These mitts are the result of a collaboration between me and Melissa Littlefield of Knitting the Stash, using her farm-to-skein Shorn II yarn. When the skeins arrived at my studio I knew this round 3-ply yarn would make excellent cables, and one skein would be perfect for a pair of fingerless mitts. I spent the next few weeks experimenting with cable patterns, looking for the perfect configuration of twists and ribs to wrap around the wrist and entwine the hand. Despite the intricate cables these mitts are a quick knit, and the pleasure of wearing them almost has me looking forward to winter!

Check out the coordinating Traveling Hat pattern.

SIZING
S/M (M/L)
TO FIT:
6½–7½ (7½–8½) inch/16.5–19 (19–21.5) cm hand circumference measured above the thumb
See schematic on page 8 for detailed measurements.

MATERIALS

YARN
Approximately 180 (220) yds/165 (220) m sport or dk weight wool or wool blend yarn
Sample shown in Shorn II; 50% Corriedale 50% Corriedale Teeswater Cross, 250 yds/229 m per 3.5 oz/100g

NEEDLES
US 5/3.75 mm 32 inch/80 cm circular for magic loop or set of double pointed needles or size needed to obtain gauge

US US 3/3.25 mm straight or circular needles for Tubular Cast On

NOTIONS
cable needle
1 stitch marker
Waste yarn or stitch holders

GAUGE
26 sts and 32 rnds = 4 inches/10 cm in k2, p2 rib slightly stretched and after blocking.
The ribbed fabric is very stretchy making it difficult to measure gauge accurately. Use the needle size that gives you about 23 sts and 32 rnds = 4 inches/10 cm in St st in the round.

NOTES
Both mitts begin with a tubular cast on at the cuff, and are worked in a cable and rib pattern to the opening for the fingers, which is finished with a tubular bind off. Rather than the typical thumb gusset construction, increases are worked on the palm and then thumb stitches are set aside on waste yarn. Thumb stitches are picked up last, continuing the cable and rib pattern, and finished with a tubular bind off. Because the same number of stitches is used for the thumb on both sizes you may wish to omit the cable on the thumb to make it larger.