that you are working the bind-off in pattern, i.e. that the k3 in the bind-off matches with the k3 in the piece as knit up to that point.

Knitcircus Version Errata (these have been fixed in the pdf version):

• When working the thumb gusset section, work the increase rounds 12 times (not 11) so that the stitch count is 6676 sts before putting the thumb stitches on waste yarn, and 5060 sts after putting the thumb stitches on waste yarn.
• Instructions for the first round of the thumb should end with “pick up and knit 3 sts (19 sts)”.

The smaller version of these mitts uses only one skein of the gorgeous Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk. The larger version can also be knit with one skein if you reduce the length and unravel your swatch. Instructions for how to modify the pattern to knit the larger size with just one skein are included in the pattern.