Description
Mittens inspired by the silhouette of the lovely verbena flower.

You start by knitting several rows of garter stitch, to form a non-flipping ribbing. The cuff and palm feature the shape of the stem and leaves of the verbena plant, whereas the upper side of the mittens show a rhythmic repetition of the typical verbena flower. A flowery thumb and an elegant Latvian braid complete the playful look. (If the latter scares you: an easier alternative is suggested!)
The round top of the mittens is closed with kitchener stitch. Stitches for the afterthought thumb are picked up later (hole-free – with modest photo tutorial) and then the thumb is knit.

Required technical skills

• Long tail cast on
• Knitting in the round with 2 colours per row
• Knit & purl
• Latvian braid (easier alternative is given)
• Picking up stitches (for the thumb)
• Increasing & decreasing
• Kitchener stitch

Size
The mittens come in one size: women’s S/M. Should you like to knit a different size, please use smaller or larger needles.

• Total length mitten: 23 cm
• Circumference: 18.5 cm
• Cuff height: 5 cm
• Length from cuff till thumb: 5 cm
• Length from thumb till top: 13 cm
• Thumb length: as desired

Yarn
Hifa Ask (100% Norwegian wool); 315 meters/344 yards per 100 gram
Colourways: 6577 melert lilla (MC), 6057 ubleket hvit (CC)

Total yardage: appr. 145-165 meters/160-180 yards. You’ll need a slightly bit more MC than CC.

Needles
See also ‘Gauge’.
Your favourite needle for knitting small circumferences in the round:

• DPN’s or 80cm/32in circular needle, below gauge size, for garter stitch ribbing and picking up for thumb
• DPN’s or 80cm/32in circular needle, gauge size, for cuff and body
• If necessary: DPN’s or 80cm/32in circular needle, above gauge size, for thumb

Notions
2 stitch markers
Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Gauge
27 stitches and 28 rows to 10cm/4in over colourwork pattern on gauge size needle.
Since every knitter has her or his own ‘hand of knitting’, no needle size is given. The only thing that matters is that your knitting matches gauge, otherwise your mittens won’t fit.

Just for information: sample mittens were knitted on a 80cm-32in/2.75mm circular needle using the magic loop technique.

Happy knitting!