In N Out Mittens (Unfelted)

In ‘N Out Mittens (Unfelted)

By Betty Wright Metz

This pattern gives you a thick but not felted mitten with an egress hole in the palm for at least 2 fingers.  This hole is relatively deep and covered against the wind.  It will lie flat to allow regular mitten activities, like driving a car, but also allow fine motor tasks like searching for car keys.

This is sized for a male or female hand.

Materials:

150 (130) yd worsted yarn, can split between 2 colors as desired

2 Size 6 16” circular needles  and 2 Size 4 16” circular needles (for wrist ribbing)

Size 6 Double Pointed Needles

Stitch markers for End of Round (EOR) and for thumb gusset borders

4 Stitch holders  – 2 for thumb stitches and 2 for hand

Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Small amount of waste yarn in a different color and/or fiber

Gauge:  Gauge for this version is critical, use the needle size you need to get this gauge:          4.5 stitches and 6 rows per inch on larger needles.  Sized for Man (Woman)

 

Wrist:

Cast on 52 (44) stitches using knitted cast on to 2 circular 16” needle Size 4.  Join for knitting in the round on two circular needles, and place marker for End of Round (EOR).

Set-up row: K1, P1, *drop 1 stitch, K1, P1, K1, drop 1 stitch, P1, K1, P1* x6 (x5), K1, P1 should bring you to EOR.                                                                                                                                    

40 (34) stitches

Continue in 1×1 rib for 3 inches.  Change to stockinette stitch (knit only) on larger needles and knit 10 (8) rounds.                       

Thumb Gusset:

Row 1: Slip EOR marker.  M1 and knit this next stitch, Kfb of next stitch.  Place marker.  K around till EOR marker.                                                                                   

42 (36) stitches

Row 2: Slip EOR marker, M1 and knit this next stitch, K2, Kfb of next stitch.  This should bring you to the second thumb gusset marker.  Slip this and knit all around to EOR.

44 (38) stitches

Row 3: Slip EOR marker, M1 and knit this next stitch, K4, Kfb of next stitch.  This should bring you to the second thumb gusset marker.  Slip this and knit all around to EOR.

46 (40) stitches

Row 4: Slip EOR marker, M1 and knit this next stitch, K6, Kfb of next stitch.  This should bring you to the second thumb gusset marker.  Slip this and knit all around to EOR.

48 (42) stitches

Row 5: Slip EOR marker, M1 and knit this next stitch, K8, Kfb of next stitch.  This should bring you to the second thumb gusset marker.  Slip this and knit all around to EOR.

50 (44) stitches

Row 6: Slip EOR marker, M1 and knit this next stitch, K10, Kfb of next stitch.  This should bring you to the second thumb gusset marker.  Slip this and knit all around to EOR.

52 (46) stitches

Row 7 (only for Man size): Slip EOR marker, M1 and knit this next stitch, K12, Kfb of next stitch.  This should bring you to the second thumb gusset marker.  Slip this and knit all around to EOR.

54 stitches

Row 8: Slip EOR marker, Slip next 14 (12) stitches onto a stitch holder, remove second marker, knit all around to EOR.   

14 (12) stitches on stitch holder, 40 (34) stitches on 2 circular needles

Row 9:  Cast on one stitch using backward-loop method.  Replace EOR marker, and knit all around till EOR.                                                                                                                  

41 (35) stitches in the round

Knit 5 (3) rounds

 

Differentiate for Hands:  Right Hand

Row 1R: K2, place marker, P1, K2, P1, K2, P1, K2, P1, place marker, Knit till EOR.  This sets up the ribbing for the finger egress hole in the palm.

Row 2R-5R:  Repeat Row 1R, slipping markers as you come to them.

Row 6R: Remove EOR marker, K2, remove marker, BO 10 in pattern established.  Break yarn leaving an 8” tail.  Place all remaining stitches onto waste yarn of another color and/or fiber.          

31 (25) stitches on waste yarn, 14 (12) stitches also still remaining on thumb stitch holder.

Left hand:

Repeat instructions for the previous right hand until it comes time to differentiate – wrist and thumb gusset completed, 2 inches on the palm done.

Row 1L: K 29 (23), place marker, P1, K2, P1, K2, P1, K2, P1, place marker, K2 should bring you to EOR.

Row 2L-5L:  Repeat Row 1L in pattern established, slipping markers as you come to them.

Row 10L: Remove EOR marker, K29 (23), remove marker, BO 10 stitches in pattern.  Break yarn, leaving 8 inch tail.  Place all stitches onto waste yarn, as for previous instructions above.

