I was reading Lucy Neatby’s web article about using steeks to make matching sleeves a while ago. This idea bounced around in the back of my mind until one day I realized that this would be a great way to make matching mitts from gradient yarns, yarns with long repeats like Noro, and handspun multicolored yarn with no repeats. It would also work well for striping scraps of leftover yarn—the jogs and the ends can be hidden in the seam allowances without being worked in.

This method also allows plain knitting in the round almost exclusively on a 16 inch (40cm) circular needle.

Meeting-of-the-waters is a stream in the NC Botanical Gardens, where I like to go for walks and look at native plants.

Size:

Recipe for any size hand; includes specific instructions for hands that are 6.5 (7, 7.5) inches {16.5 (18, 19) cm} in circumference above the thumb.

Gauge:

Measure your stitch and round gauge in a washed fabric you like over 4 inches. A gauge measurement is strongly recommended: the mitts cannot be tried on until after they have been cut apart. Using one mitt to test gauge is therefore impractical.

There are instructions for the mitts based on gauge; tables are provided. I do suggest knitting more tightly than for a sweater, for durability.

Materials needed:

• Yarn suitable for knitting fabric that will be cut and sewn: feltable wool is best, though other yarns can be used with a sewing machine to reinforce the edges of the cut. Samples were knit using Freia Handpaints Freia Ombré Sport, Noro Silk Garden Lite, and handspun Blue-faced Leicester in fingering weight (hand-dyed top was purchased from Three Waters Farm). Samples used between 90-120 yards {82-110m} for DK, sport, and fingering weight yarns, respectively.
• This pattern is ideally suited for knitting in the round on 16 inch {40cm} circular needles. Needles for working a small circumference in the round may also be needed for the thumb hole. Needles 2 sizes smaller than the ones for working stockinette will be needed for ribbing.
• 6 stitch markers.
• Yarn needle for working in ends and seaming.
• A tool for reinforcing the stitches on either side of the cut: a crochet hook, a yarn needle for hand sewing, or a sewing machine.

Techniques:

• You need to know how to cast on, work in the round, knit, purl, decrease, work a provisional cast on, bind off, work a steek, and seam using mattress stitch.
• Instructions are written only.

Thanks to my technical editor, Stephanie Boardman, and to my test knitters, Alhaja, froggirl, flyingsquirrel, nerdartist, DeltaDawn, and kandipixels.