Large full color charts for reindeer and bird pattern at cuffs.

Also available as part of Winter Wonderland Knits.

Reindeer prance and birds flock across the winter landscape in these short wrist warmers. One wrist warmer has two reindeer- one on each side of the wrist-playing in amongst the snowflakes. The other wrist warmer has birds flocking to a tree on each side.

The wrist warmers fit both right and left hands, so if you wish you may knit up two if the same side if you want just the reindeer or birds- but I think one of each adds a touch of whimsy! With the Fair Isle inspired patterning only on the cuffs, knitting is quick. The thumb gusset and simple hems add professional looking finishing touches.

Yarn:
150 yards Main Color; 75 yards Contrast Color. Sample knit using 1 skein each O-Wool Classic 2-ply (100% organic merino wool; 50 grams/skein; 198 yards/181 meters) colors 4303 Evergreen (Contrast Color) and 4112 Rust (Main Color)

Level:
Intermediate- following a chart, colorwork, increasing, decreasing, hems

Materials:
-1 set of five US #1/2.25mm double-point needles or size to get gauge
-1 set of five US #0/2mm double-point needles or size to get gauge
-Tapestry needle
-Stitch holder
-Stitch markers (2)

Size:
Women’s size medium. Finished size 7 inches around and 5 ¾ inches long after blocking. Thumb opening up to 2 ¼ inches around.

Gauge:
7 stitches and 8 rows an inch in colorwork pattern on larger needles

 
Notes:
Hems: It is not enough to simply switch to smaller needles to knit hems- flared hems are still often the result, especially for colorwork. This is solved easily by increasing or decreasing a few stiches before the hem so you have fewer hem stitches (which is what this pattern does). When seaming the finished hems be sure to take your time to line up the hem edges so you are stitching through the same row of stitches all across your hem to give an even, finished appearance to the hem and avoid puckers, flaring, and twisting.

Blocking: One of the biggest problems people have with colorwork is in the finishing, when the hems are blocked incorrectly, causing a crease. The hem sections are twice as thick as the rest of the fabric, so when they dry after blocking or are ironed in it a good idea to place a washcloth or small piece of fabric inside- this helps smooth out the difference in thicknesses between hem and colorwork. It is not always necessary to press (iron) the finished wrist warmers, but if you do wish to press them to give them a crisp wrinkle free finish, make sure to place a cloth between the iron and wrist warmers to prevent burning the fiber.

Length: You can make the bottom cuff longer by knitting around in the main color until cuff is as long as desired, then proceed to knit the thumb gusset as directed.

Charts: Charts are knit right to left every row. The Landscape Colorwork Chart- Birds is symmetrical (both sides of the wrist are the same), while Landscape Colorwork Chart- Reindeer is not.

Carrying the yarn: In colorwork it is best to not carry yarn behind another color when working for more than 5-6 stitches, or the yarn in back has a tendency to be too loose or too tight, making your wrist warmers bunch up. Make sure to twist the yarns around each other behind your work for long sections of one color in the pattern.