Steelers Mitts

Again - yea Steelers!!! I didn't want to make a hat for my daughter - she is not a hat person - but she loves mitts. This is just a basic mitt pattern. The pattern stitch is a slip stitch pattern - also basic.

Yarn - Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted

Needles -8 double point - I usually use 4 - use what you are comfortable with.

Gauge - 4.5 stitches per inch

Size - Adult Medium

Cast on 36 stitches and join being careful not to twist your stitches. A neat trick: when joining your cast on stitches, use the tail and the working yarn to knit the first few stitches. You won't be able to tell where you have joined the stitches. Make sure to place a marker at the join.

Knit 2, purl 2 for 2 inches - or as long as you want the cuff to be.

Begin the pattern on the next round. The pattern is a 4 row repeat.

Row 1 - Knit with contrasting color (CC)

Row 2 - Purl with CC

Row 3 - Change to main color (MC) and *knit1, slip 1* repeat from * to * to complete the round.

Row 4 - Continue with MC and *purl 1, wyib slip 1* repeat from *to * to complete the round.

Repeat these 4 rows for the pattern.

Complete 3 pattern repeats and begin the thumb gusset. Decide where you want the gusset - the mitt doesn't have a front or back.

Round 1 - Work pattern, place marker, knit 1, place marker, complete row in pattern.

Round 2 - Work pattern, sm, m1, k1, m1, sm, complete row in pattern.

Round 3 and all odd rounds - knit

Round 4 - Work pattern, sm, m1, k3, m1, sm, complete row in pattern.

Round 6 - Work pattern, sm, m1, k5, m1, sm, complete row in pattern.

Round 8 - Work pattern, sm, m1, k7, m1, sm, complete row in pattern.

Round 10 - Work pattern, sm, m1, k9, m1, sm, complete row in pattern.

Round 12 - Work pattern, sm, m1, k11, m1, sm, complete row in pattern.

Round 13 - Work pattern, sm, k13, sm, complete row in pattern.

You have 13 stitches between the markers for the thumb.

Next round - work pattern until marker, slip the next 13 stitches on a stitch holder or waste yarn, cast on one stitch and continue in pattern. When bridging the gap where the gusset is, pull your yarn tightly to close the gap. - another neat trick is to pull the first stitch tightly and then pull the second stitch tighter. It works - if it doesn't for you, when you are weaving in the yarn ends, close the hole.

Continue in pattern for the body of the mitt for 4 pattern repeats or the length you wish. Drop the CC and knit 4 rounds of garter stitch (knit 1 round, purl 1 round) and bind off.

Slip the 13 stitches for the thumb onto your needles - divided however you wish. Using the MC yarn pick up 1 or 2 stitches at the base of the thumb where the gap is. The number depends on how close you have managed the gap. Once all the stitches are on (14 or 15) knit 4 rounds of garter stitch and bind off.

Weave in all of the ends - closing any gaps around the thumb. Make another mitt just like this.

Yea Steelers!