 

 

Thumb:

Using dpn, pick up all stitches from the smaller thumb stitch holder.  Add 3 stitches in the crotch of the palm.                                                                                      

17 (15) stitches across 3 dpn

Join for knitting in the round, and add an EOR marker.  Knit all around on dpn for 10 (6) rounds.  Your goal is to be at the joint in the middle of the thumb of the intended wearer.

Row 1T:  *K2tog, K4* x2,  K2 tog, K3 (K1)  should bring you to EOR.  It may be that you will need to juggle stitches between the dpn to maintain the pattern required.  Please continue this as needed until the thumb is complete.                                                                                               

14 (12)  stitches

Row 2T: K

Row 3T: K2, *K2 tog, K4* x2, (x1,  K2tog, K2) should bring you to EOR                    

12 (10) stitches

Row 4T and 5T:  Knit

Row 6T: *K2tog, K2* x3, (x2, K2tog)

9 (7) stitches

Row 7T: K

Row 8T: K2 tog all around

5 (4) stitches. Break yarn, leaving an 8” tail.  Thread tail onto tapestry needle and draw through remaining stitches, forming a loop to close off the end of the thumb snugly.  Weave in ends onto wrong side of thumb.

Repeat Thumb instructions for the other mitten.

Finger Egress:

Note:  Here you will start a ribbing flap that will be added seamlessly to the previous ribbing pattern on the half of the mitten you have already done.  There is a purl rib on either side of the pattern.  You will be picking up these purl bumps at the end of the dpn to use in the K2Tog at each end of this flap.  You can practice this before you actually start the flap.

Using one double-pointed needle, cast on 10 stitches using long-tail method.  I used a contrast color, but you do not have to.

Row 1F: P1, K2, P1, K2, P1, K2, P1, knitting straight across the needle with another dpn.

Row 2F: Sl1, P2, K1, P2, K1, P2, K1

Row 3F: Pick up one stitch from the Right-most purl bump from the pattern on Row 1R on the front end of the dpn you are using for the flap.  Pick up the Left-most purl bump from the pattern on 1R on the back side of the dpn you are using for the flap.  This means there will be 12 stitches now on the dpn.

  P2tog, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2tog                                                                               

10 stitches on the circular needle being worked straight, 31 stitches untouched and remaining on the waste yarn

Row 4F:  Use the dpn again to pick up a purl bump on either side of the pattern on the bottom already knit into the bottom part of the mitten. Using the stitches on the dpn only, K2 tog, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2, P2, K2 tog as established

Row 5F-7 F:  Repeat Rows 3F and 4F, gradually working your way up the ribbing pattern until you reach the BO row.  This will make a double opening that should lie flat, and perhaps pull in a bit to keep at least some of the winter chill out of the interior of the mitten.

Row 8F: Add all the stitches from the waste yarn onto the circular needles. Repeat Row 3F, using the circular needle.  Join and knit in the round.  Place an EOR marker as you see fit. 

41 (35) stitches in the round

Knit for 10 (5) rounds from the end of the ribbing. Your goal is to reach exactly to the end of the pinky when the intended wearer tries it on.

 

End of fingers:

Row 1E: *K2tog, K5* x5, K6 (K0)                                                                                

36 (30) stitches

Row 2E and every other row: K  Change to dpn as needed.

Row 3E: K2, *K2 tog, K5* x4, K6 (K0)                                                                         

32 (26) stitches

Row 5E: K1, *K2tog, K4* x5 (x4), K1                                                                          

27 (22) stitches

Row 7E: *K2tog, K4* x4 (x3), K3 (K4)                                                                                    

23 (19) stitches

Row 9E: *K2tog, K2* x5 (x4), K2tog, K1                                                                                 

17 (15)  stitches

Row 11E: K2tog across all needles                                                                

9 (8) stitches

Row 12E: K

Break yarn, leaving an 8 in tail.  Thread onto a tapestry needle, and draw yarn through all stitches.  Pull tight in a circle, and weave in ends securely.

Finish left mitten in a similar manner, from row 1F, but using purl bumps from rows 1L through 6L.

Weave in all ends.  Trim ends.  Have a snowball fight.

I am happy to share this pattern with fellow knitters and people with cold winters.  This pattern may be used for non-commercial or knitting class use.  It is not to be used in any publication in print nor should it be reproduced in electronic/digital format without permission.  Thank you for your interest!