Winter People Mittens by Mary O'Shea

Winter People Mittens

Knitting
November 2015
DK (11 wpi) ?
26 stitches and 32 rows = 4 inches
in stranded colorwork
US 3 - 3.25 mm
375 - 450 yards (343 - 411 m)
adult small, medium and large
English
This pattern is available for $7.00 USD buy it now

These are the mittens you reach for when the temperatures plummet and the wind is howling, but you still have to walk the dog and go get the mail, and worst of all, hang on to a freezing cold steering wheel!

These are a stranded knit in dk weight yarn, so that makes them plenty warm to start with. But if you live someplace with 3 dog nights, you might want to opt for the lining as well which is knit in fingering weight, at about the same gauge as the outer mitten. They are incredibly cozy!

I added a mitten string to the pair, something I have always coveted in the mittens I made for my kids when they were young, but had never taken the time to do for myself. It will be great to just let them hang when I need my fingers for a moment. No more leaving my mittens in the shopping cart basket, or picking them up from the ground where they’ve fallen when putting the leash on the dog!

There are 3 sizes given, with the change in size based on gauge. The lining is optional, and if you prefer an unlined mitten, you will likely wish to knit a smaller size to take that into account.

SIZES:
Adult Small (Medium, Large)
Outer measurements:
8.5 (9, 10) inch circumference
10.5 (11.5, 12.5) inches length (including cuff)

GAUGE: (over pattern) for both outer mitten and lining:
28 (26, 24) sts = 4 inches
34 (32, 30) rows = 4 inches

NEEDLES:
US 3 (3.25mm) or size needed to obtain gauge.
Choose needle types base on your preferred method of working small circumferences in the round. Options include magic-loop on a 32-inch circular needle, DPNs, or 2 24-inch circular needles.

Yarn Amounts--yards:
Bare Naked Wools Kent DK (mitten)
Dark 125 (150, 175)
Light 125 (150, 175)
Bare Naked Wools Breakfast Blend (lining)
125 (150, 175)

NOTIONS: 2 stitch markers, a length of smooth yarn for a holder, tapestry needle

SKILLS USED: working in the round, decreases (k2tog, ssk), increases (M1) using a chart, 2-color colorwork, I-cord