A Barred Owl (scientific name Strix varia) perches in the bare winter branches, a beautiful, silent huntress keeping watch over the woods. The Varia Mitts design features a wide figurative panel on the back of each mitt, which wraps around to meet a narrower panel with a repeated motif on the palm side, as well as a border motif at the bottom. The pattern is recommended for knitters who have experience with stranded colorwork, reading from charts, and knitting in the round. The sample shown above was knit in WayfaringYarns Wayfarer base (80% extra fine merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon).

Materials

• Approximately 200 yards or 46g of Main Color (brown) in Wayfarer (Salem colorway) or fingering/sock weight yarn
• Approximately 114 yards or 26g of Contrast Color (light gray) in Wayfarer (Sanibel Island colorway) or fingering/sock weight yarn
• Approximately 44 yards or 10g of Accent Color (turquoise) in Wayfarer (Blue Hosta colorway) or fingering/sock weight yarn
• US size 1 (2.25mm) DPNs or circular needle for Magic Loop method OR size required to get gauge
• Darning needle and waste yarn
• Optional stitch marker

Size and finished measurements: Women’s size medium, approximately 10.5 inches (27cm) long and 7.5 inches (19cm) in circumference after blocking.

Gauge: 34 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches (10cm) in stranded pattern, knit in the round, and blocked.