Racemes are a form of inflorescence, the botanical term for the arrangement of flowers on a plant. This pattern was in part inspired by many plants with raceme inflorescences, such as lupine, lily of the valley, and camas, and equally inspired by a simple desire for thick, cozy mittens.

Worked in DK or light worsted weight yarn, these mittens knit up quickly. The botanical stranded colorwork also features a nupp detail to add some dimension- however, this feature is optional and your mittens will look great with or without. The cuff is worked in a broken colorwork rib that creates a brioche-like effect.

Yarn

The blue sample was knit in 1 skein of Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok in Midnight Sea, a beautiful 100% wool heather, and 1 skein of Spincycle Dream State in Mississippi Marsala, a color shifting yarn.

Yardage: 120 yards (110 meters) of your main color and 90 yards (82 meters) of your contrast color.

The brown and purple sample was knit in discontinued yarn from stash (sorry!)- suggested similar alternatives are:

• Rowan Felted Tweed
• Rowan Felted Tweed Color
• Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light

Needles

Size US 3 (3.25 mm) and US 4 (3.5 mm) needles- or whatever size needed to meet gauge. Either double points or a 32” circular for magic loop will work for this pattern.

Other Notions

• 3 markers, 1 unique for beginning of round
• Waste yarn
• Darning needle

Skills/Techniques

• Knitting in the round
• Stranded colorwork
• nupps
• kitchener