Knitting and surprise packages are two of my favourite things. I’ve brought those two things together in these mittens designed for a mystery group knitalong in winter. The pattern releases motifs, one clue at a time, as a surprise to the knitter.

NOTE: This pattern was created for a mystery knitalong in the I Make Mittens group on Ravelry. When you purchase this pattern, you will see that it has been formatted as six clues, as it was originally released in six separate installments.

Degree of Difficulty
This pattern is suitable for an intermediate knitter with some experience working with charts and knitting in the round. Designer tips are provided for those who are new to stranded colourwork.

Size
Instructions are written for a women’s small hand with medium and large in brackets.

Techniques used in pattern:
• Stranded colourwork
• Knitting in the round
• Knitting from a chart
• Plain or two-colour cast on
• Latvian braid
• Increase stitches (make one left and make one right)
• Decrease stitches (Slip, slip, knit and knit two together)
• Kitchener stitch

Materials
Cascade 220 Sport yarn (100% Peruvian Highland Wool, 150 meters/50 grams; 164 yards/1.75 oz)
• 1 ball each of main colour (MC) and 4 contrasting colours (CC1-4)
• The sample, knit in size large, used the following colours and approximate yardages:
o MC – Colour 8505, White, approximately 135 meters/147 yards
o CC1 – Colour 8885, Italian Plum, approximately 40 meters/44 yards
o CC2 – Colour 9404, Ruby, approximately 35 meters/38 yards
o CC3 – Colour 9618, Maraschino, approximately 30 meters/33 yards
o CC4 – Colour 8914, Granny Smith, approximately 25 meters/27 yards

Note: This pattern can also be made with just two or three colours as follows:
• For two colours use a main colour with one contrasting colour in place of CC1, 2, 3 and 4.
• For three colours use a main colour with one contrasting colour for CC1 and another contrasting colour in place of CC2, 3 and 4.

Needles: set of 5, 2.75 mm (US#2) double-pointed needles (DPNs); or one 2.75 mm (US#2), 100 cm (40 inch) long circular needle, if you prefer to use the Magic Loop method, or size needed to get gauge.

Tapestry needle for finishing.
Length of smooth, contrasting colour waste yarn to hold thumb stitches.

Gauge
8 stitches and 9 rows/ 2.54 cm (1 inch) over stranded pattern, knit in the round.
Knitting to the correct gauge is important to achieving the finished measurements noted above.

Finished Measurements
Circumference around fingers: 17.8 cm/7 inches (19 cm/7.5 inches, 20.3 cm/8 inches)
Bottom of cuff to top of fingers: 26.8 cm/10.5 inches (27.9 cm/11 inches, 29.6 cm/11.6 inches)
Wrist to top of fingers: 18.6 cm/7.3 inches (19.75 cm/7.8 inches, 21.4 cm/8.4 inches)

Note: This pattern uses 56 (60, 64) stitches around the wrist and the top of the hand.