Whimsical Odds & Ends Mittens by Lisa McFetridge

Whimsical Odds & Ends Mittens

Knitting
September 2014
Manos del Uruguay Wool Classica
Worsted (9 wpi) ?
24 stitches = 4 inches
in stranded stockinette stitch
US 4 - 3.5 mm
160 - 240 yards (146 - 219 m)
Small, Medium, Large (see sizing info below)
English
This pattern is available for $4.00 USD buy it now

What to do with ODDS & ENDS? You know, those tiny balls of yarn, not enough to make much with but still beautiful and often expensive little bits.

Well if one ball is at least (55, 60, 75) yards long that can be used as the MAIN Color, and there are lots of little balls in many other colors, even as little as 2 yards can be used, then one awesome pair of mittens is waiting to be discovered! And they won’t seem like “leftover” mittens, not the granny squares of the knitting world….

The pattern is a combination of charts and written word.

The fabric is knitted up with heavy worsted weight yarns on very small needles and the result is a very warm, durable fabric that doesn’t need any lining to keep out the cold and wind on the coldest day. The other upside to such a dense fabric is very little wear & tear and very little pilling.

In the main photo, one pair of mittens is new and the other pair is very well worn (for over 10 years) - can you tell which is which? (the tree mittens are the old ones) TREE MOTIF IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS PATTERN

Mittens like these are truly whimsical. Graph blanks are also provided, create your own designs, it’s really simple to do. Three sizes S (M, L)

NOTES:
Split all little balls into 2 little balls of equal size. measure one of the balls for length and rewind. Each color below tells about how many yards of each needed.

Don’t worry about having the same colors as mine, use what is available, the MAIN color will tie all the other colors together, trust me.

Gauge is important for warmth, my own needle size to meet gauge is US size 2, even though the pattern calls for a US Size 4. I am a very loose knitter, tight knitters may need to size up to a US size 6, so do take the time to check gauge.

Slightly heavy, worsted weight yarns work best. Lighter yarns will give a different fabric. Don’t mix heavy & light yarns! Yarns must all gauge up the same.

Instructions are given for DPNs. If using Magic Loop method there are some notes through the pattern that will be helpful.

WET BLOCKING THESE MITTENS is a must! as there is garter stitch mixed with stranded color work, the mittens will have a wavy “in and out” look until they are wet blocked and shaped. Don’t skip this step….

Some suitable Yarns - (many different brands can be used in one mitten):
Berocco (Lustra), Cascade (Jewel), Classic Elite (Desert,Montera)
Green Mountain Spinnery (Mountain Mohair), Malabrigo (Worsted)
Manos del Uruguay (Maxima, Classica Semi Solid)

Materials:
US Size 4 DPNs or size needed to obtain gauge
Sharp tapestry needle
Yarn in amounts listed below

Abbreviations:
K = Knit
P = Purl
K2Tog = Knit 2 together
M1 = Make 1
PM = Place Marker
SM = Slip Marker
SSK = Slip, Slip, K2 slipped sts together.

Gauge: 24 sts = 4 ins / 10 cm in stranded stockinette stitch on US size 4 DPNs OR size needed to obtain gauge.

Finished circumference: approximately 7.25 (7.75, 8.5) in / 18.5 (19.75, 21.5) cm
Finished length (cuff to tip): 8 (9.5, 10.5 ) inches/ 20 ( 23, 26) cm
Finished length (bend of wrist to tip): 6.5 (6.5, 7.5) inches / 16.5 (16.5, 19) cm
SEE SIZING INFORMATION ON PAGE 9 OF PATTERN if unsure which size to make. In short, the size made is chosen by the hand circumference then knit to desired length.

FILL IN THE LINES BELOW with chosen colors. Then fill them in throughout the pattern. So many colors to track, filling in will make it easier.
Colors beside yardage amounts are photo colors, but choose any odds/ends that fit the yardage. Fill in YOUR colors on the blanks below (even if using the suggested colors) and in pattern so tracking colors isn’t confusing.
MC 55 (65, 80) yards (forest green)
Your MC ____________________________
CC1 15 (20, 25) yards (straw)
Your CC1____________________________
cc2 12 (16, 20) yards (purple)
Your CC2____________________________
CC3 14 (18, 22) yards (aqua green)
Your CC3____________________________
cc4 20 (24, 28) yards (hot pink)
Your CC4____________________________
CC5 5 ( 6, 8) yards (midnight blue)
Your CC5____________________________
CC6 6 ( 7, 9) yards (orange)
Your CC6____________________________
CC7 10, (12, 14) yards (red)
Your CC7____________________________
CC8 5 ( 8, 10) yards (lime)
Your CC8____________________________
CC9 10, (12, 14) yards ( magenta )
Your CC9____________________________
CC10 5 ( 8, 10) yards (pale orange)
Your CC10____________________________